"The most beautiful I've ever seen"

We drove last night with the Dzubays to see one of the most spectacular, residential Christmas display I've ever seen! Apparently the family has been doing this for a few decades. Just recently the father, already a widow, passed away and the sons have continued the tradition. It has an automated nativity scene, animal band, ice-skating penguins, and more lights than you've ever seen. It's worth the drive if you're in the area - if you haven't been. It's on 120th St and 68th Ave. You'll see all the cars parked along 120th. Yes, get out and walk around, it's worth it. Though you'll have to hurry, not sure but Monday night will probably be the last day it's lit. Here are a few pics Joe took. I'm sure Jecel's blog will have some as well.

Computer Geek

Yes, it has started at the ripe old age of three. Emily is a computer geek. She's only allowed to play when Katie takes a nap and as soon as Katie's out, she's reminding me. "Shh, we have to be quiet, Katie's sleeping. Let's go play on the computer!" So I set it up for her and she plays for about an hour to an hour and a half. Don't worry, it's educational games on pbskids website. She's learning letters, phonics and creating superheroes, building walls and flying through the sky with Super Why, her favorite.

Tweety Bird

Katie has been making a new face. My dad duped it Tweety Bird. He caught it on "film". Thought you'd enjoy it too.

New Blog

We thought it would be easier for everyone if we created a new blog just for our adventure. So click over to keep informed about all that is South Africa, preparing for the mission field and staying up-to-date once we get there. Hope you enjoy. I'll be dressing it up as time goes on, just bare bones right now.
LogansInSA.blogspot.com

Oh NO!!

Yes here it is folks another poo-poo tale. I don't remember Emily providing us (me) with so many interesting tales. Well the short of it is Katie pooped. Only she was bouncing up and down in her highchair. I was sitting on the couch with Emily, talking to my handsome hubby when Katie strolled over. I realized there was something on her arm. OH NO!!! GOTTA GO!! POOP EMERGENCY!!

I hung up, grabbed Katie and headed upstairs to the tub. What else can you do? That's when I realized the gravity of the situation. There was poo on the front of her shirt, the back of her arm, down her legs, of course all over her tush. I stripped off the shirt ever so carefully then the diaper and bathed her.

The whole time all I could think of is "what does it look like downstairs?" Luckily Emily was engrossed in a Spongebob episode. So as soon as it was safe, I ran downstairs to face my nemesis, the poo. Praise the Lord it was confined to her highchair! To share in my disgust there was a nice little smooshy spot on the chair and some on the arms and the foot. So with lots of paper towels and some Clorox spray I cleaned up the smelly mess. I smelled everything I could - cause on brown chairs and table and floor how else are you going to know - I was elated to discovered that it remained isolated to the highchair. She must have climbed down and walked right over to me. Thank goodness she doesn't like having poo-poo in her diaper and lets me know almost immediately (unless she's having fun).

So that was my exciting day. Hope yours was less eventful. Thanks for sharing in my messy moment.

The Green Religion

I just read an article on FoxNews.com that I found very interesting. It lists those who tote the new "green religion", yet fail to practice what they preach. Of course, Al was #1. As were other celebs who are unwilling to change their lifestyles to help with this "environmental crisis".

As a mom, there was one item I wanted to pass on. That having to do with the ever "green" push to use florescent light bulbs. See below...

“Mercury is highly toxic to everyone, but particularly to children and developing fetuses,” says the activist group Environmental Defense, a long-time campaigner against mercury from power plant emissions and in automobile convenience lighting.

So it came as quite a surprise when the group began advocating that consumers bring the “highly toxic” mercury into their homes in the form of compact fluorescent light bulbs in order to reduce power plant CO2 emissions. CFLs are so hazardous, according to public health officials however, that special safety precautions must be taken for disposal or if the bulbs break.

While I do believe recycling is important, that we are called to take care of this planet, I think we need to be wary of those who would use scare tactics and hype that they don't even believe to force they're agenda. If you want to read a really good book, I would suggest Dixie Lee Ray's Environmental Overkill". It's a real eye opener.

For those of us old enough to remember, in the 1970s there was a coming ice age (which never occurred), now its a warming age. Wasn't really warm here on planet earth when the dinosaurs were around? Didn't the ice age kill them off? So maybe it's suppose to be warm?? Think about it.

Thanks

Thanks everyone for your encouraging words and excitement for us. It still doesn't seem real. I have had a few moments of sadness. But as I have said to many of you, it's the leaving, not the going that I'm finding difficult. We have decided at this time we will go for 3 years. So our projected return will be this time 2010.

Wow that seems so far away, but it's only 3 years. But a lot will happen while we are gone. Kids will get older (as will we), my niece will be driving!!! I know W.Kendall won't be the same, it's changing already, churches will grow!

We are currently adjusting our plans, deciding to keep the Honda - actually looking to ship it over. Thanks to Jescel for all your help. I'm waiting for 2 quotes. If it's too expensive, we may leave it with my parents. At least when we get back we'll have a vehicle that's paid for. Since Kevin will be resigning from his job we don't want too many expenses when we return. I just keep remembering with Maria said "there is life after BellSouth!".

We will be getting the house all fixed up (just little things here and there) so it's more presentable to renters. If you'd like to help let us know :) We have already had an inquiry so we'll see. We are praying for someone we know, or known to someone we trust so there are no worries about the renters - since we'll be so far away.

I guess our real worries right now is the flight. But our other encouragement is that our friend Stacey flew much further, and a more adventurous trip with 4 children and she survived, as did they, so we'll be fine. Funny how God has used so many of you to encourage us, help us, and support us without you even realizing it!!! So praise be to God and blessings on you!!!

That's all for now. We'll keep you updated.

Away We Go

We finally got an email from Pastor John. He has extended a call to us to go and serve in South Africa! I think right now I'm numb. Waiting so long, I think I was prepared for a no and now that it's a yes I don't know how I feel about it. Kevin is excited of course. I guess I just really never believed it would be us. I was so excited in the beginning, but as time went on I found myself less excited. Maybe it was just the frustration of waiting. I'm sure as it sinks in, things will pick up for me.

Now the real rush begins. Getting everything in order, visas, what to do with our stuff, our dog, our home. We'll need to raise funds (so look for your support letter soon :)). So if you know anyone who needs some stuff send them our way. We'll be selling off most of our stuff - cars, furniture, etc. Let the bidding war begin over our 42" plasma, not even a year old yet!

Thanks for all your prayers and we hope you will continue to do so as we prepare to leave. Pray for the kids. Though they are little I'm most concerned about the plane ride (22 hours) and Emily who is very much a creature of habit and this will throw her off completely. We know that this is God's will, it's what we've prayed for all along, to be in His will. so we know all will work out fine, but it's still a big transition.

We'll keep you up-to-date on the progress of everything. While Pastor John wants us there by Feb, I think it will be more like mid-March, but we'll see how God works. We'll get there on His timing.

Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

Well we still haven't heard....... anything, at all, nothing, zero, not a peep. I'm going to puke my stomach is all in knots. Can somebody call and say that they are pastor john and just breath, once for yes and twice for no.

Aas I sit here my dad is playing with Emily. They are playing with 2 jack-in-the-boxes and it is beautiful, Emily keeps saying "go again go again" and then "a one and a two and the magical music plays for the 30th time and its still sweet. So much for my first blog post. Wish it were more exciting.

Kevin

Holly here, SA is 7 hours ahead so it's roughly 12:30AM Friday there (5:30PM Thurs here). Maybe Pastor John goes to bed late!

No News

Well, we have yet to hear anything regarding our possible mission work in South Africa. We were told a decision would be made by the end of November. On Saturday, Dec 1, we made contact with someone who told us one of the other interviewees had directly contacted Pastor John and was told Monday. It's Tuesday morning. We sent an email ourselves last night and have not gotten a response yet. But I think it's looking more and more like we will be remaining here. But until we get a definite answer you never know. Thanks for all your prayers and support. We'll let you know when we know.


UPDATE: We just now (11:52am) received a response to our email "Thursday without fail". So Thursday it is!

Mission Friends

Just a quick note for those of you who know our friends Tim & Stacy McIntosh. They've created a blog so if you want to keep up with what they are doing in Papua New Guinea here's your chance. Here's the link and I've added them to my Friends list. Be patient cause internet connection is not always so stable on their end. Enjoy!

McIntosh in PNG

Can I Get A Comment?

I don't know about the rest of you but I check my blog often to see if anyone has commented. It's like getting a personal letter in the mail. You're excited to see if any one is reading what you write. It's not that I'm writing about anything really that important, but I guess it's a confirmation that some one is reading it. Even if I'm just writing about getting peed on!!! :)

I guess if I expect comments, I should comment more myself. I do read everyone's blog - more often then most of you update them - but I guess even if is just a "hey, I hear ya" I should let you know.

I'm not really fishing for more comments (well, maybe), I just had an epiphany after Kevin noted that someone had commented on our last post (Fun with Paper). Which means I'm not the only one who gets excited when someone comments - so I figured most of you probably get a kick out of it too!

So that's my thought of the evening. Of course when I thought of this 3 hours ago it was a better thought, but with children, domestic duties and freelance work I'm just now getting around to this (at quarter to midnight). Hey, haven't even showered yet! And that's how most of my "blogs" never get past my head. By the time I get around to sitting down at the computer - the thought has left me and the clever words have faded into my almost non-existent memory. So while this post isn't as eloquent as my original thought I figured it worth the attempt.

BTW: Haven't heard a thing yet about SA. Pastor John said the end of the month - and I guess he's waiting till the end of the month - TOMORROW! Will keep you posted (no pun intended).

Fun with Paper

This is how we spent our Sunday afternoon with the Miami Herald! Can you find Katie in the first picture???

Merry Christmas from the Logans

Will We Go?

Hello all. I thought I'd write it all here so you'd know what we know. As most of you know we had an informal interview with Pastor John & his wife Evelyn from Cape Town South Africa (SA). They are looking for a couple to come run the FROG Center - a community center supported by Westridge Baptist Church. We were one of four couples being interviewed and we will know at the end of November if we've been chosen.

With that said here's the scoop on everything I can think that'd you'd want to know:

The FROG (Fully Rely On God) center, completed in 2002, is located specifically in Mitchells Plain, a township of Cape Town. It truly ministers to the local community, which is predominantly Muslim (only 2% of the whole country is Muslim, so...). They have a daycare, a newly started baseball team (one team I think), they feed about 200 people twice a week (Tues & Thurs), hold a Senior's Health Clinic on a monthly basis plus additional odds and ends. The center is rented out to the local community for weddings, funerals and other churches for their events. While it is a Christian center, the local Muslims are very open and friendly towards the center allowing the church to indirectly minister to the people. When the group comes to run VBS - the parent's know it's a Christian program, yet they still send their children so it's a great opening to sharing God's love and His word with a group that may otherwise not even consider such things.

Because of the economics of the area the church is unable to staff for an administrator and the locals are unable to work for little to no money so that's why missionaries. To give you an idea, as a ministry to the community they charge roughly $50 a month for the daycare. The workers are given a stipend from that, not a true salary. Pastor John says he wishes he could pay them more, "pay the worker his wages", but they are unable. Anyway, what Pastor John & Evelyn are looking for is someone to come in and help create more stable, working programs. As things are now, Pastor John is running things as well as pastoring a church. He can only do so much. Also various groups come throughout the year to minister, but once they leave there is no follow up, follow through, or anyone to continue the work.

So our job will first be to better organize what is already happening at the center and then adding on to it to further minister to the kids, to follow up on events that occur with the mission teams that come down and other things. For example, when the group comes to run the VBS Program, there is no one to follow up on those kids who have made a decision for Christ. I believe during the summer there were some students that helped run a ministry at 4 of the locals schools, but once they left there is no one to carry on the ministry.

That is something else we will be able to do. There is openness to the gospel in the local schools. You can go into the schools and preach the word of God. There are 4 area schools that Kevin would be spending his mornings at (1 school per day) doing a bible study and other activities. I will probably be spending most of my time between the actual center and home.

Also, Pastor John said that right now there are just a few students organizing their student ministry, but it's more social than anything else, no preaching, etc. So we will most likely be heading the student ministry at the church. So our Mon-Fri will be very busy. Sunday will be church - it starts at 8:30 and is usually over by 10:30-11.

They just finished building a house and totally furnishing it so we have somewhere to live (just 2 houses down from Pastor & Evelyn). When I say fully furnished I mean right down to the silverware. So we won't have to take anything with us but linens, clothes, toys and other personal things we can't live without. This means we'll probably be renting a storage unit for those things we don't want to get rid of in case we come back.

We will need to raise our own support for a minimum of 2 years - that's the commitment they are looking for. We will probably rent out our house, cause selling it would probably be impossible, plus this will give us something to come back to should we only be gone 2 years. We will probably sell our vehicles and all our other items we don't want to keep (mostly everything) so we'll keep you informed when the mega yard sale will be held, Lord willing.

A few other items of interest. Homeschooling is legal, so I will probably still do that. Healthcare is socialized, but they have private doctors as well - we'll probably go that route. Cape Town is in the Western Cape Province and is not only the capital of the Western Cape, but of South Africa's legislative branch. South Africa is a country on the continent of Africa, like the US is a country on the continent of North America. SA is divided into 9 Providences, like we have 50 states. Each providence has its own government and self rule but must adhere to the overall country's laws - like we have a state government and a federal government. SA is very modern, especially in the Western Cape, other than being in another country its looks like any other city you've seen. They speak English (British) and Afrikaans - a german/dutch language and since English is a Germatic language things are very similar. School is Skool, Fish is Vis, and then of course there are words that are very different.

If you want to know more about the country, here are a few links:

• General Information


• Afrikaans translator


• Country Stats


• Mitchells Plain


• I found a website from a group in NC that has gone to SA about 8 times. This link will show you the finished Center as they finished building it. Click here.


• This link shows the complete Center, just about 7 months before our first trip down there. Click here

Hope you enjoy the links, espeically the last two with pictures. Please pray for the Lord's will. While we're excited that we may be going, our prayer is that God's will be done and if one of the other couples is better suited to the task than so be it. But of course we hope it's us!

It's a sick, sick world

Yes, the virus demon has been attacking the Logans. It started with Emily almost a week and a half ago. She started out with a horsed voice and led to me with an ear infection. Almost a week ago Kevin started up and he's got a bacterial infection in his throat and sinuses. And Katie just started a few days ago. Luckily neither of the girls (so far) have developed anything more serious than very runny noses and a cough at night. Emily is completely over it, I think - at least 95% back to health. I have just one dose left of my antibiotic and Katie has one day left on her medicine and probably a few more days of breathing treatments. A humidifier is helping to control her cough during the night. Kevin just saw the doctor today, so he's just starting his meds. I guess we're too close of a family! :)

Here's a cute story though despite our illnesses. We have a small CD player in Emily's room. For quite a while now we have "the Ws" CD in it. It has nice dance music and so once in a while Emily says "let's dance to the moosik (phonetic Emily pronunciation). Well tonight we tried to explain that Daddy was sick, his body has an owie and he couldn't dance. So she gave him a kiss (cause that's what we do for owies) and then gave him a pill (just pretended to give him something) and declared, "Now you're all better." So Daddy sucked it up and danced a little since Dr. Emily had so successfully administered medicine to make her Daddy all better.

Can we hear a collective "ah"?

So please pray that we are healed quickly. We've been missing church, work, and very valuable play time.

Football for Little Girls

Yes it's Sunday and that means football. But how do you watch football with two little girls??? Well you make it exciting by getting excited. How do they know what's going on - well you tell them, but you have to use words they understand. So as the Giants ran the ball in for a touch down, daddy explained it this way...

Look Emily, they're running, there he goes, he running and running. Yea, goal! Now they're hugging and kissing.

That's right all you manly men out there, Kevin said that the grown men of football were hugging and kissing! Hey, how else will a little girl understand what all the huppla is about?

Pee and Poop

Yeah, that's right, pee and poop. We got our fill today all courteous of Emily.

First the poop.

See even though she's potty trained she still won't poop on the potty. "Too scary." Thank the Lord Almighty for internet, cause its a common issue (find many forums referring). So she asks for a diaper and after a few minutes of failed persuasion she does what she does. Well to help with the process we put the poop in the potty "see poo-poo goes in the potty" and she flushes it away. Only today it didn't flush. Today it overflowed all over the bathroom floor. So here I am surrounded by poop water. GROSS! And can we say GROSS!!! So with the hottest water possible with the most bleach allowable by law I cleaned the bathroom, then I took a shower! So if anyone would like to use the cleanest bathroom this side of the Mississippi...

Then comes the pee.

Well daddy puts Emily to bed and I put Katie to bed. So as her last hurrah, Emily had to go pee-pee on the potty. Well she went, and Kevin was sitting in front of her reading a magazine while she did her business. Well she sneezed. "Daddy, you're all wet!" Enough said.

So while pee and poop is something we all do, little kids seem to make it more adventurous!

Super Spy Shoes

Yes, they are super spy shoes - not princess shoes but super spy shoes. The first few days they were lined up in a row and each got to be placed on Emily's feet and trotted up and down the hallway a few times. Katie of course gets a pair for her feet and one pair to carry around. They are too funny with these shoes. Emily gets all dressed up with shoes, hat, and any accessory she can find, even a fishing pole. Katie just puts a pair on and walks around. They both get a little glint in their eye when Mommy and Daddy gloat over their beautiful shoes. Every time we head upstairs the super spy shoes are the first thing out of the box. Emily is very good about putting them back into their box when they are no longer in use. Thanks Vicky, super spy idea!

In One Voice

Sunday's worship was especially great for me. Not that the songs or anything were more inspiring it was more the atmosphere. It says that we will continually worship our Lord and God in heaven. When we worship here on earth we are participating in that heavenly worship service. As we sing songs to our God, those in His presence are singing as well. It makes me think of those who have gone home - loved ones, heroes of the faith known and unknown. Worship is the one time we do something with them. We worship here while they worship there - but we are worshipping together. That's why it was best this Sunday. The music was lower than usual and you could really hear the voices even though I was in the back. You could hear the whole congregation singing and worshipping God. That's what makes the worship especially good for me - when I can hear everyone as we worship our God and Savior together in one voice.

My Princesses

Aren't they the cutest!! It's a comment, not a question :) Thanks Vicky for these "princess" dresses. They were the hit at church - the bells of the ball. Katie didn't care much but Emily was twirling and loving it all.

The Young and the Innocent

Well, this video says it all. Aguirre, we're watching you!

So Sweet!

Okay, I have to brag, my Emily did something so sweet today. My poor little Katie is hating life. I am desperately trying to ween her. She's still nursing too often. Emily was completely weened by now. Anyway, as I wrestled with my 15 month old over not nursing I finally got fed up and sat her on the couch to get over it. I figured holding her was just too much temptation, plus I was tired of physically fighting her.

So I'm in the kitchen finishing up prep-work for dinner when I hear big sister Emily sit down next to her little sister, say "don't cry" and give her a kiss. OMG it's the absolute cutest, sweetest thing ever!!!! She was comforting her little sister. It is so tender to see not only her comforting her little sister, but to know she understands and chose to try to help another person.

Am I Your Servant?

I read an article in Homeschooling Today that really convicted me. Made me cry actually. It's hard to see your own sin untill it is brought into the light. The article is written by a mom with two small children, just like me. She begins the article describing my day, my feelings, my thoughts. Two kids yelling for this or that. Lack of sleep (yes Katie still wakes 2 times a night - and Emily is now in the habit of coming in - in the middle of the night).

Then she moves onto thoughts I admittedly have had, what was life before kids. If they weren't here, what would I be doing? I remember how we went away for weekends, spontaneously left the house at 9pm for coffee at the bookstore or a movie. Now, be assured, I would NEVER have my life any other way. I have NEVER wished I wasn't blessed with these two wonderful girls, but in the stress of the moments and day, you wonder.

Anyway, she continues with longings I too have, to use the bathroom without an audience, to simple go through one day without picking up the same toy off the floor for the 3rd time, or watching the same video for the 5th time. Then she notes, "My children have shown me something about myself I never would have learned any other way: I am selfish." Wow! It's true. Like this woman I lived my life the way I chose to live it. I served, helped, supported because I wanted to. With children, especially little children, there is no choice. You must feed them, care for them, clean up after them. "I was thrust into the role of on-call servant, like it or not."

Like her, this sudden thrust into every moment, every breath servitude is not so exciting. I like how she puts it. "They ignored my complaints, God didn't" Yes… You are their servant. Great! [my same thought] I wanted a littel sympathy, a little help, a little cooperation. Instead I got conviction." Me too. I really appreciated this part:
The fledging servant in my wants to tell my husband, Go.. to the gym. But the sinful me says "What?! All week you go to a clean, quiet office while I'm stuck in a messy house with loud, demanding children. I'm the one who should go to the gym! the only exercie I had this week was sixty knee bends with a laundry basket.". Actually mine is "you get to eat a quiet lunch, have a quiet moment, go to the bathroom all by yourself, read a book..."

Mark 9:35 says, If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all. Galations 2:20 says "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." Like the author I will try my best to live the servant life for my family. I will put myself last. As she puts it, I will put my selfisness into Time Out and be the mom and wife God wants me to be. With that said, Jesus did not neglect His own needs. He took time to eat and rest and "regularly withdrew from the crowds. He understood the need to be 'filled up' in order to give out." So mommy needs her quiet time too, which I do get. Not as often as I probably would like, but there are times when I get time to do my thing, delve into my selfishness a bit. But I also have to remeber that Jesus gave up so much more than me. Suffered so much more than my petty frustrations over spilled milk. I will try to adhere to the lesson learned and the speaking of God in my life. I am a servant, and whether it's to my family, friends or God, it's a life that reflects the actions of Christ and His servant attitude.

"What Am I Your Servant?" by Lorraine Pintus, Homeschooling Today July/August 2007

What's the difference?

I don't know if you do this, but I often wonder what's the difference between like items that have different names. Like, what is the difference between a sofa and a couch. What's the difference between a liquid and a fluid. A frog and a toad, supper and dinner...
Here are the answers if you didn't know either:
Sofa & Couch

They are actually the same thing. If you look at dictionary.com sofa uses the word "couch" in the definition. The word couch is more detailed but in the end the definition is a sofa. Another interesting note a couch is also a lair for a wild beast! Maybe that's why people make out on the couch!

Liquid & Fluid

Again referring to dictionary.com A liquid commonly refers to substances, as water, oil, alcohol, and the like, that are neither solids nor gases: Water ceases to be a liquid when it is frozen or turned to steam. A fluid is applied to anything that flows, whether liquid or gaseous. So a fluid can consist of a liquid or gas, where a liquid is just that, a liquid

Frog & Toad

Frog lives mostly in water, toad live mostly on land.

Supper & Dinner

Supper is eaten later than dinner. I guess after standard dinner time you're eating supper!

That's it. Have a great day!

It's a slumber party

Just wanted to post this pic of the logan girls and aguirre boys. We got a taste of the big family life. Now we have a minor taste of the Dugard family. Just a small, small taste. The kids had fun playing. John and Emily played with disc guns, giving each other high-fives and hugs after each emptied their guns. The whole gang joined in filling a box with all the toys several times. Emily would dump the box once it was filled to the top. It's a large box by the way. Joshie played with a train and car for awhile and Katie sat with her babies. They had a small treat - cheez-its and just as they settled in, Vicky and Dave showed up to ruin the fun (JK). It took just 15 minutes for Emily to fall asleep - a record. Katie must be teething cause she fought it till I gave up and just laid in our bed with her at 10:30. Oh well. It was a fun evening. Now they owe us one! Hehe.

Little Ballerina

This one's mainly for Jescel. Here's my little ballerina. She twirls and points. Now if I can just find a class for her! You see, she keeps nagging me to take a class and be in the show! She's too CUTE!

In our own world.

If you've read Jescel's blog you'll know that her mother passed away yesterday evening Miami time. I've actually just arrived home from dropping her and Joe off at the airport. Just sitting with my friend as she came to realize that her mother was no longer with us (for she is present with the Lord) made me think of a few things.

I have often thought of how we live in our own world. Last night I cooked dinner for my family as my friend learned her mother died. What were you doing? So often we go about our day, mundane, same thing different day while other lives are being changed dramatically. While you sit here reading this blog someone is having a baby, someone has had a car accident, someone is dying...

We don't really think about these things until we're the ones living in the center of these major events of life. Yet every moment of every day there are dramatic changes occuring. Salvation, damnation, new life, a life extinguished all while we wash the dishes or go about our normal, everyday lives.

So some where in the world, at this moment, someone's life has changed in just a matter of seconds. Someone is grieving while someone is washing dishes.

God is Good!!! (OF COURSE HE IS!)

Tomorrow Kevin and I will begin helping David and Vicky with the student ministry. Just making this decision has brought on many blessings from the Lord. (Getting a little naked here); one area is our finances. Things were getting very tight. I was getting a bit nervous, but continually reminded myself that God will provide. Even when writing the tithe check made things even scarier. But I know that God is a God of overflowing love and blessings and He would not allow us to wallow. So I just waited to see how He would provide. I'm getting more work (I had none for 3 months) and we can breath a little easier. God's provision. I take these blessings as a confirmation that we are doing God's will. That this is where we are to be at this time and place and that He can be trusted (of course!).

How will you decide?

I was driving around yesterday and Glenn Beck was on. For the football season he does "Moron Trivia". This entails calling convenient store workers (4 each) in each city that will be playing the Sunday game. I think this week is Tampa and New Orleans. He asks a series of questions and his theory is which every city answers the most correctly, that's the team that will win. So if the workers from Tampa answer the most questions correctly Tampa will win the game.

Anyway, one of the questions was "Can you name 3 candidates who are running for the Democrats?" The one gentleman could name two - Clinton and Obama. Glenn then asked if he knew who he was voting for. The man answered Clinton. Why? Because he felt we needed a more delicate touch in the White House. A change of pace.

Glenn of course had a sarcastic comment which was appropriate and it had me thinking. How will you decide who you vote for? Will their personalities, looks, how many times you hear their name said get your vote? That's the problem with our country, politics have become a popularity contest. We (as a people) no longer bother to look at the issues. Whether dem or rep, we should be voting for that person who best reflects our own beliefs, morality ,etc. We are a government of the people - have we become so shallow that we have allowed our politicians to be just as shallow.

I saw an interview (sorry don't remember specifics) with a polling expert and they did a not-so-political survey on the candidates. Who was the creepiest, who did you think was just telling you want you wanted to hear, who seemed more trustworthy - what amazed me was that most of the dems seemed to get the most percentages on the down side (like Clinton was tops on the creepy survey and tickling your ear) and rep on the upside(most trustworthy, etc) yet we're a country almost completely divided between the two. If you can't trust them, why are you voting for them, just because you're registered as a dem and they're a dem?

Decide who you will vote for on their principles, their morals, based on what you believe to be the best whether it's the war, abortion, medicare, finances, etc. Don't vote for the person who is most popular, who's name you can remember when you get to the voting booth - who will lead our country is an important factor, one that I totally believe most people in this country don't care about.

Remember Sept 11, 2001. Bush had only been in office 9 months but what did we hear all over the country - "we're glad bush is pres and not gore!" If and when we are attacked again, who would you be glad is in charge - clinton?, obama? thompson? gulliani? Because unfortunaltely this is the world we live in today and this is something the next president will have to deal with. Not only preventing it, but reacting should something happen. Do you think Hilary Clinton will react with the force that these people understand? Do you think Gulianni will know how to defend our country? These, among other things, matter. Let that be how you decide who will be our next president, not "cause we need something different." Different is not always better!

Getting Naked

Watching the mynakedpastor.com throughout the day. Keep catching him sleeping or writing. Did watch the FishBowl this evening. Even got my question discussed. Yeah, me. Saw Marcy when she came to pick up her hubby - who seems to have spent the whole day there.

Anyway, I thought in the spirit of things we'd let you into our world a bit. Here are some things you may not have known about the Logans.

Kevin: Ran track and played tennis in high school; ran a marathon; was a certified lifeguard; qualified for AF Special Forces; worked on the F-16; was on the Honor Guard; shook hands with Hilary Clinton in Savannah GA right before Clinton ran for pres (didn't know who she was at the time); drove a motorcycle; hates the cold; parents divorced when he was 11; has 1 older brother and 3 younger sisters with 4 nieces and 4 nephews; became a Christian when he was 12 after his brother told him he was sliding down a greased poll into hell and satan was laughing at him (nothing like fear to motivate).

Holly: Was in choir elementary through middle school; a cheerleader; was an avid Stephen King fan (still have some 1st editions); have autograph book from Charlton Heston and magazine from Jack Kingston; first job was at a movie theater on Campbell Dr. & US 1 (no longer there); was in the math club in middle school (geek); was co-editor of the yearbook; never beenwater skiing; honor society (bigger geek); used to go to dance clubs on S. Beach in high school; listened to punk music (Dead Kennedy's,Fagazi etc); danced in a pit once with skinheads (got a bit beat up); never -ever - ever did drugs; spent first Christmas in Germany (father stationed there in army); have one younger sister; spent 8 weeks in Israel in Feb-Mar 1988; climbed Masada at 4:30am; was on a bus attacked by arabs near Gaza Strip while in Israel; wore a size 2 in college!; half german half jew; came to Christ at age 20; WKBC was my first church.

US: worked at the same theatre at different times (South Dade 8 in Cutler Ridge - though no longer a theatre); worked together at JCrew outlet in Hilton Head SC; lived around the corner from each other in Savannah GA; honeymooned at Disney, 1st real vacation in Estes Park Colorado; love Bond and Jackie Chan movies; love our little girls and each other!

Beat This

Well Kevin got it into his head to challenge the Chanti and friends dance on Marcy's blog (and youtube). So here's the challenger's version. Hope you enjoy - we did!!!

Fred for Prez

So our canditate of choice has finally entered the game. Go Fred!

Hot & Spicy Blessings

It's funny how we often only praise God for the large blessings - the large things. But He works in the small areas too. Just the simple every day, ordinary things that we probably don't even think twice about. We got one of those wonderfully small blessings today. Since Kevin is on vacation this week we've been out doing things with the kids. Of course the day we chose to go to the pool it storms instead of in the late afternoon like the previous days. So here we are all packed in the car, wet from our 10 minutes at the pool with no food in the house (need to get to the grocery store). So we decide to get lunch at Taco Bell. We place our order, move very slowly up to the second window to pay and get our food only to find a snag. Apparently the credit card machine suddenly stopped working. Well, we put almost absolutely everything on our credit cards and I rarely have cash on me. So he says he can hold it while we run to the ATM to get cash. My darling husband recommends, "How about you just give it to us and say Merry Christmas". Well Merry Christmas cause we got lunch for free!!! It suddenly struck me as we headed home with our bounty - God just gave us lunch for free. Saved us about $11. It reminded me of something that happend oh so long ago when we first started attending West Kendall.

WKBC use to met in a store front where the Babies-R-Us is. The evening service was a more relaxed atmosphere, yet they still took up an offering. Earlier in the day I had gotten my hair cut and Kevin was walking around waiting for me. During his walk he found a dollar. I told him to put it in the offering plate. He was like "It's just a dollar". But he put it in anyway.

We had a couple-friend who were both in the Coast Guard and the husband was out of town so we invited his wife, Tracy, to have a quick bite to eat at Pizza Hut. We each ordered the same thing, soda and a personal pan pizza. As we were finishing up the waiter came to our table. "I have bad news and good news. The bad news is I gave your bill to the other table, who have already paid and left. The good news is their bill is smaller than yours." It worked out that one of our meals was free - we got three meals for the price of two. I totally believe it was because we trusted the Lord with the small things - $1. And he multiplited it.

While I don't think we should look for the devil behind every misfortune I totally think we should praise God for every fortune, no matter how small. He knows that even the small things - like $11 - can be a blessing. Plus free food just tastes so much better! :)

Thanks for Godly friends...

I was just sitting here reading through everyone's blogs and realizing what Godly people I know. Its great to see how everyone is able to praise Him not only in His blessings but even among their trials and struggles. It's an inspiration to know that I have the privelage of surrounding myself with people who love the Lord no matter what. Who know and trust Him in all things.

In our transitions to parents, a new church, and the inability to fully serve (which we miss) it's been hard to see the Lord sometimes. I guess I feel a bit lost, out of place. To go from serving almost full bore to basically nothing is a hard place to be. I long for the days where we were serving, but know that my children are my first ministry. I keep telling myself once Katie is fully weened, I will be more free to do something, anything. Maybe not like before, but I know I am still able to do something. I love the church we're at now - planning to become members - and know it takes time to get plugged in, but I still long for that joy in serving my Heavenly Father and His bride.

But thanks to each of you for being such Godly men and women. For loving the Lord and sharing that love and insight with me and each other. I will continue to pray that His blessings will fill your hearts and souls and that you will continue to share it in your messages.

YouTube Test

I want to see if I can figure this out.


I did it. We've got two other videos on youtube. Check 'em out if you want...

Geeky & Weird

Well, in two days (Sept. 1st) it will be 17 years Kevin and I have been together. I've been with Kevin almost half my life (we started dating when I was 19, he was 24). Wow, so long ago, 19 years old seems so long ago. So what has it been like being with the same person for so long. GREAT! He's my best friend, confidant, sounding board, the world's best dad and husband. Sure we've had our down and outs, but what relationship hasn't? But I keep saying, after 17 years I still like him a whole lot. There's a line from a song from the Fiddler on the Roof - "Swiftly fly the years, one season following another laden with happiness and tears" (Sunrise, Sunset). It's been 17 years of more happiness than tears, unless you count tears from laughing so hard you can barely breath.

That was one of the first things that attracted me to the love of my life. I know now that when he's nervous, he gets funny. Well he must have been nervous the first time we met face to face cause he had me laughing the whole time. Speaking of the first time we met, that's sort of where the title for this blog comes in. Kevin and I spent our first "meeting" over the telephone. We had a mutual friend and I don't really remember how or why, but we started talking on the phone. For almost two weeks that was the extent of our relationship. He was stationed at Homestead Air Force Base (no longer if full service since Hur. Andrew), so growing up just a few blocks from the base I had a prejudice about the looks of an air force man. Plus, Kevin has a really, I mean really, nice voice. So you get an image in your mind of what a person looks like. Well, let's just say he didn't look anything like I thought he would. He was very tall, very thin - geeky looking. But now, of course, I think he's gorgeous.

So where does the weird come into play? Well, I haven't asked him directly, but I'm sure he had an image in his head of what I would look like. Now I had just finished my first year of art school and well, I dressed a bit "weird". I still remember what I wore since he can - jean shorts that were cut from jeans that were like 4 sizes too big for me (back then I was nice and skinny - size 4 - maybe too skinny, anyway...), a thick black belt that kept them up, black loafers, no socks (you will rarely find Kevin without socks on - pool, shower, that's about it). I think I was just wearing a white t-shirt, he said I was pretty, but dressed weird.

So we often joke about how I thought he was geeky looking and how he thought I was dressed weird. Yet the geek and the weirdo fell in love, got married, traveled, had kids, and like each other very much after 17 years.

Picture of us just a year after we started dating. I was visiting his family for the first time.

She Stepped In It

Okay, now that things have settled and the kids are playing I can relax and relay my story.

You see one-year-olds have the ability to remove their diapers. (Do you know where this is going??) I mean, its only velcro so what's so difficult right? Well Katie's in the habit of removing her diaper quite frequently and most times I just let her be. They came into the world naked, and they have no shame still, so why not let her enjoy the freedom while its cute to see a little tush running around the house.

Any way, she removed her diaper. What I didn't realize is she pooped. Not only did she poop, she stepped in it! Only thing is I didn't know this until she came prancing into the living room with her foot covered in poop! Now you think I would be grossed out or whatever, but after 3 years of changing poo-poo diapers it was the least of my concerns. I was most freaked out about poop being all over the floor from the kitchen to the living room. Not that it's a great distance, but still... So first of course I cleaned up the kid, that was the easy part.

What really struck me is how stumped I was on how to clean the floor. Do I get on my hands and knees with a towel and bleach? No that's too close to inhaling fumes and the girls are here. Do I mop? Then I have to worry about keeping them off the floor, cause it gets really, super slippery when the tile is wet. It took me like 5 minutes to think of how to proceed. I was dumbfounded on how to do this. Weird. Well I mopped. I blocked of the area with chairs to keep Katie off the wet floor and every thing is fine now.

What a morning!!!

I've heard that stepping in dog doo is good luck. Any luck for stepping in your own??!!! LOL

Little Girl Turns 3

Well it's official, my Emily turned 3 today! It made me cry to remember that only 3 years ago I gave birth to this little girl, my first born. This little, delicate being who made me a mommy. The reason we are now a family.

You want the baby back - and yet you're excited to see the person they will become. So you spend a lot of time praying that God will give you the wisdom you need to lead them the way they should go. Boy, being a parent is hard. You have to discipline when all you want is to spoil them. You want to hold them forever, but your ultimate goal is to teach them to do for themselves so they can go into the world. You pray that you do it right. The hard part is you have to wait years before you know if you did it right! Aaagh!!!

I realized today that all the times my parents said no, there WAS a good reason for it. Oh no, I'm a parent!!! Hope my parents don't read this!!!

Daddy's Girls

Here's daddy with his girls - minus the main girl (me)!

Greatness

I'm sitting here watching Sesame Street with the girls. Well Katie has fallen asleep. But Ernie is imagining himself being a knight and sailor. It made me think (yes SS can be thought provoking!) Notice how we always daydream about greatness. I mean when we have little fantasies, we always have greatness - great dancer, world known singer, millionaire, skateboarder extraordinaire, etc. Great at whatever is our passion, or secret passion. And though these thoughts of greatness may have a sense of nobility behind them (like using your millions to help the unfortunate, etc) we never daydream about being less.

This led to the thought that I will never be great. I mean in the scheme of things I am unknown to the world. You will never see my life's story on the Biography channel, or a mention of me in history books. I won't even make "Where are they now?" For those I've known in the past, I'm a face in the crowd. We may remember faces, but honestly how many names do we really remember? Maybe only those who were dear to us at a specific time in our lives. And even some of those names elude me more often than not. Don't worry this isn't as depressing as it sounds. While I may remain anonymous to the world, Someone knows how many hairs are on my head.

Its funny to think that God created me, knew of me before the beginning of the world! He fashioned me, weaved my DNA together to make me who I am. I totally believe that my past experiences (which God controls), good and bad, have shaped me into the person I am today. Someone who can be used by Him.

Well I've been asked to help build a sandcastle by Emily made out of the bed sheets. Hope it's not too sandy! :)

Remeber, you are KNOWN, LOVED, & GREAT in the eyes (and heart) of the King of Kings!!!



Psalm 139:13-16
Jeremiah. 1:5

First timer!

My very first blog. I don't even read blogs but Jescel's helping me. I'm not sure what to do with this, but I guess I'd better get up to speed huh! I'm the mommy of two girls, Emily 3 and Katie 1. Wife to hubby #1, the perfect, most handsome, great dresser, make you laugh so hard you cry Kevin. Once upon a time I was a graphic designer working with a design firm, working on large catalogs, brochures, even a few websites. Now just a full time mom. Hardest job yet!

I do miss working sometimes, but love being home with the girls. My Emily is just turning 3 and I'm still trying to get use to the fact that we have children period. We never planned on having kids, but left room for the Lord to work. After 10 years of marriage (just celebreated year 14, wow!) we found out we were having a baby. Actually thought I had the flu. Christmas eve I found out "no, your pregnant!" So Merry Christmas. Ms. Katie (now just a year old) was another blessed surprise. Since I knew what being pregnant felt like (nausea, extreme tiredness) I told Kevin. He thought I was being neurotic. (Am a bit of a hypochrondriac). Took a pregnancy test, yep pregnant. So the sweet couples life turned into mommy-daddy life two times over in less than two years. The only regret I have is I wish I had them sooner. I decided in middle school that I didn't want children. I like kids, believed in the miracle of having children- just didn't desire them for myself. Now that I have two wonderful little girls I wish I had them younger.

But glad we had the time to do things, like hike in Colorado, two mission trips to Cape Town South Africa and just do couple things like movies at midnight, sitting at the bookstore drinking tea and looking at books for free. But all in all, kids are great. I had a friend say that she loves each of her children (she's got 4) at the age they are now. I understand. The baby is walking better and better and so cute, but Emily says the funniest things and you have to laugh, even when you're trying to discipline!

Well, don't want to wear your eyes out on my first ever blog so I look forward to this new experience, maybe a new outlet for some of my thoughts and frustrations and whatevers.