Life with the Logans

Maybe

2011-06-13T21:49:00.000-07:00

I think with the advent of FB, blogs everywhere have been abandoned - ours included. Maybe I'll start it up again. Maybe not. But I couldn't leave it be...

Oh here's a tidbit.

Got one of those Butterfly Gardens... should have released them today as planned, but we didn't and you know what I got now? Mating butterflies. Two females apparently, who haven't moved from their spots in over 6 hours after being gooped by the male.

I mean they've only been out of their chrysalis since Sunday. They move fast!

Hope releasing them tomorrow won't be too late.

Where does the time go...

2010-02-11T17:48:00.000-08:00

I don't know why but I just checked our very neglected blog and realized its been 8 months since I wrote anything. But things have happened...
In September Kevin got his job back with ATT, but we had to move to Alabama. So we packed up and moved, thanks to lots of friends and family to Daphne Alabama. A suburb of sorts of Mobile. Its about a 12 hour drive back to Homestead. We spent our first Christmas away from family and friends for the first time. But my parents and my sister with her family came up for a visit the week after which made it very nice.
Joe & Jescel blessed us with their presence for the Thanksgiving weekend and we cooked WAY too much food. I have pics, but I'll post them later, maybe.
So we're adjusting to kinder, gentler people. Slower driving, colder winters, and finding our way around. I'm not one to sit so we've explored, but admittedly the colder weather has kept us native Floridians inside. I've made some really nice friends, other moms and its good to have friends who are living similar lives. They're totally helpful and though I tend to be on the shier side, I'm making an effort to step out and do things like play groups, MOPS and park days. And since I've got 5% juice left on the computer I'm saying good night for now. But I'm gonna try to be more consistent - especially if we get snow tonight!!!

Hello Again

2009-06-05T14:57:00.000-07:00

Wow, its been quite awhile since our last post!! April 11th. Where have we been????
Well, still here, enjoying the storming weather. We're doing fine, getting along fine, moving along fine, but I guess nothing to write about. :(
Well, that's not totally true. We've got a first!!!!
The girl's First movie, and our first movie as a family and my first movie in about 5 years!!!!!!!! Yep you read right. Its been roughly 5 years since I've stepped foot inside a movie theater. How you say? Kids is my answer. First I was too pregnant that the thought of sitting that long was unthinkable, plus what if I went into labor! Then just when it got settled down??? pregnant again! Why can't that man leave me alone?! LOL.
So we saw UP. Very cute, the girls enjoyed. Stood, asked questions, made comments - ah movies with kids. So of course, being the geeky parents that we are - we took pics! Kevin paid the next day with his back, but he didn't want to miss out on this first.
The movie? Cute of course. Made me cry in the beginning and of course had the girls asking questions, but a nice little tale - pixar rocks!!!
So hopefully not too long until my next post. I'll try to share more, stay in touch more, keep you up to date on our ordinary lives.

WHAT A WEEK!!!!!

2009-04-11T17:53:00.000-07:00

Ever have one of those weeks? We did. Now, it wasn't a week you regret or cause you to want to hide under your pillow - but it was a crazy wild week. One thing after the other. Most of it good, one thing - not so good!
First we got to enjoy the Fair totally free!!! Thank you Lord and thank you Aunt Tobe. We paid $4 for a huge lemonade and that was the extend of it. The girls had a blast riding on the kiddie rides, especially Emily. Her favorite, based on the size of her smile, was the Himalayan. It basically went around and up and down, but she had a complete blast. She also enjoyed the roller coaster. I think she'll have to travel with her Aunt Melinda & Uncle K.C. if she wants to do anything more wild than a kiddie coaster - cause this mommy & daddy don't do coasters!

Second event, well this will be short, was my birthday. Love how the girls got gifts on MY birthday. They were picked out for me, but what I was going to do with two princess crowns and a Dora and Princess watch are beyond me?! LOL. And as you can see from the pictures, Katie and my nephew Malachi were anxiously awaiting the cutting of the cake. Thanks to my dad for cooking me a BBQ meal - my sister made amazing wings, and we had a nice time celebrating. There's also a pic of an exhausted Katie who fell asleep watching TV on the chair and a pic of her hair on a very curly day.

And lastly, the not so good part. We had an Aguirre event. About a week after we moved in, we replaced the carpeting with pergo lament. This Wednesday we stepped on the floor and water gushed up between the seams. Uh, oh! On Thursday Kevin set about ripping up the base boards, quarter round, and flooring - yep major water! But from where?
We thought the toilet (our room shares the wall with the bathroom). My dad removed the toilet, but everything looked okay with the pipes. So what could it be? Maybe the bathtub??? So I filled the tub full of water and then pulled the plug. Within a few seconds a flood of water came through the wall into our room! So it was the tub. After cutting into the drywall and exposing the plumbing that's directly connected to the tub - we discovered the culprit. A HUGE crack in the pipe. So every time water when through that pipe - it came into our room!!! For Three Months!!!!! So in one day Kevin & my dad replaced the toilet, repaired the pipe and by 8pm the bathroom was back in working order.
However, the concrete floor is still moist so we're waiting for it to dry before replacing the flooring. Tomorrow the plan is to cut out any damaged drywall and replace it. The fortunate part of all this is my parents are home on vacation, so Kevin & my dad were able to spend the whole day fixing the issue. Mom and I ran to Home Depot a few times to get the things they needed especially when they used a chiseler to remove the concrete flooring around the pipe so they could remove it. They wore earplugs, we left the house!

So that was our week. Hope your's was just as exciting! LOL. Monday is back to a normal routine - homeschool, housework and the rest. This week already looks promising with a few new things on the horizon. Have a great week and remember HE IS RISEN!!!! God blessings to everyone this glorious day.

Kid Crazy

2009-04-02T18:00:00.000-07:00

Holly it's too quiet, where are they? and what are they doing? Then a little noise, a little giggling, and then a click! In the bathroom? Minny mouse and Barbie on the toilet together, this was there last picture with my 300 dollar camera. Lets hope Disney and Mattel don't see this.

Life in Motion

2009-03-10T06:44:00.000-07:00

Here's Kev's first play-around with iMovie. Not bad - of course the subject is my favorite! LOL

here's just a vid of Katie and a pop tart - she's too funny.

And lastly Emily enjoying some ice-cream and veggin' out on the TV!

Our Favorite Jon

2009-02-28T12:42:00.000-08:00

We had the privilege of watching Jon play soccer this afternoon. The girls were very excited and Kevin took the opportunity to take some pictures with our new telephoto lens. He's a cutie and was a real joy to watch, as you'll see from the variety of his game faces! We especially enjoy the picture of Jon & Emily walking along after the game, like a high-school-jock-with-his-girl moment.

It was a great game and everyone did a great job, even Coach Dave! Don't worry mommy, I'll have a CD for you at church tomorrow. And I thought this was a great shot. (Jon's the one in the middle with his tongue out)

Two Weeks...

2009-02-20T16:08:00.000-08:00

Well we have been busy. Third week of home schooling and we're chuggin' on. This week has been rough. Its been good, lots of little extra projects, but Emily's been less than cooperative and I haven't really been in the mood, but we both got it done. Its not always so exciting, but I guess I'm enjoying all the extra projects. For Valentine's we baked heart shaped cakes. The girls did all the mixing and pouring and we even colored the cakes. For Prez Day we make magnetic badges and today we painted sugar cookies. They didn't come out like I thought, but the girls enjoyed the painting part - and of course the eating part.

I'm also adding in a little science. On Thursday we listened to our hearts. My mom (elem science teacher) provided the stethoscope so we listened to our heart at rest then the fun part!! Bouncing on a trampoline got our hearts going. We listened to them pounding harder and faster. Emily was impressed but more interested in bouncing. Next week we'll be growing a soybean. I got this little kit so you can see the roots and everything. They got excited about growing green peppers in south africa so hopefully they'll enjoy this too.

We also got some more work done around the house. My parents had (had) a gazebo type thing attached to the porch, so the hubby took to tearing it down. I got to clean out the adjacent flower beds. We'll hopefully be planting some veggies and herbs there. The struggling rose plant is going to that big garden in the sky.

And here's just a picture of Emily being silly. It was a site to see!

On the job front we've got some things moving and shaking but nothing concrete. It feels like we've been here forever, but it just been over 2 months! But we're trusting in the Lord because He is faithful, He will never leave us or forsake us, He has a purpose and a plan, He will direct our paths. And so we lean on Him and not on our own understanding. But trust me, we do question, we do complain, we do beg to know why, and then we come to our senses and remember that He's in control!

Its Official

2009-02-17T14:29:00.000-08:00

We're poor! LOL

We got our taxes done today. It made me laugh. Don't know why. Maybe seeing the real figures on paper made me realize the scope of our predicament. But hey, what can we do?

The good thing about being poor? Lots of extra deductions and special "poor people" tax breaks. So now we're waiting to see what God has in store next!

Don't worry, I'm not. It really does make me laugh inside. Maybe its a nervous laugh, maybe its a "how did we get here" laugh, or maybe its a "can't wait to see how God pulls us out of this one" laugh. As the good word says (that sounds a little southern doesn't it?) in Matthew 6:25-34

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Plus Paul says in Philipians 4:12-13:

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Treasure or Trash

2009-02-13T17:54:00.001-08:00

Oh it could have been such a beautiful picture of my little Katie, but the camera caught something we obviously missed!

Don't see it? Click on the pic for a better view.

First Week Of School

2009-02-06T10:55:00.000-08:00

Yes, it was OUR first week of home school. After readjusting, moving, readjusting, settling in and the rest I FINALLY got to start home schooling Emily. Our first week went well. She was eager to do the work, which at this level takes about 45 minutes.
We pray with Daddy, then its Bible study, phonics, numbers, review and an activity.

Our first week was a study in Creation (where else should you begin but in the beginning!) She learned her first Bible verse.

I just used the camera on the computer to record. We did record a cleaner version, but this was just easier. Sorry for my laziness. Must be the cold. And yes, that's a camera - she was taking pictures

We worked on the letter "i", its sound and names (capital and little).

We also worked on our numbers. We were to work on 1-2-3, but she caught on really quick so I added 4. She had to tell me the number, then show me how many items were equivalent to that number. We used some plastic Easter eggs I found in my mom's closet. I had to keep searching the house for them because the girls kept playing with them. (hey, my own Easter egg hunt!) I did start out with 10, but 2 have gone missing. Good thing they're not real eggs! Thus she had to borrow two eggs from the #3 to complete the necessary amount needed for #4.

We did have more pics from earlier in the week, but the camera did something weird and they're all gone. Which stinks because the pictures from Kevin's trip to Colorado with the snow and his visit to New Jersey are gone forever. He's most upset about the picture of his grandmother who is quite sick, and at 89, that's not always a good thing. Anyway…

Yes, we did most days in our pajamas. But we're that kind of family. If we don't have plans to be out first thing, we can spend all day in them. Especially when its cold outside. Nice warm pajamas just seem to keep the cold out better. But I promise myself I will be more disciplined next week and get dressed first. But we did start on time - 9am - so that was a bonus. One step at a time.

Our special project was making a tree from leaves we picked off the ground outside.

And since we were talking about creation, what better place to experience God's handy work than the zoo. So off we went. Got our annual pass so we're set (now we know we'll be moving soon - just from experience). Here's a few pic from that.

So that's our news of the week. So each morning I turn into "teacher mommy" (she just started calling me that) and Emily becomes "student Emily". Katie's participation is limited. She does most of the coloring work. Emily's not so much into it. It took her two days to finish one picture. She does dig the computer though.

The Battle

2009-01-27T07:20:00.000-08:00

Accessories

2009-01-26T06:01:00.000-08:00

Katie's too funny, and too cute. Here she poses with all her divaness. As I type she's got another outfit going with purse, wand and princess shoes. The shoes are courtesy of Vicky and your money was well spent! They trance around in these shoes all day!!!

Spreading the Word

2009-01-26T05:46:00.001-08:00

Thanks Kristel for posting this. Thought I'd post it too. Who's Norma McCorvey? Watch and you'll find out. I think its amazing that she never had one!

We're Still Here

2009-01-21T18:22:00.001-08:00

Thought I'd stop by and say hi to those of you who keep in contact via blog. We're still trying to figure out what's what. Some days are fine (most days), but some days are full of anger (like today) at our situation, at the person who we feel put us here, and just the general state of our lives.
I've often thought about how our lives (people in general) go day by day, yet for someone, today is not an ordinary day. As one person lives their life as they lived it yesterday, for another today is absolutely nothing like yesterday. I feel like that person. I know life goes on, why shouldn't it, but for me, today (figuratively speaking) is NOTHING like yesterday. Yesterday I was serving God, working with kids, learning how to live in a foreign country. Yesterday I was seeing kids come to know Christ as Lord, seeing Him change their lives. Hoping to see them moved radically for God. Yesterday we were planning a high school ministry to reach "the unreachable."
Today I'm (we're) trying to figure out what happened. Why am I now living with my parents, with seemingly no foreseeable future. Now I'm wondering what it was all about, why we were asked (by man and God) to go in the first place.
I know, I know, God has a plan. I know He is faithful. Its just hard when you're sitting in the pit to see that tiny speck of light at the top and wonder when and if you'll be able to make it out.
I'm tired of thinking about it. I'm tired of waiting for something, anything to happen. We are moving, we are looking, we are interviewing, we are trying, but every thing's in slow motion. Every thing's so far off. Each option has hope, each option has pros, but each option has its obstacles.
Okay, I didn't mean this to be a bandage ripped off for you to see the wounds - but I'm going to post it anyway. Why not right? To sort of segue a bit, I was thinking about 2008. What did it teach me? What did I get from it?
• God can ask an awful lot!
• Man, no matter how righteous he APPEARS to be, is still man
• We have an amazingly supportive family
• We have some amazing friends! (You will never truly know how much your words of encouragement from start to finish have meant.)
• We have been so blessed by those who's faces we've never had the pleasure to glance upon.
• God can speak to us so clearly that we can't hear anything else
• I have an amazingly, humble, and heroic husband.
• God loves me and He knows
• I'm "empty-handed by I'm safe in His hand"

Happy Birthday

2009-01-13T04:52:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to take a moment and say Happy birthday to my wonderful husband! He is my hero, best friend and the rest. (Don't want to get too mushy). I always say after all these years (18 years- wow!) I still like him so much!
He's the best daddy. He loves his girls more than anything. He's their daddy, and you couldn't tell him or them anything different! He's always a source of strange information. He knows really weird words, like pugilist, and almost every geographical position of every country of the world. I didn't even know the position of all the States until I married him (shame I know). He's taught me lots about things I had no interest in before, but now can at least have an intelligent conversation.
He's often the braun when we do what ever project I've convinced him we can do. He's my jester, confidant, debator, political insider and sports almanac and encyclopedia. Though I can do a play-by-play pretty well, if I do say so (and I do). No, I don't always agree with his point of view, but don't tell him that! :)
So just wanted to brag on the perfect husband (yeah, I know you THINK your husband is perfect too - but my husband IS perfect - for me!) Okay, maybe not perfect, but close enough. God gave me the man I needed, strong but gentle. He's not afraid to say what needs to be said if the occasion calls for it. So very long ago, on one of our first dates we were at a restruarnt. He returned his steak because it wasn't cooked the way he liked it. For some reason that impressed me (still remember it 18 years later!) I guess cause I would have just eaten it.
He's a man who loves his family, and loves his Lord. He's heart's desire is to serve Him and to walk the path that God has for us. He wants to hear those words (as do we all) "Well done good and faithful servant." He's probably more knowledgeable than some of you may think, that's accolades for Pastor Basile who encouraged him even when he was far from home.
He's a servant of his country, having served in the Air Force and a provider for his family. He's generous, kind, loving and I couldn't have been blessed with a better life partner. I still like him so very much!
Happy Birthday Mr. Logan, you are loved, honored and adored by your little family and I dare say, by your friends as well.

Also wanted to share some photos from Christmas up until this weekend. For those not on Facebook, click here to see the pictures.

Fashion Diva

2009-01-05T05:50:00.000-08:00

Our Emily is getting bigger. I know, that happens despite our desire for them to stay little and cute. So once we got back and had the luxury of wearing shorts more often I realized that many of her shorts no longer fit! Wow. I guess a year of winter can do that. So with Christmas money in hand we headed to our favorite store - Target. As I browsed around I found these cute plaid shorts. Well, I thought they were cute.
They came in three colors - pink, blue, and green. I asked Emily which color she wanted. She said she didn't like them. I thought she was just too busy climbing through the clothes to be bothered. So I grabbed a blue pair.
I find its easier to take clothes home to try on and return them rather than trying them on at the store. And that's what I did. I waited until we got home and Emily was in a more calm state of mind and tried on the three pairs of shorts I had purchased.
When I tried on the cute plaid shorts, she said, "Mommy, I don't like these."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because people will see me in them and they look silly." was her response.
Oh, no, I thought, she's developed a fashion sense! No more making her wear what I think is cute! So I was a dutiful mom and returned the shorts (which were too big anyway) and replaced them with a skirt, which she happily wore the next day. So now I'll have to ask her opinion before buying her clothes. I'll just have to be careful about those $100 jeans and $200 shoes she'll be begging me for in a few years!

As a side note, I'm working on the Christmas pics. Will post some with a video hopefully tomorrow. Now that the holidays are official over we've got lots to do to get ourselves up and running again. Blessings on the new year and see ya soon.

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T20:12:00.000-08:00

Well another year has passed and we look forward to what the new one brings. We already know that we will soon be inaugurating (is that a word?) a new president. We already know that we will be watching our wallets a little more closely. We know that 2009 will see many young people joined together in marriage. We're sure that some of you may be adding to your family. But there is still much we don't know.

We are still unsure of the plans the Lord has for us personally. We do know they are for good, and not for harm. We can only trust in Him, for who else can we trust. 2008 was a wonderful, God-given adventure and we are thankful to Him for blessing us. We are thankful for the seeds that were sown, and we pray for the opportunity to sow many more.

So what's happening so far? What have we been up to these two weeks? Well Christmas of course! It seemed to be all consuming in a passive way. I guess jetlag can really make things seem out of sorts?? We've been fixing up our "room" here at my parent's house. We got the wood flooring in (Kevin did most of the hard labor) and I'm finally finding more clothes (been cycling through three pairs of shorts and a couple of shirts for the past two weeks!) I'm still getting the room set up, but you'll see pics.

The girls are settling in nicely. So they're fine. I guess kids are more resilient that way. It did take us about a full week to get back to EST. So at least that's out of the way. Now just what to do about jobs.

Hopefully with the holidays and vacations behind us we'll find out some answers! We have been desperately wanting to move forward, but forced to "stand by" as the rest of the world seems to be enjoying the slow down. So prayerfully we'll have an idea if Kevin will be heading back to AT&T or not. He's got an application in with the local hospital, as well as the conference with MCYM next weekend. Please pray for traveling safety and God's wisdom. I'll be staying behind with the girls. We've also been asked to consider a bi-vocational position at a church in central Florida.

What types of things are you looking forward to this new year, not just resolutions. I for one don't make resolutions. Why set myself up for failure I say. I know I won't accomplish most of them so as the song goes, "every day is new years day" so I just plan for that day. Sometimes my only resolution is to get the laundry done!

Post Christmas Wish

2008-12-26T05:50:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We were blessed to see all our family.

Emily is really enjoying her new bike. Katie's not so interested. After just a short ride she opted for walking! LOL.

We are still suffering minor jetlag but its getting better. Although she had a few waking moments in the night - Katie slept until 7AM!!! YEAH.

Just wanted to say Merry Christmas and blessings for the new year. We'll be sending out our last Family Newsletter in a couple of weeks so you'll get an update to where we are now. Don't want to spoil it by saying anything here, so you'll have to be patient. :)

If anyone is interested in seeing us (we're interested in seeing you!) let us know. We're here in Homestead till further notice. Since we have no jobs, no car, and no cell phones, emailing us is your best option. Oh, to live the simple life! Hopefully we'll know about AT&T the first week of the new year. That's when the decision maker will be back from vacation.

Again, blessings for the new year and we'll see you soon!

The Logans

Jesus' Christmas List

2008-12-16T03:40:00.001-08:00

For the past months I have had my quiet time on line. Yep, with lots going on and two children who demand my attention as soon as I finally sit down I find it allows me to meet with Jesus. So why am I sharing this. Well, I mostly read the devotions from Proverbs 31 Ministries and they are amazing. Especially this last month with so very much happening in our lives, its been a real comfort. You know how sometimes you hear a message and its like the pastor or who ever is reading your mind. I mean the very event, problem, situation you are going through is EXACTLY what he preaches on? Well that's how this blog-devotion has been for us. With only a few exceptions it has totally met me where I was. God has definitely been speaking to me via this devotion.
Anyway, today's devotion was on the business of Christmas. And I think that even most of us Christians still fall into secular mode in regards to some of our holiday planning. Yes we do plays and services and such, but I think we all still get sucked in by the commericalism of Christmas. Yes, me included! (Don't tell them, but the girls are getting bikes and I'm SOOOO EXCITED!) (see!).
So the author of today's devotion had what might be on the list of those who played a part in the first Christmas that glorious day our Savior was born...

I wonder, if Jesus were making a holiday preparations list, what would He include? What if those who were there on Christ’s birth day could advise us on getting ready for Christmas? What would be on their list?

Joseph might recommend we listen closely to the voice of God to prepare.
Mary may suggest we ponder the miracles of heaven.
Perhaps the angels would propose we sing about the King.
The shepherds may gently guide us to follow their act of worship.
Possibly the wise men would teach us to give Jesus our most valuable gifts.
The innkeeper may suggest “Hospitality: open your heart and home.”
And Jesus’ list would likely encourage us to be a light on the hill pointing the way for others to know Him.

I've tried to think of ways to add Christ back in the hurriedness of Christmas. How can we stop, and truly share this wonderful gift with our family, friends, and esp. our children? What kinds of things can we do to instill in our kids that Christmas is not about how many gifts are under the tree, or how many parties we get invited to, but how we celebrate the greatest gift given to mankind?
I'm not being hypothetical, I'm really asking? We've always tried to read the story of Christ's birth before we can open gifts. Which right now might be a bit harder to do. So maybe the night before? What kinds of things do you do to keep Christ as the center of the celebration? Share and if I like it, I might steal it for myself!!! LOL.

On a more personal note, we leave tomorrow morning EST. Overall, we've got a 26 hour trip in front of us. Pray for safety and calm. Another prayer request is for my sister and her family. Life is really throwing them curve balls. In just the last 4 months her and her husband have been dealing with lots of medical issues and I learned this morning that K.C. (her husband) was in a car accident. The Lord is good, he only has a broken arm and of course soreness, but his car is totaled. Other driver was speeding trying to make the light and didn't. Just pray for a speedy recover (his job won't allow him to work with a cast - so that's 4-6 weeks with no paycheck). Thanks for all your support, encouragement, and friendships and we'll see you on the flip side! (get it cause we're below the equator.... okay, not as funny as I thought?)

Emily

2008-12-12T22:12:00.001-08:00

I just had to blog cause she makes me laugh. Do all four-year-olds say such funny things? Do they all organize their lives in such sequences?
Its 8am here right now, most of you are in bed (though I caught Jescel still awake on Facebook!). So morning time means breakfast. This is always a dilemma because most often Emily wants "pancakes with syrup". Since I have to make most things homemade (no Eggos in South Africa) that can be a chore, especially when Katie's gotten me up at 5:30! But I digress.
They do have cereal here - its called Coco Puffs, but I promise you its not. Its similar, less sweet, which is a plus I guess, but the girls like it (so does daddy). So how do they eat their cereal? Well most times in a bowl with milk. Lately its been in their tea cups. They sit here with the box of cereal, scoop some into their tea cups and eat it. Now since its chocolate and my girls LOOOVVEEE chocolate, I have to keep an eye on the amount. So Emily made this statement this morning,
"We're going to have a tea party with our cereal. You will tell us when we ate too much and the tea party will be over."

I just laughed so hard. So matter-of-fact. She does this with other things as well. She'll ask me for lunch and then announce, "I will play on the computer, and when you finish my sandwich I will stop." Now I have to tell you, she doesn't stop. I have to yell at her to shut the lid and eat. She says this because this is what I've told her in the past - she could play on the computer while I make her lunch and then she has to stop to eat."
You see her with her newest friend, monkey. Got him at the Cape since we're leaving and she really, really wanted him. She usually doesn't get into stuffed animals and dolls, but she's been hanging on to this one. He sleeps with her and goes to the grocery store with her. This cause quite the attraction in the mall, this little girl with a monkey strapped around her. I've seen these in the States, guess they're not so familiar here.
Emily does say the funniest things and sometimes I have to hold myself back when disciplining her and not laugh at her remarks or explanations. I'm so excited for everyone to see how much she and Katie have grown and how fun and funny they can both be. I did post pics of Katie on our Facebook. But just wanted to share this randomness in our life this morning. Pray for our girls that they adjust well to being moved cross-country once again. I've been praying for God to just give them a sense of His peace despite the fact that they may not totally understand what's going on. XO

Cape of Good Hope

2008-12-11T05:23:00.001-08:00

Well I guess its fitting that our last outing would be to the Cape of Good Hope. We walked, yep, the girls too, up to the lighthouse that stands as a beacon at the tip of the most southwestern point in Africa. Its actually not the most southern tip of the continent. - that's several miles to the east. So we climbed, and climbed and climbed. We had to rest just twice. The girls did an amazing job. We got to the lighthouse and were rewarded with a wonderful view and very high winds. And as kids are kids, the girls were still full of energy despite the 20 minute hike up a steep hill. We were high enough that we were in the clouds. We could see a very faint cloud just below us - so that was cool.
We took a few pictures, enjoyed the scenery and then headed down. This time we took the small train. Good thing cause it started to rain just a little bit. So we headed back to the car, and enjoyed the 90 minute ride home along the coast. It is such a beautiful country - mountains everywhere, blue water - a big change from the flatlands of Florida.
So we head out in less than a week and we're really looking forward to seeing our family. Things are going well thus far. Selling the car off tomorrow and then cleaning, cleaning, cleaning and all the little packing that's left. Please pray for a good flight with the girls. Our first leg will be about 21 hours. Then a short trip from NY. Nothing too much to report. We're all probably a bit tanner than most of you since its summer and we've enjoyed a few days at the beach. We've really enjoyed getting around. Kevin says I'll have to drive once we get back because he's really gotten use to the driving here. He can do it without thinking about it too much. It still seems a bit strange to me but not too strange.
Still no word about Kevin's job, but we're looking here and there and have a good running start on a few options once we're back. Please just pray for God's will. We know He is faithful and will not let us go hungry. He will provide - we just got to figure out what that is! LOL.
So have a good weekend - not too much will be happening on this side and we'll see you all real soon!

For Dave

2008-12-02T00:40:00.000-08:00

This post is for our friend Dave. For those of you who don't know, he used to work for a barricade company. You know, the ones who set up all those barricades along the highway and byways to divert traffic. Well here in South Africa they're doing lots of road work and construction - preparations for the 2010 Soccer Championship.
So what's so blog-worthy about that? Well its these people pictured. You see unlike the States where there's a big sign with a flashing arrow telling you to merge or be aware of the construction, there's these people. Their job - to wave this flag to warn you that you'll be merging over, or to be aware that there's construction vehicles in the area or whatever.
So here they stand, waving their flags, I'm sure hoping and praying you see them before it's too late. We're curious to know how many of these people have been hit. This was along a long highway, but we've seen them in the midst of city traffic where you have to make a last minute decision to veer left or right. SCARY.
So Dave, while we're so happy you are no longer on the highways of Miami, it could have been worse. You could have been a flag waver!

Answer to age old question

2008-11-29T09:12:00.000-08:00

So why is Africa so poor? well here you go. In the picture you see what is left of a kitchen timer that I brought. Yep heard a noise and blamed Emily (cause I thought she threw something) and this is what I found, my timer on the floor. So you're thinking what's this got to do with Africa? Since I've lived here in South Africa just about everything I buy breaks within a few minutes, hours, or weeks. So what I have been doing lately is buying two of most things because I know that one is going to break. The other answer is that anything that doesn't break right off is imported and cost twice as much, and that's in U.S. dollars. And that's why Africa is poor.

Moms For Modesty

2008-11-29T06:24:00.000-08:00

Found this site and thought I'd help spread the word. Don't think you have to be a mom to agree with the mission of this forum. Take a gander, leave a comment, and lend your support. As the blog that lend me here noted - our daughters aren't trash and they shouldn't dress like it!

Moms For Modesty

I'm a Tourist

2008-11-28T12:56:00.000-08:00

So in between the packing and figuring out what to send home we're doing a little sightseeing. there's still so much to see here and we're going to try to pack it in during our last three weeks here. Headed to the World of Birds (every time I say that I hear each word echo). Was recommended and it was nice. They don't just have birds but monkeys, gargantuan pelicans. These things were huge!!! Kevin kept telling me come look. I thought, "yeah, yeah, their big." Then I finally walked over and looked OMG!!
We also saw swans, meerkats, turtles and other animals. The coolest was the monkey that sat on Kevin's head. He was so happy, but a bit nervous. He's already had shots for rabies (long story) so he wasn't too scared.
Then we took some of the girls to Kirstenbosch - they had never been. They had a good time rolling down the steep slopes. I'll have to post some of those pics when I get a chance.
Emily had a blast chasing after some ducks. There was a juvenile that seemed to be enjoying the chase as well. The older duck kept quacking and finally stood his ground so we made her stop. Yep they were exhausted, as we all were.
Got to talk to my parents, but feel asleep before I could call back to the house to talk to everyone who would be at their house enjoying the traditional Thanksgiving feast. I was so glad to know that Joe & Jescel went. They were glad to have you and raved about the cheese cake and flan. So I'm expecting an encore for Christmas.
Here's some pics we uploaded to FB so take a gander (no pun intended LOL). Have a great weekend and see you very soon!

Yearbook Yourself

2008-11-26T11:28:00.000-08:00

Found this cool site via my cousin. Too funny - Emily, Kevin and I are shown below in the different eras. I think Kevin's are the funniest! Try it out yourself... Yearbook Yourself If you've got a mac with an internal camera just use that to take a quick pic of yourself in photo booth. (click on the pic for a bigger image.)

A Different Christmas Poem

2008-11-25T21:59:00.000-08:00

I don't normally read emails that are forwarded, but I did this time and was so glad. My dad sent this to me - so maybe that's why I opened it...
Remember those who will be far from home this Christmas defending our freedom that so many countries around the world long for - like openly complaining about our President and government officials, like allowing us to access what we want on the www (many country block sites even Facebook and MySpace). Remember them as you eat your Christmas meal, remember them as you watch your children play with their gifts and that they have sacrificed much as we sit in the comforts of our homes this holiday season. Just remember them...

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq .

Going Home

2008-11-20T10:13:00.000-08:00

Read it here

Get Your Copy!

2008-11-18T00:11:00.001-08:00

Hey everyone - we'll be sending out a newsletter at the beginning of December with a review of our first year here in South Africa. Want one? Email your address to logans.africa@gmail.com and I'll make sure you get one! Thanks!

Bagels For Frannie

2008-11-17T12:45:00.000-08:00

Well, the bagels were actually for Kevin, but Frannie (she's my cousin) seemed to be barraged with complaints of our lack of bagels. So I thought I'd send a bagel-gram her way. Yes, I made bagels. It was actually quite easy (as the recipe implies).
So what was for breakfast this morning? Yep, bagels. And a pre-dinner snack as well. So in two day we devoured 7 bagels (we had to test taste one once they were cool enough). One left for Mr. Kevin.
Now I just want to say that yes, we can purchase proper bagels here in South Africa. However the one deli that we know of is quite a distance away and getting there is not an easy task. And the shops that are close - well let's just say their idea of a bagel is anything but.
So Kevin got bagels, and hopefully Frannie will no longer have to "hear" his complaints.
(By the way, the pic is the bagels that I made!)

Working for a living

2008-11-11T12:32:00.000-08:00

Thought I'd share a few photos here. I think its so cute how they love to help out. But I know when they get older (as we all did) they will resist against doing their share. But for now...

Emily LOVED helping Kevin wash the car. She had the best time. Only she kept washing the same spots and Kevin had to keep rinsing off the same spots. But I think he's got a anxious volunteer for the next bath!

Here they are just helping me vacuum their crumbs up. It was fun for a VERY short time, but they wanted to give it a try. Emily cleaned up behind the couch and Katie did under the kitchen table, so that was helpful.

And since I had space I just put in the extra pics of them dressed up, and Katie enjoying an episode of Spongebob from under the table. They also helped carry the backpacks to one of our trips to the garden. Since we were about to leave, they weren't as heavy as when we got there. No it didn't last too long, but longer then we thought they would last!

Things are slowing down and we're just trying to figure out what to do. Since resources are limited, so is our ability to do things, but God is good and He knows we're doing the best we can.

Now I'm REALLY Worried

2008-11-10T23:42:00.000-08:00

Here's a few things being said about our President-Elect...

[Rep. Paul] Broun cited a July speech by Obama that has circulated on the Internet in which the then-Democratic presidential candidate called for a civilian force to take some of the national security burden off the military.

"That's exactly what Hitler did in Nazi Germany and it's exactly what the Soviet Union did," Broun said. "When he's proposing to have a national security force that's answering to him, that is as strong as the U.S. military, he's showing me signs of being Marxist."

Obama's comments about a national security force came during a speech in Colorado about building a new civil service corps. Among other things, he called for expanding the nation's foreign service and doubling the size of the Peace Corps "to renew our diplomacy."

"We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we've set," Obama said in July. "We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."

"We can't be lulled into complacency," Broun said. "You have to remember that Adolf Hitler was elected in a democratic Germany. I'm not comparing him to Adolf Hitler. What I'm saying is there is the potential."

Charlie Rose Show: Tom Brokaw and Charlie Rose.

ROSE: I don't know what Barack Obama's worldview is.

BROKAW: No, I don't either.

ROSE: I don't know how he really sees where China is.

BROKAW: We don't know a lot about Barack Obama and the universe of his thinking about foreign policy.

ROSE: I don't really know. And do we know anything about the people who are advising him?

BROKAW: You know that's an interesting question.

ROSE: He is principally known through his autobiography and through very aspirational (sic) speeches, two of them.

BROKAW: I don't know what books he's read.

ROSE: What do we know about the heroes of Barack Obama?

BROKAW: There's a lot about him we don't know.

Charlie Rose again who spoke to both Evan Thomas and Jon Meacham of Newsweek magazine.

MEACHAM: He's very elusive, Obama, which is fascinating for a man who's written two memoirs. At Grant Park he walks out with the family, and then they go away.

ROSE: Mmm. Mmm-hmm.

MEACHAM: Biden's back, you know, locked in the bar or something.

ROSE: (haughty chuckle)

MEACHAM: You know, they don't let him out. And have you ever seen a victory speech where there was no one else on stage?

ROSE: Mmm.

MEACHAM: No adoring wife, no cute kid. He is the messenger.

THOMAS: There is a slightly creepy cult of personality about all this. I mean, he's such an admirable --

ROSE: Slightly. Creepy. Cult of personality.

THOMAS: Yes.

ROSE: What's slightly creepy about it?

THOMAS: It -- it -- it just makes me a little uneasy that he's so singular. He's clearly managing his own spectacle. He's a deeply manipulative guy.

ROSE: Watching him last night in that speech, he finishes --

MEACHAM: Yeah.

ROSE: -- and he sort of -- it's almost like he then ascends to look at the circumstance.

MEACHAM: He watches us watching him.

THOMAS: Watching him!

ROSE: Exactly!

THOMAS: He does --

MEACHAM: It's amazing.

ROSE: It is amazing.

THOMAS: He writes about this metaphor being a screen upon which Americans will project. He said they want of Barack Obama; I'm not sure I am Barack Obama.

ROSE: Mmm!

THOMAS: He had -- he has the self-awareness to know that this creature he's designed isn't necessarily a real person, and he's self-aware enough --

ROSE: Ahhhhhh!

Great expectations: Obama will have to deliver
By JENNIFER LOVEN

Even after nearly two years in the spotlight, little is understood about the 47-year-old first-term senator's approach to leadership. His resume: community organizer, eight years as state legislator, and less than four as U.S. senator.

As a lawmaker, he has displayed a knack for working with Republicans on a handful of favorite issues. But he has devoted most of his time in the Senate to running for president. Unlike the past seven presidents, he was never a governor or vice president. And unlike John F. Kennedy, the last senator to move directly to the presidency, Obama has not commanded troops in wartime.

Emphasis are mine. While I trust in Him who controls all things, these comments made by those who favored Obama pre-election have me a bit concerned. Are we going to have to fight for our freedoms and morality against a Democrat controlled government? What liberties, such as freedom of speech, life, basic liberty and the rest are we in danger of losing?

The comments (and concerns) of those who in all probability voted and propagated his presidency are not a good start.

I for one will be praying God's mercy and that Obama proves those who did not vote for him wrong. But this again, is not a good start.

It Has Begun

2008-11-09T04:31:00.000-08:00

Well the potty training has begun. But I must say that it has all initiated by Katie. Now that its finally starting to warm up, the naked baby phase is back, and "i wanna pee-pee on potty" is becoming a more common phrase in her vocabulary. She gets up first thing in the morning to pee, she's even asked to go when we are out-and-about. So I think Emily has been a very good teacher.
As noted, its finally getting warm. Still a cool breeze sometimes but over all we're bringin' out the shorts more and more. Nothing really too important to note. Just wanted to let you know we're still here. Schools almost out - sort of. They will be testing this coming week and though technically there's still 3 weeks left of school, most kids won't even bother going to school. There's really no reason, testing is done, no more learning - so why bother.
UPDATE: As I'm writing this blog I got interrupted for the second time for "pee-pee", but this time it wasn't pee-pee!!! YEA! Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have to buy diapers anymore. The money we would save!!! Funny how something like using the bathroom can make a parent so giddy! :P
Thanks for all your support, love, friendships and encouragement. I do want to ask for unspoken prayer. God knows.

Cast Your Vote

2008-10-29T13:45:00.000-07:00

Hey there,
Well its that time again - family pictures! Yea! It is difficult to do this on your own, some of the pictures focused on the background instead of us. While there were a couple of pics we really liked, these are our two favs. But which one??? So we thought we'd put it up to a vote. So all you artistic types or moms, let us know which is your favorite. Don't worry moms (and the rest) you can have which ever one you want - or both. But we only want to print one for ourselves so click on the picture to see it larger and let us know which one...

Weekends

2008-10-21T00:48:00.000-07:00

Yes I know its Tuesday, but I thought I'd share a little bit about our weekend. When the team was here a few weeks ago, I had the privilege of taking a few of the ladies to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Its one of the top gardens in the world and it is very beautiful - its also a never ending maze of uphills paths through flower beds and winding trails. I think it would take days to see every inch of the place.
That said, we head there this past weekend so Kevin and the girls could take a gander. We planned well bringing along a light lunch and a blanket. The girls did a great job running and climbing and looking at all the "pretty flowers". We had to keep reminding them not to pick the flowers! LOL. The next morning Katie informed me, "my legs hurt." No wander with all the uphill walking we all did. We spent about 3-1/2 hours there total. So yes we all slept really well that night - everyone in bed early.
Anyway, I posted some pictures on our Facebook. I'm providing the link below. Don't worry, you don't have to have an account to view the pictures.
View Photos Here

On Sunday we were Grand Central Station. We had a couple of the kids from Molly's Place over for lunch and a movie. Then some of the grandkids came by, then our neighbors came by. Finally at 6 I sent everyone home. Had a light dinner then off to bed. Still tired from the day before.

So things are going well overall. We keep find new places to visit and enjoy the beauty of the country. We're already planning a day for the World of Birds in Houts Bay.

Thanks for all your prayers and comments. Its nice to hear from everyone. Have a great week!

Good Information

2008-10-15T09:23:00.000-07:00

While anyone who pays close attention to the political action of our elected officials should be well aware of what is really going on, Dave & Vicky spell it out well. So wondering how all this financial woe came about - here's a good outline:

Know The Facts...

Okay, I had a long ranting, but decided to just leave it at the facts above. Hope it enlightens and makes you a more informed citizen.

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

2008-09-25T14:16:00.000-07:00

Its not an uncommon sight to see some man relieving himself on the side of the road here in South Africa. Any road be it alley way, highway, side street or through-way. I guess as an American where a public bathroom is almost readily available its still an odd scene. So with that said, finding a public bathroom here is South Africa can be a difficult task.
As we enjoyed our day off, we ventured into a new town, Tokai (toe-ki). After checking out a few stores, we stopped for a quick lunch at McDonalds, or Old Mcdonald's aka Emily. So as we sat enjoying our lunch of chicken and french fries and hamburgers, the call of nature suddenly called upon Kevin. We assumed the baby store would have a bathroom, so he quickly grabbed Katie from her car seat and made a bee-line for the store with Emily & I in hot pursuit. But his hopes were dashed when it was discovered that the store was closed!!! Now what?
Sweat began to roll down his face, as he desperately contemplated his next move. Again, with Katie on his hip, we dashed into a grocery store, sought out an employee and asked for the bathroom. "Is it for her?", they asked seeing the small child he held.
"Her, me," was his reply.
"Ask the girl in the back."
The Lord was good, because it was a small store and getting to the back was a very short walk. Desperately he sought out another employee.
"Where's the bathroom?" he asked the girl.
"No, you can't use it," she informed him, "Its for employees only."
What was he to do? A scene from a not-so-wholesome movie jumped into his mind (think Democratic icon).
"Is it for her?" she asked, again making reference to Katie, who was just along for the ride. I guess his desperation showed.
Now what to do – lie? Could he? Should he? It WAS an emergency!!!!!!
He could only think to push Katie towards the woman, as if to say look at this little girl, would you deny this face?
So the girl-in-the-back led Kevin and Katie to the employees-only-bathroom. He was forced to do his business with company. Now I tell you as a mother, this is not an uncommon scenario - no privacy in the bathroom, as many of you fellow moms will concur. However my husband will desperately wait, or call me home so he can do his business in private. So I know his desperation was great if he so willingly took Katie with him without batting an eyelash.
And so Emily and I roamed the store looking at magazines, as I anxiously waited to see the other half of our family emerge from the employee-only doors. And so they did. A big smile on daddy's face, and a cleaner Katie. Apparently the bathroom was REALLY clean (always a plus when having to do the deed when out and about) and Katie just played with the water in the sink as her daddy thankfully did what HAD to be done.
So was it wrong to use his daughter as a coy so he could use the employee-only bathroom? I think his colon would say not. And I for one, don't even want to think of the consequences if he had not.

Dogs & Fish

2008-09-21T22:44:00.000-07:00

This was a fun filled weekend for the Logans. The weather all week was rainy and cold. But God was merciful and gave us a beautiful Saturday & Sunday. Bright sky, no clouds, no rain!
Our first event was Liam & Luke's Scooby-doo birthday party. Nope, not twins but Helena (Pastor & Evelyn's youngest daughter) lucked out. Her boys are 2 years apart - but their birthdays are only 2 days apart! (Pictured with their Aunt Sonja) I don't remember which, but one was born on Sept. 17th, the other on the 19th! She just throws one party for them both! And what a party! She did an amazing job with the decor and everything. It was very laid back, but the kids had a great time with the playground and bounce house. I took a few notes! All of us slept like logs - I was in bed by 9:30-10, which is early.
On Sunday, we attended church and then headed off to Fishoek Beach. It was just warm enough to really enjoy the sand and surf, but still cool that these Floridians kept on the long sleeve shirts, though we were in shorts. Emily spent practically the whole time jumping the waves and karate-chopping the water. She was soaked. Don't worry, we had extra warm clothes for her. But she had a blast! Katie on the other hand wouldn't let us take off her shoes for the first hour or so. She didn't like that her feet were getting sandy and wet. So we just hung out and dug in the sand (apparently its okay if her HANDS get sandy and wet ??) But we finally got them off and she enjoyed cleaning her hands and feet off in the water. Yes the water was FREEZING! It was like painfully cold. Despite the temperature we had to practically drag Emily onto dry land when it was time to go. And yet again the girls were fast asleep within minutes of hitting the pillow.
So we're looking forward to the new week and the blessings of God both in our work here and our personal family time. You can read more about our week at the Center at Logans in South Africa.

It Has Arrived!!

2008-09-18T03:33:00.000-07:00

Yep, got them in our email yesterday. Our absentee ballots have arrived. So we'll vote, mail it in and hopefully be casting our vote for the next prez. Who are we voting for? Isn't great that its our privilege and right not to have to tell you :P
Don't forget to cast your vote this election year. And may our Lord & Savior be merciful and give us a leader we need, and not deserve.

Daddy's Nightmare

2008-09-14T07:28:00.000-07:00

Well it finally happened. The one thing I think every dad of a little girl dreads. The day when he is no longer the love of her life. The day she starts to notice that the boy she's known all her life is indeed a BOY! As we sat enjoying a nice lunch at our favorite family spot, Spier, it happened. As we sat soaking up the warm sun and enjoying God's creation, it happened.
"Hey, look its a boy," she commented.
And then the dreaded words…
"Hey, he's cute!"
OH NO! DID SHE JUST SAY WHAT I THINK SHE SAID???!!!
My wife tried to reassure me that it's not what I was thinking. Its like when we comment that a baby is cute or something they're doing is cute. It wasn't what I was thinking.
But it WAS a glimpse into the future. So who's this cute little boy that my Emily played with, took pictures with. They only thing we could get out of him was his name is Dan and he's 5.
As Holly let them take turns taking pictures he suggested she take a picture of them together. And so she did. So here's the little boy that my Emily thought was cute. She could do worse I guess. He had his own Au Pair, so it can't be all bad!

Keeping warm and not worms

2008-08-29T14:41:00.000-07:00

Okay what does that mean?!

Well the first part - keeping warm. Its still winter here in South Africa and we've got a cold front coming through once again. How do we stay warm - sitting in front of our heater (we actually have 6 all together). Katie especially loves to sit in front when she gets cold. This morning, she figured her bear was cold as well and so she sat him next to her to get warmed up. TOO CUTE. But the cuteness doesn't end there. Once I snapped the picture, she grabbed her bear, and made a pose. I think she's becoming a ham! So here's the two shots.

So on with the second part - not worms. On Thursday we took the girls for their annual check up. We love our new doctor. The original doctor, Nadler, moved with his family to Australia but his partner is still here and she's just as amazing as he was. She was so gentle with the girls who just did as they were told. She poked and prodded and the rest and then asked us a strange question. Had we taken any de-worming medication? We gave her the puzzled look that has become a familiar facial expression. De-worming meds? Yes, she said, we have worms in South Africa and you must take preventive medication every six months. So she gave us the info and Kevin got what was needed from the pharmacist. Its actually over-the-counter, but since we had no idea Dr. Low wrote it down so the pharmacist (chemist as they're called here) could inform us further. So the girls got a one-dose liquid that smells like chocolate. Emily said it tasted like chocolate, but quickly had a drink of water after her dose. Kevin and I are taking pills - twice a day for three days. When we asked Yolanda about it, she was surprised we didn't do it in the States as well. Its something they've done all their lives. So living in a different country continues to educate us. At least the chewable pills take descent - almost like sweet tarts!

So Katie and the rest of us are keeping warm, and doing what we need to do to keep the wigglies away.

Happy Birthday

2008-08-24T01:58:00.000-07:00

On Thursday our Emily turned the big 4. It was a full weekend of celebrating.
We did our traditional pizza, cake and movie on Thursday evening - Barbie Fariytopia. She loved it.

Then on Friday we headed to the Two Oceans Aquarium. We spent the whole day there. We got to see the sharks. We watched them feed the penguins (which Katie says smell like poo-poo - which they do stink). We watched the scuba divers swim inside the preditor's tank to feed a huge turtle and the manrays. One diver fed them while the other watched out for the sharks.
We ate lunch at the cafe where we got to watch the seals sunbathe on the docks right below us. It turned out to be a wonderful day and we were all exhausted by the time we got home. But for mommy & daddy there was much to do to get ready for the party.

On Saturday we had the party and Emily finally got to wear her special dress and new shoes. She looked so pretty. We got Katie in a dress too, but not her new shoes. So we had a great party here at the house with enough kids and adults to make it a fun, but relaxing day. We had pizza and baked ziti as well as snacks and treats. Emily had a really great time but ate a little too much and paid for it later that night. Nothing too serious, but she slept well and is fine this morning.
She said she had a great time and loved her beautiful cake and had fun at the aquarium. She asked when the party was today and I had to explain that the party and birthday are over. Back to normal. So our little girl turned 4 and we look forward to a year of what a 4 year old will bring.

After 15 years...

2008-08-21T03:55:00.000-07:00

It finally happened! What you may ask? A major, but not life altering event. Here's the story...
Since Kevin and I have been married I have always been his personal hair dresser (know where this is going?). About every 3 to 4 months I get out the clippers and give his head a shave, only about 1/2 an inch. There are attachments so that you can cut the hair at the desired length. Well I have been doing this for 15 years! I can only think of two times in all these years that Kevin has paid someone to shave his head.
And so, it finally happened. I was tired, it was late, but he needed his hair cut desperately, and this was the time. But in my fatigue I forgot something very, very important - the attachment! And so I began to shave his head. I thought "wow, these are cutting really great." And then I realized my mistake. All I could say over and over as I laughed, "I'm so sorry."
So Kevin got up from the makeshift barber's chair to examine the damage in the mirror. He returned to hand me the camera, "you will blog about this," was all he said and sat down for the photo. Don't worry, he wasn't mad or upset. But he insisted that I just finish the job and shave him bald. NO WAY!!! "I can't" and I couldn't. I mean to do it in error is one thing, but to do it on purpose?! I just couldn't. So I found the shortest attachment - 3mm and finished the cut.
So the next morning he headed out to the local mall and bought himself a hat. Arsenal is the favorite soccer team in the area. But each time he's asked if he's an Arsenal fan, he just says, "not really."
That night, as Kevin dressed Emily for bed she proclaimed, "Daddy, you need a new hair style." Every one's a critic! LOL :)
And so there you have it. I've paid my dues by exposing my error and we're having a good laugh. See the pics.

Weekly Update

2008-08-08T02:27:00.001-07:00

I know its been a week since I've written and lots has happened...
On Thursday, July 31 we celebrated 15 years of marriage. Evelyn cooked us a feast of a meal with roasted lamb, chicken and potatoes, green beans, butternut squash, pudding and Yolanda made curried chicken and the best chocolate cupcakes. We were eating left overs the rest of the weekend!

On Saturday we finally made it to Builder's Warehouse and we were not disappointed. It was like Home Depot and we loved it. We were so giddy it was stupid. But shopping in South Africa is very different from home. If you want something you have to go to a specialty store - electrical shop for supplies, hardware shop for hardware, plumbing store for plumbing, etc. So to find one store with everything gave us a small taste of normalcy (for us anyway). We didn't spend too much but we got things we needed for the AWANA and to decorate the girls' room.

On Sunday we made it to church and then off to the ever popular Speirs to run and play and enjoy the warmer, sunny weather. It's a good place for the girls to get outside, run around and have a bit of an adventure - there's rocks to climb and trails to walk and a horse ride (Katie's come close but changes her mind at the last minute. Emily just says no. So no horse rides yet.)

On Monday we started the AWANA program at the Frog Center and I have to say it's been a great success. I'll write more about it later.

That evening we had a big scare. Katie slammed her face against the tub and for a few minutes we didn't know if she hit her face, broke her nose or what. We heard a cracking sound which scared us both to death. Finally her teeth started to bleed and her lip grew about 2 sizes bigger. We were totally freaked. Kevin called Evelyn (we didn't know what else to do) and she came over to have a look. We figured with 5 kids she'd know what to do. So she came, had a look, said she was fine, but to give her medicine to help relieve the pain. She drank some cold water and the medicine fine. It wasn't until Tuesday morn when I got her out of bed that I realized her front tooth was chipped! But her lip and gums looked fine and she didn't have any problems eating. (Of course yesterday she fell and hit the same spot - thank the Lord it wasn't too hard and she just had a little bit of bleeding - injured the fresh wound). So we were very thankful to God that He protected her and that it could have been much worse, but He is good and she's fine.

You can read about our DSL drama on the other blog.

Random Everyday

2008-07-28T04:35:00.000-07:00

Hello all. Well I thought while I had a few minutes I'd included just some random things. The first item I would like to dedicate to my Grandmother who will read this thanks to my cousin Frannie!! Thanks Fran for printing it out and mailing to her - means a lot to me!!!
Anyway, it has to do with the local paper. It's definitely done different here. First of note is the delivery. It comes about 5:30pm, not AM. So the paper is from all that has happened either later the previous day or early in the day. Secondly, it only comes Mon-Fri. Though Friday's has a nice Puzzle section that I use to relax, crosswords, sudoku and a few others. But we read every inch of it just to keep informed so we're getting our money's worth. Speaking of which, a young boy delivers the paper rain or shine and a few days ago it was raining fierce. We pay him each Friday and Kevin likes to give him a couple of Rand extra for his troubles.
A few weeks ago we went for what turned out to be a very long drive to see snow! (Told you it was cold here.) Though it doesn't snow in Mitchells Plain, it does on the mountains and was a rare occurrence in that the thing to do was go see it. So we drove into the town of Ceres, up into the mountain tops to see the white stuff. It was scarce, since it had been there a while and was beginning to melt. There was enough to enjoy a few snow balls and to build a very short snowman. The girls had a good time and that was the main reason we went.
Once last quick item - KATIE USED THE POTTY!!! Just yesterday (Sunday) she said, "I have to go pp on the potty" and ran for the bathroom. I helped her up and she did her business!! Look's like Emily's been instructing her well - LOL. Let's see if it continues or is a one off thing.
XO

Bathroom Talk

2008-07-15T00:53:00.000-07:00

Good day all. I thought I'd share some new developments in regards to Emily. I've found that the statistic is the average 4 year-old asks 437 questions a day. Well despite the fact that Emily is just over a month away from that glorious age, she's begun to meet this quota.

The other day as we were grocery shopping, of course, she had to use the bathroom. Yea, public bathrooms (sarcasm I promise). Any how, just in the stall alone I got grilled, the toilet paper dispenser being the main subject. Here's how it went:

Emily: What's this?

Mommy: The toilet dispenser. Its holds the toilet paper.

Emily: What's this?

Mommy: Its the screw that holds the dispenser on the wall.

Emily: What's this?

Mommy: Its the window so you can see how much toilet paper is left.

Emily: What's this?

Mommy: It's where the toilet paper comes out.

(Okay, so maybe it's the same question 437 times!)

Now this was not the beginning of the inquiry. The first question was…

Emily" "Is that the toilet?"

Mommy: "Yes, that's the toilet."

Now why would she ask that? Because here in SA, the public toilets for the most part are not your average looking toilet. For one thing they're completely round, not oval like we're use to. Secondly there's no toilet seat. The thickness of the rim is such that it's ample sitting space.

Emily: "What's that button on the wall?"

Mommy" "It's how you flush the toilet."

We've seen these before. It's just a button on the wall. I usually flush these karate style - with my foot.

Once out of the stall we wash hands.

Emily: "How am I going to dry my hands?"

Mommy: "Use my jeans."

Now here in SA its hard to find a public bathroom that has a paper dispenser. It mostly the hot air dryer thingy, which is best I know, but Emily refuses to put her hands under something that is that noisy and blows hot air on her.

With that we were out of the bathroom to resume our shopping. There were more questions of course.

So now what? Well Katie's potty training has begun with the leadership coming from big sister Emily. Here's how it went one day.

Emily: "I have to go to the bathroom. Come on Katie."

Katie: "O-hey"

Emily: "This is the toilet. There are no monsters here. (as they both look inside the potty). Now you take your pants off like this. And sit on the potty and then the pee-pee comes out."

Katie watched like the good student. And then handed her big sister some toilet paper. Of course we were there to assist the clean up and redressing. And so the rest of the day, Emily would proclaim, "I have to go to the bathroom, come on Katie." To which Katie would reply, "O-hey."

So we'll have to see how quickly the student learns from the master! LOL

How Cold Is It??

2008-07-10T03:53:00.001-07:00

Okay, I know this is a subject of late. But hey I'm a born and raised Floridian and this is cold. Its so cold... now for the collective "how cold is it?" Its so cold that you can see your breathe INSIDE the buildings!!! That's right! So while you're experiencing the heat of the Sunshine State and getting cooled off by the breezes of your air conditioner we're breathing "smoke" inside! So enjoy! :P

Happy Birthday

2008-07-03T05:30:00.000-07:00

Our little Katie turned 2 yesterday. To celebrate we ordered pizza - which she was happy to gobble down, a small cake that was finger-licking good and we watched Curious George. It was a nice evening, though Katie was quite the grump all day. Was she remembering her birth?? Nay, just having a day - and it was her birthday so her choice. You'll note the candles are not lit. It wasn't because we didn't want to, it's that we couldn't. We didn't have matches or anything. We attempted to set napkins and tissue aflame to use as a torch but no luck. All we got was small embers and lots of smoke. So that's the story with that

Fairies, Movie Stars & Water

2008-06-30T03:32:00.000-07:00

Yes it was a busy Saturday for the Logans. We were graced by the presence of the beautiful fairy princess with her magic wand and all. She was there to share her fairy goodness and show off her sparkly wings. Then we were surprised by a special visit from the famous Katie - a star in her own right. She tried her best to disguise herself, but the paparazzi was not fooled! We snapped this shot as she attempted to hide away from the camera, but seeing it was futile, she struck a pose.
Lastly we went to our first swim met. As mentioned before one of Pastor's grandchildren, Bianca, is major into swimming with real olympic hopes, so we went to watch one of the mets. It was a little slow and we actually missed her two races (the first we didn't know it was her, the second I was in the ladies with my little lady). So we left un-rewarded, but we'll be at the next one. The best part was Emily got real excited and we were able to get the number for swim lessons. Yes, its an indoor- heated pool! So it was an eventful, yet somewhat quiet weekend. Very cold and wet - what else!

Where There's A Will...

2008-06-09T06:39:00.000-07:00

... there is a way! Let's just say Emily loves chocolate. And since we wouldn't get it for her, she found a way to get herself! (That's the chocolate on the second shelf - brown with white strip.)
We knew something was up when she came out of the kitchen with the chocolate bar in hand, we just didn't know what, until we peeked around the corner.
We just had to laugh, and no, she didn't get the chocolate, though we should have just for the engineering and problem solving accomplished!

Still Checking In?

2008-05-29T05:29:00.000-07:00

Hey, notice its been months since we last updated the blog? That's because we're in South Africa!!! We have a new blog Logans in South Africa. But I'm thinking about rearranging the info. That site will be about our ministry, this will be about our home life and adventures in South Africa as a family. So check out the other blog and I'll let you know if I start this one up again.
:)

I wanna be like Jescel

2008-03-03T16:32:00.000-08:00

LOL!

Since we're leaving for South Africa in about 10 days I'm trying to use up the food we have on hand. So the last "meat" items I found in the freezer was fish. Now, we're not fish people. I probably like it more than anyone in our house and I only like about 3 kinds of fish. So it's not something we eat too often. I do try because I know it's good for you, but you don't like what you don't like.

Anyway. How do I use this fish so everyone will like it. Getting my husband to eat fish is a chore. Getting my 3 and 1 year old to eat it as well.....

So I made pasta. Everyone's favorite. I was originally going to make Fish Parmegian, but the kids can be picky about that even if I do use chicken. So I opened up two cans of diced tomatoes (have a few more left) added some italian seasoning, olive oil, garlic and a little pepper and got that all heated up. Then I diced the fish and added it to the sauce. Just let it bubble slightly till the fish was cooked and wha-la.

My ingenuity (though I'm sure this is nothing new to those who actually eat fish on a more regular basis) made me think of Jescel and her food blog. So I took a picture. So here's to you Jescel. You are a spice of life!!!

PS The garlic bread was to help the fish taste go down easier though I used orange roughy which is less fishy tasting to begin with.

Fly Bys

2008-03-02T13:12:00.000-08:00

It's that time again. Wings over Miami Air Show. Kevin was hoping to make it this year, but alas, it was not meant to be. But that doesn't mean we haven't been able to enjoy a little of the show. Especially since they fly right over the house! Yesterday, as we sat on the couch, we saw the shadow (and heard the engines) right in our front window. Kevin says the pilot must have misjudged, because he was REALLY low! So we ran out to watch the rest, with a couple of other close fly-bys.

As I dozed off for a little afternoon nap with Katie they began the fly-bys again. So I decided to run out and take a few pictures. Got a few good ones. The two that came close (the top and middle pictures) were great. I don't know how well it can be seen here, but you can read the writing on the white plane (Kevin says it's a mig) and you can see the pilot outline on the jet!

Planes are cool! Last year we got to see a little of the acrobatics. WOW! They were doing nose dives, and lifting up at the last second. It was amazing. So we've had a preview all week as they did some test runs, and then two days of these amazing fly-bys.

Water Fun

2008-02-27T21:34:00.000-08:00

So how do you keep the kids busy while trying to pack your life up? Let them play in the water. It seems to amuse them for at least an hour. So they're outside getting some fresh air, a little exercise and fun and we get some work done! (Of course how much work am I getting done if I'm taking pictures! LOL) So I thought I share some photos of my girls playing with the hose and the rest of the items in the yard. Nothing was left dry!

First Photos

2008-02-19T15:58:00.000-08:00

Well I was taking some pics of Katie wearing these cute sunglasses and Emily asked if she could take some pictures so I handed her the camera. We have a non-working camera that we let her play with so she knows how to snap the picture. So below you'll find Emily's first photos of her little sister. Not to bad, but I could be a bit prejudice.

MY HERO

2008-02-13T19:45:00.000-08:00

Are right guys I have finally become that HERO I've always wanted to be. Let me explain, as a boy and a man there is has always been in me, and I'm sure the rest of you, a desire to be a hero whether it be saving some hot girl from drug lords, or pushing that old lady out the way of a speeding car, or jumping in to a pool to save a drowning person; but yesterday I became a hero to my three and half year old daughter Emily and I didn't have to get wet, shot at or beat up. All I had to do was give a hug when Emily said "Daddy you're my HERO!"

When was the last time you told God he was your Hero? I can now tell you from Experience He's gonna love it.

Of course the hot girl has always been Holly. :)

For Marcy

2008-02-10T17:55:00.000-08:00

This one's for Marcy - the girls dancing since you said you like to see vids of the girls. We do this after bathtime to get rid of all the excess energy. The Ws and Supertones are their favorites. There's a whole dance to this song - right to the last note, but this video was taken on the third go-around so not as much energy left. Plus you'll see the dog and Emily have a little accident that stops the action all together. Maybe another night I'll get the whole song and dance - literally!
Enjoy

Meme of favorite things

2008-02-05T16:52:00.000-08:00

Through my travels on the world wide web I have come across the term "meme". So I asked myself, what is a meme? Well here's the definition on dictionary.com:
n. A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another.
WHAT?
The simplest definition I've found it that it is sharing information, usually about one's self, regarding likes, dislikes, and such. You pose a series of questions, about anything - even silly, weird things - and then answer them. Someone comes along, reads your answers and then feels compelled to do the same, thus "repeated action from one mind to another." So with that said here's the meme I found that interested me most and I hope to see it on your blog. So here are three things....

Three things that make me laugh
• My husband
• My children
• Alaskan Bull Worm episode of Spongebob Squarepants

Three things that make me cry
• Chick flicks
• Seeing harm come to a child
• A sappy commercial

Three things that scare me
• Gas stoves
• Too many birds in one spot
• Noises in the night

Three things I love (besides the obvious)
• Cold wind on my face
• The smell of good food cooking
• Swimming

Three things I'd like to learn
• How to play the cello
• To speak Hebrew

• Ballet (kudos to Heatherfor fulfilling her childhood dream)

Three favorite foods
• Mediterranean food

• Pasta

• Tomatoes

Three beverages I drink regularly
• Water
• Milk
• Hot tea

Three TV shows/books I watched/read as a kid
• Stephen King (fanatic read every book until I got into college)

• Speed Racer

• School books (yuck)

Three favorite movies

• Grease

• Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

• Sleeping Beauty

Leave a comment if you include this meme on your blog.

AAAAaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

2008-02-01T12:39:00.001-08:00

See our South African blog, but I just love this picture. It says so much and it's good for any situation that requires such release!

When I grow Up

2008-01-27T19:42:00.000-08:00

Busy blog weekend...
Thanks Vicky for this one. While I agree with some of the personality traits, I prefer the background to the foreground. So a politician, lawyer or talk show host is not appealing to me at all - though Kevin has said on many occasion that I should be a laywer. Maybe he sees it too??

You Should Be a Politician

Confident, assertive, and dedicated - you know what you want in life and how to get it.
Stubborn and opinionated, you can stand your ground... even if it's unpopular.
And while you have strong views, you never overwhelm people with your opinions.
A true charmer, you subtly influence people into seeing things your way.

You do best when you:

- Work according to your own rules
- Can change the world with what you do

You would also be a good lawyer or talk show host.

What Should You Be When You Grow Up?

Here's Kevin's. Again the therapist may apply, but not sure about the rest.

You Should Be a Doctor

You are practical, sharp, and very intuitive.
Optimistic and energetic, you are a problem solver who doesn't get discouraged easily.
You are also quite compassionate and caring. You make people feel hopeful.
You're highly adaptable and capable. You do well with almost any curve ball life throws at you.

You do best when you:

- Are always learning new subjects
- Use your knowledge to solve problems

You would also be a good therapist or detective.

What Should You Be When You Grow Up?

Emily & Kevin & Love

2008-01-25T19:16:00.000-08:00

Emily expressing her creative side. She's computer savvy so I just showed her how to change the color and it's all her.

Kevin releasing some stress.

Here's a story I think everyone should read. In today's culture this woman should be considered a hero!

The Pollock In Me

2008-01-25T12:39:00.000-08:00

Thanks again Heredes for a cool link. Here's my pollock impersonation. It's very therapeutic, so I got carried away, but I'm just posting my favorite two. I'm going to let Emily try it out later and will post her creations. For those of you who haven't tried CLICK HERE to make your own.
Note: Spacebar and Return clear the page. Mouse click changes colors (if on laptop - hold down option key and click).

Soooo Tired

2008-01-17T18:57:00.000-08:00

Video of my Katie so tired she didn't get me to go upstairs, just nodded off. So turn up the volume cause she's nodding off to REO Speedwagon.

A Blast from the Past

2008-01-10T12:59:00.001-08:00

Oh, you never know when those old pictures will find their way on the internet! While searching for SA pictures I came across these lovely photos from 2003. Enjoy!

Heredes & the future wife diggin' his new ride courtesy of his parents when he turned 21.

Heredes and David weren't always friends (JK). Chanti and Marcy are witness to the mayhem.

Daniel & Derwin pointing to the tip of Africa. Hey what happened to that mustache?

I've got you too Kristel!

First Utterz

2008-01-03T19:43:00.001-08:00

Mobile post sent by logan using Utterz. Replies. mp3

Heredes is Cool!

2008-01-03T19:38:00.000-08:00

Heredes finds the coolest things. Do you like really work or do you spend all your time searching the internet for weird, unusual or out there items? OR do you have a secret source. If you want cool things - check out Heredes' blog!!!
Thanks, you're our cool connection - stay cool and don't flip your hamburger with the cheese on top!

Giraffe

2008-01-02T18:45:00.000-08:00

We love going to the zoo. We love most of all feeding the giraffes. This is Katie's favorite animal. One of the first words she said. So here are some pictures for your enjoyment. This last trip - New Year's Day - the giraffe was most interested in the camera. So we got some real good close ups of her nose. If you haven't tried it, and you live in the area, it cost $2 and its worth it. When we go during the week, we're the only ones there and we spend about $8 easy. So enjoy the pics.

"The most beautiful I've ever seen"

2007-12-30T12:04:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-27T19:41:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-19T09:13:00.001-08:00

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

2007-12-17T19:59:00.000-08:00

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!!

2007-12-14T18:59:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-12T19:06:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-11T19:12:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-07T06:04:00.000-08:00

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!!!!!!!!!!

2007-12-06T14:17:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-04T04:53:00.000-08:00

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

2007-12-03T06:17:00.000-08:00

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?

2007-11-29T20:37:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-26T19:11:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-21T11:34:00.001-08:00

Will We Go?

2007-11-11T11:38:00.000-08:00

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

2007-11-07T19:48:00.000-08:00

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

2007-10-28T12:21:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-24T19:37:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-24T13:42:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-23T10:53:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-21T12:20:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-20T19:55:00.000-07:00

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

So Sweet!

2007-10-11T15:21:00.000-07:00

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?

2007-10-10T18:51:00.000-07:00

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?

2007-10-06T19:58:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-04T13:53:00.001-07:00

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

2007-09-26T07:15:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-09-20T14:16:00.001-07:00

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!)

2007-09-15T13:36:00.000-07:00

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?

2007-09-15T12:53:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-11T20:43:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-08T20:21:00.000-07:00

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!!!