Little soul-winner

During soul-winning we walked by two boys sitting in the shade. Alex asked my husband for a flyer to give it to the boy. Alex turned it over and said, “There’s a map on the back, see.” I turned to see Alex pointing at the map just like he was showing the boy how to get to church. Then Alex asked for another flyer to give to the other boy.

Marie-Anne

Baby names

We have decided on baby names. If we have a girl she’ll be Sabrina Marie. If we have a boy he’ll be Ethan James. In a few weeks we will have an ultrasound. Alex still insists on a brother because sisters are no fun.

Marie-Anne

Family Day

Today Frank, Alex, and I walked the Wetlands Trail. It paralleled a river, but until we walked down the ridge the wetlands part seemed like a joke because it was in the middle of the very dry hot desert. We were thankful for the wind. By the time we got back to the car I was out of breath. (I’ve got to get in shape.) We really enjoyed it.

We also went to Clark County Heritage Museum. It was nice. Outside on the walking trails we saw rabbits, chipmunks, a jack rabbit, several different types of lizards, quail, and hummingbirds. There was a replica of a ghost town, a train depot, and several houses that were set up for certain time periods. We had a really good day.

Marie-Anne

Companies that support our troops

My brother Michael is a Navy Chaplain’s assistant serving in Kuwait. He said the service men and women were requesting tuna, slim Jims, sunflowers, and granola bars. Michael also requested kids books for the service men and women to read to their kids via DVD.I e-mailed companies asking for either coupons or donations.

Del Monte has a "Tuna for Soldiers" program in which units that request it are sent StarKist Tuna pouch products.


Quaker sent coupons for Gatorade that the service men and women can use at the BX.

Bumble Bee Tuna sent coupons.


I haven’t heard back from the other companies yet. It took about 10 minutes to e-mail 5 companies. I will be e-mailing other companies too. If you know of service men or women who are deployed let them know about these great companies that support our troops!

Marie-Anne

Mom's Visit

My Mom got here Friday and left yesterday. Alex called her, “my Nana,” of course she loved that! Alex loved all the attention from her. On Sunday, Mother’s Day, we had a potluck at church and everyone raved about Mom’s chicken and dumplings, (but they were not as good as Mamaw’s).

Monday we went to Hoover Dam and stopped at Lake Mead to let Alex throw rocks into the water. He had a blast. Alex got his shoes and pants soaked. We all enjoyed it. It was very windy and I brought bubbles that Alex chased, but couldn’t catch.

Later we stopped at a park near our house. Frank got Alex’s kite out, but Alex wasn’t really interested, (he had a friend to play with). Frank had a blast with the kite! I thought I was buying it for Alex, but I was wrong. Frank thanked me for spending that dollar. It was the best dollar I spent.

When we dropped my Mom off at the airport Alex asked why she had to go and he kept asking her if she liked his house. Every plane he saw on the way home was Nana’s plane.

Marie-Anne

Prayer Request

Tonight we watched a documentary on Billy Graham. As I reflected on his amazing life and the awesome movement of the hand of God in his ministry, I wondered, “Why can’t God use my husband that way?” I prayed for Frank as I never had before. I asked God to share His vision for Las Vegas with us so that we could make it our vision too. Picture the millions of souls in this city being saved. Picture the broken hearts being mended. Picture what God can do if only we stop limiting Him by our unbelief and our disobedience to His perfect will! Imagine sin city becoming a city of God. Pray that we will allow God’s vision to become our vision. Pray that we storm the very gates of hell. Pray that God uses us to set the captives in this city free. Pray that God touches hearts to help us. Pray that we lift Jesus up so that all men will be drawn to Him.

Marie-Anne

Something in the water?

In February 2004 we went to Phoenix, AZ. Nine months later Alex was born.
In February 2008 we went to Phoenix, AZ. Nine months later ____ will be born!

The due date is one day before Alex’s birthday. Alex says it has to be a brother because sisters are no fun.

Marie-Anne

Children's festival

Yesterday was the Children’s Festival. When we arrived at Alex’s surprise we saw crowds of people, inflatable fun houses and rides. The first thing Alex ran to was the playground! We just laughed and let him play for a few minutes then asked if he wanted to ride a pony. Alex rode a brown pony. He loved it! Alex fought a knight and won! It was so funny to watch, and I guess all that light saber training paid off. He played in an inflatable play place that was set up as an obstacle course. He went through that three times. Next Alex rode a plane ride. He was having so much fun that he didn’t even notice us waving. Alex and I rode a train. We all got snow-cones as we left.

Marie-Anne

Tales of Glory toys

Today I was pleasantly surprised to find Bible toys at Wal-Mart. The Tales of Glory toys are from Focus on the Family. They were on clearance for $3 each. My mom bought Alex all except Noah’s animals. After I showed them to my husband I bought all except Noah’s animals and Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand (I bought the last one for Alex) for the church.

Tonight Alex acted out the Bible stories as I read the books that came with the toys. Then I read some of his other Bible stories and he acted them out as well. Frank and Alex are playing with the toys now. I am so very glad that we got these! Instead of being Buzz Lightyear Alex is playing with Moses and Pharaoh.

The Jesus has long hair, but He also does in most coloring books, puzzles, and books.

http://www.one2believe.com/

Marie-Anne

Conference

It’s that time again! Conference is next week! Every year we go to Missouri for New Testament Christian Church’s annual Conference. It is always a wonderful time of fellowship with friends and growing closer to God. It always comes right when we need it. I can’t tell you what a blessing it is. While we are in service Alex gets to play with friends.

This year is a little different because we don’t know if we’re flying or driving. We have tickets of course, but American Airlines has been cancelling flights all week. All I know is one way or another we are going. If we fly we are planning on going to the St. Louis zoo on Friday.

Marie-Anne

BOOKS!

I love to read! Growing up I read mostly fiction. Lately I have been reading more and more nonfiction. Some books I’ve read recently include Courtship After Marriage, The Total Money Makeover, Created to be His Helpmeet, Home Sweet Home School, The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands, and The Witch of Blackbird Pond (I didn’t say I was only reading nonfiction).

Some books I will be reading in the next month or so include The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, A Love Worth Giving, The Millionaire Next Door, Confessions of a Happy Christian, The Treasure Principle, Jane Eyre, and The Home School Journey.

I’ve passed my love for books on to Alex. He’s constantly surrounded by books. He owns hundreds and we go to the library at least weekly. We read fiction and nonfiction. I sometimes get books that are slightly above his level- that’s why his vocabulary is so good. We let Alex see us reading books, and of course the Bible too. Alex has several Children's Bibles that we read from as well. Reading is very much a part of our family activities.

Marie-Anne

The Rejected Accepting the Rejected

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
In ancient Sparta, every new-born male baby was brought to the elders of the village, in which it was bought for inspection. The elders determined whether or not the child was physically strong enough to endure the rigorous and intense adolescent military training mandatory for all Spartan males. If the baby was found defective the parents would take the child to Mount Taygetos, which translates to the Mount of Rejection, and abandon him to die. On occasion, a Helot, a sub-citizen, who was only a little better than a slave would find these children and take them home, adopting them as sons.
We too, in our natural state, are found defective, for there are none righteous before God. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Our sin separated us from our Father, without hope, and rejected and exposed to death. O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Yet, our only hope is in Jesus Christ who was likewise rejected, for Hebrews tells us, that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected. We can be scooped up out of despair and rejection but only from the Rejected. He willingly was rejected: endured the cross, despising the shame. The best part is that He has brought us home and adopted us, making us joint heirs with Him and made us presentable to God His Father.

Help Needed With Unwanted Nannies

How do you handle it when church members and friends take Alex’s side- all the time? I can tell Alex something as simple as to ask before attacking their candy dish and right in front of him they say, “Oh, he’s fine.” When I explain that I’m trying to teach him manners they usually say something like, “Don’t worry so much,” or “don’t get onto my baby.” This of course does not escape Alex’s attention and he repeatedly forgets to ask, probably because he knows they will stick up for him. This happens frequently even when Alex does something wrong.

Marie-Anne

Kumon First Steps Workbooks

My sister-in-law, Elexa gave Alex two of these wonderful workbooks for his birthday. I am so glad she did! Alex is almost done with his fourth book. He’s done Let’s Color, Let’s Sticker and Paste, More Let’s Sticker and Paste, and he’s working on Let’s Cut Paper. Since he’s almost done with it and he’s so excited about using scissors I already bought More Let’s Cut Paper. Alex asks for these workbooks. He has been more excited about each one than with any other workbook.

At the end of each workbook is a very nice certificate of achievement which I put into Alex’s scrapbook with examples from each workbook.

I also flipped through the Kumon workbooks for older kids and I will continue to use them as Alex grows. They have a lot of subjects. They are sold at book stores and at Target. Check it out at http://www.kumonbooks.com/catalog/catalog_firststeps.aspx

Marie-Anne

Saving Change

I have two water jugs that I save change in. In one I keep pennies and nickels. In the other I keep dimes and quarters. I am saving the pennies and nickels for Alex. When it gets full I’m going to put it in a savings account for him. The quarters and dimes can be used at any time for any thing. We’ve used it for anything from washing the car to going out to eat. Yes, I also pick up change. In one day just around our apartment complex I found $ 0.85. The only work I did was bending over to pick it up.

Marie-Anne

Out of the mouths of Babes

I was reading the David C. Cook Children’s Bible Story Book story Isaac’s Neighbors Pick a Fight to Alex. “When Isaac found out what happened, his neighbors said, “Go away from us. You are too successful, and we don’t like you.” His neighbors weren’t very nice!” Alex interrupted, “I know why his neighbors weren’t nice. They didn’t love.”

The next night I read the story Jacob Tricks His FatherI . I asked Alex what the story was about. Alex’s reply was, “Esau is stupid.” That about sums it up.

Marie-Anne

Homeschooling a 3 year old

I use a combination of workbooks, DVD’s, Leap Pad, the internet, library, field trips, Hooked on Phonics, and Alex’s interests to teach. We go to the library at least weekly and get a combination of about 20 fiction and non-fiction books for Alex. We don’t have a set time for lessons, but I am working on making it a little more structured. Our lessons are generally short unless his interest lasts a long time.

Today Alex watched some educational DVD’s, and then we worked on telling time. I have a magnetic clock and use flash cards with it. After that I read 10 Henry and Mudge books. Alex worked on puzzles and listened to a CD of kid’s songs while I typed this and did some housework. Alex played with play dough and practiced using a butter knife to cut it up. While waiting for Frank to get off work we played a game running in the empty parking lot to the numbered parking spaces. I’d call out, “Where’s number 12,” then we'd race to it. I read several Bible stories to Alex. We also read the first chapter of Bill Nye the Science Guy’s Big Blue Ocean, though we didn’t have the materials needed for the experiment. We used the Hooked on Phonics CD to teach him letter sounds, (it would have been easier to teach it at the same time he learned letters.) Of course Alex also had plenty of time for play. Alex also watched part of a documentary on Japan with Frank and me, (he fell asleep about half-way through it).

If you don’t know any homeschoolers you may wonder about socialization. Alex is very social. He goes with us when we go visiting for the church so Alex is perfectly at ease talking to adults. Every time we go to the park or McDonalds’ Playland Alex makes friends with the other kids. I also take him to the library’s story time and to a play group so he can be around a lot of the same kids from week to week.

Marie-Anne

Homeschooling unconstitutional?

“California parents without teaching credentials cannot legally home school their children, according to a recent state appellate court ruling.”Parents do not have a constitutional right to home school their children," Justice H. Walter Croskey wrote in a Feb. 28 opinion for the 2nd District Court of Appeal. Noncompliance could lead to criminal complaints against the parents, Croskey said.” CNN

When I saw this on the news I was outraged. Public schools are failing to teach the kids, failing to prepare kids for the “real world,” and failing to protect them from abuse both from other students and staff, yet parents who cannot afford private school are going to be forced to send their kids to these schools. You read in the news how public schools hire teachers that aren’t qualified, but in order to home school, parents are going to be required to be more certified than teachers. It doesn’t make sense.

I understand that there may be concern that uneducated parents have difficulty teaching certain subjects. With co-ops, the internet, library, and home school programs parents have all the available materials to teach their own kids. Not only that but in some states since parents of homeschoolers still pay school taxes they are entitled to take advantage of certain public school resources.

This will be appealed and I pray that the ruling will be changed. If not, I can’t help but wonder if other states will follow California’s lead. I certainly hope not, but won’t be too surprised if they do.

Marie-Anne

Ma and Pa Rendla in Town

On the weekend of the 17th of Feb we got the pleasure of spending time with my parents. It was a blessing. They brought Marie a birthday present of a flower pressing kit, Alex a puzzle and Dad drew a cool picture for Alex's scrapbook.
On the following Tuesday we all travelled to Bullhead City, Arizona to celebrate grandma Donna's 80th birthday. Bullhead City is known for it's view of Laughlin, Neveda just across the Colorado river. All and all is was a pleasure visit.

Christian Duty

I find it sad the number of people who are amazed that a pastor and his wife go door-to-door inviting people to church. People are amazed when we visit them in the hospital or give them a ride to church. Isn’t that our reasonable service? Isn’t that just obeying the Great Commission? And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15 Why then are people amazed? What do they think a pastor and his wife should be doing? Don’t they realize that the Great Commission isn’t just to pastors, it is to every Christian?

Marie-Anne