Story from today...

In Spanish, the "b's" are pronounced a little differently, so...

In Joc's recounting of a story in class today...

"Dad! Do you know the story about a girl who saw some lions in the cage at a zoo. But even though everyone else was afraid of the lions, the little girl went up and stood by the cage. And then she said to the lions, 'POOP!'"

Which actually should be translated (and what her teacher said), "BOO!" :)

November 2011 Prayer Letter

Ruby November 2011 Prayer Letter

April 2011 Prayer Letter

Ruby Prayer Letter

We are in Costa Rica!

Joc in school





Eve in school

Nic and girls



Suz and girls



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:209,Zapote,Costa Rica

we have been blessed

thought of this song today and it fits so completely perfectly in this moment:

Here is a link to it being sung: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qqh8s-A-EmE

I HAVE BEEN BLESSED

When He moves among us all that He does 

all of His mercy and all of His love 

and the pen of the writer could write everyday 

even this world could never contain 

how I've been blessed 

The warmth in winter the flowers in spring 

the laughter in summer and the changing of leaves 

the food on my table a good place to sleep 

clothes on my back and shoes on my feet 

I have been blessed 

I have been blessed God's so good to me 

precious are His thoughts of you and me 

no way I could count them there's not enough time 

so I'll just thank Him for being so kind 

God has been good so good 

I have been blessed 

Arms that will raise a voice that can talk 

hands that can touch and legs that can walk 

ears that can listen eyes that can see 

oh I've got to praise Him as long as I breathe 

I have been blessed 

A father and mother who nurtured and raised 

a brother and sister memories made 

our pastor to lead us the altar to pray 

stripes that can heal the blood that can save 

I have been blessed 

I have been blessed God's so good to me 

precious are His thoughts of you and me 

no way I could count them there's not enough time 

so I'll just thank Him for being so kind 

God has been good so good 

I have been blessed 

He's my shoulder to lean on when I am down 

the rock where He leads me when I'm overwhelmed 

the place where He hides me under His wings 

He's not just a song He's the reason I sing 

I have been blessed 

I have been blessed God's so good to me 

precious are His thoughts of you and me 

no way I could count them there's not enough time 

so I'll just thank Him for being so kind 

God has been good so good 

I have been blessed

Where do we start? How do you put into words the miracles we have seen take place? It brings tears to our eyes just beginning to think of the many MANY people that have come before the LORD for us - the notes, the tears, the thoughts, the gifts, the visits - ALL OF IT! I have tears in my eyes as I'm writing this, so please excuse any typos:)  We can't say it enough......thank you.  Eve is an incredibly special little girl to have so much love in her life!!!

Eve still has several days of slow recovery - but she has come so far and is doing so much better in this extremely LONG and extremely SHORT week:)

Eve has "been blessed":

Extubated (breathing tube removed)

Healthy heart

Almost healthy lungs:)

Healthy kidneys/organs

Feeding tube removed

All sedatives/paralytics removed

All blood cultures have come back negative (which is a good thing) :)

NO CT SCAN! :)

Moved from Peds ICU to Intermediate Care across the hall!

Has spoken/whispered a few words

Balanced on her feet (with much assistance) for the first time in a week - today:):):)

Smiled for the first time in a week - today:):):)

So for now, we just start walking down the road of not only physical therapy (muscles, coordination, etc), but also complete love. She has endured a lot in this last week...has not slept for the last 60 hrs for more than a few minutes, and when she finally has for those few minutes - she will wake up suddenly with extreme terror in her eyes. So, I think she is almost afraid of what will happen if she falls asleep again. Nic is cuddled up in her bed with her right now...trying to provide whatever comfort we can. The doctors say she will have a lot of psychological issues to work through for the next bit...so we can only love on her every moment and pray for her even more.

We love you all and are incredibly HUMBLED. Who are we? We do not deserve what has happened this week...however...

He's my shoulder to lean on when I am down 

the rock where He leads me when I'm overwhelmed 

the place where He hides me under His wings 

He's not just a song He's the reason I sing 

I have been blessed.

thank you.

for your heavenly Father knoweth

when doing devotions this morning, and after much talking and concerning ourselves over the lack of support actually coming in, we read these verses:


 "...for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself."


Aaaaaannnnddd again, GOD reminds us WHO is in control! :) We say we trust as Christians, we pray like we trust, but then when little details get in the way - DO WE TRUST? 


GOD has called us - HE will provide!


and that's it! 


no ifs, buts, or ands! for your heavenly Father knoweth!

GOD, help us to teach our children to LOVE You and KNOW You!

Saddest Letter I’ve Ever Read

By caryschmidt | February 22, 2011

Parents and Pastors—Please Read!!

I recieved this letter from a young lady last week—a Bible college student who grew up in a Christian home and Christian school. I believe it’s the saddest letter I’ve ever read and right on the mark for so detailing the experiences of so many young Christians. I asked her permission to post it. Please read. Her words will greatly challenge you as a parent or pastor:

Dear Pastor Schmidt,

A few years ago, I read your books Hook, Line, and Sinker, Discover Your Destiny, and Life Quest. I found them to be extremely encouraging and instructive. These books showed me that not only do you have a real heart for young people, but you also understand us well. I am writing to ask you to consider writing a book to our parents and youth workers. Let me explain.

I am a junior at a well-known Christian college. I grew up in highly respected “fundamental independent Baptist” churches, and went to excellent Christian schools. My father has been a Christian worker since before I was born. One would think that my testimony would go something like this:

“I was saved when I was about 5 and I had dedicated my life to God and I have been growing a lot and serving Him and now I’m studying to serve Him full time.” But that isn’t my story. Actually, though I did make a profession of faith when I was very young, I didn’t get saved until I was 17. Since I was 12 and now on into college I have struggled with “serious” issues. And I found out when I went to college that I am not the only “good kid” who is or has struggled with or is still struggling with serious stuff. We struggle with issues like eating disorders, depression and suicide, cutting, pornography, gender identity, homosexuality, drugs, drinking, immorality, and the list could go on. We listen to “wild” music, we idolize pop culture’s heroes, we watch dirty sitcoms. We have no discrimination in our entertainment, dress, or any aspect of our lifestyle. Obviously, I’m generalizing our problems—you would not find that every Christian young person from a conservative background struggles with all of these issues, and praise God, some of us do not struggle with any of these issues.

My point is that the problems that are supposed to be bad kid’s problems belong to us too. Unfortunately, our parents and youth workers don’t know that we struggle with these things and they don’t know what to do with us when they find out. Quite frankly, I believe that if you grabbed the average Christian school teacher or youth worker and asked them, “What would you do if you found out that one of the kids you work with was a homosexual?” they wouldn’t know what to say.

My point is not simply that they don’t know what we struggle with or how to deal with it. I think there is a pretty simple reason why “good” kids struggle with such serious stuff. And that there is a solution. At the risk of being blunt, I’m going to be blunt.

Our parents did not spend time teaching us to love God. Our parents put us in Sunday Schools since K4. Our parents took us to church every time the doors opened, and sent us to every youth activity. They made sure we went to good Christian colleges. They had us sing in the choir, help in the nursery, be ushers, go soulwinning. We did teen devotionals, and prayed over every meal. We did everything right. And they made sure that we did.

But they forgot about our hearts. They forgot that the Bible never commanded the church to teach children about God and His ways. That responsibility was laid at the feet of our fathers. Unfortunately, our fathers don’t have time for us. They put us where we are surrounded by the Bible. But they didn’t take time to show us that God was important enough to them to tell us personally about Him. So to us, Christianity has become a religion of externals. Do all the right stuff, and you’re a good Christian. So, some of us walk away from church. Some of us stay in church and fill a pew. Many of us struggle with stuff that our parents have no idea about because they hardly know us.

I think these problems stem from first, our detachment from our parents, and second from our misunderstandings about the essence of Christianity—a relationship, not a list of rules. I worry that many young people like me are not even saved because of their misunderstandings about Christianity.

I know that this has not been a well articulated treatise, but it comes from my heart. If you are able to help us and our families, we would be so grateful. I realize that probably, there is no way to fix the fact that kids my age are detached from our parents or to straighten out the crazy stuff that we struggle with. The alienation is fixed, the scars are permanent. I know our situation is not hopeless. God is at work in my life and my generation, among those of us who have struggled and are struggling. But maybe our younger siblings can have some help that we never had. Maybe you can write a book for our parents that will grab their attention and help them see that this is serious—that their kids need them, desperately.

I guess I’ve run out of things to say. I must say I’m a little hesitant to share my name with you because that attaches me with my parents, who are, by the way, good people. Thanks for everything you have already done to help Christian teens and their families. I’m eager to see what else God will do through you.

Sincerely,
(Name Removed to Protect Anonymity)

All I could say when I read this letter was, “WOW! She nailed it!” This is the battle I’ve been fighting for twenty one years. I’m planning to write a couple of follow up articles to this letter, but for now, let this insightful young lady’s words sink in, and let God help you evaluate your own parenting and influence.

Are we teaching kids to simply appear and act right? Or are we teaching them to LOVE God and KNOW Him personally?