Standing On The Promises

Thankful that Jesus loves me and that he saved me from sin. Thankful that all of my daily needs have always been met. Thankful for family. Thankful for friends. There are so many things to be thankful for. I have been so richly blessed.  Thanksgiving season always brings back wonderful memories of family time and good food. We've been in Bolivia for three thanksgivings now, and boy do I miss the family gatherings! Skits, strawberry pretzel casserole, good music, turkey, and all of those thanksgiving traditions have a special place in my heart (and stomach!!). More recently, thanksgiving has been a time to get together with other gringos and stuff ourselves with (improvised) traditional thanksgiving foods and to enjoy fellowship. These times have been wonderful as well, and it shows that no matter where you are, you can celebrate the true spirit of thanksgiving, even if you don't

I left Peter alone for 5 minutes (max) and look what he got into!!!  "Funnest thing I've done all week!!!"

For the past week practically all I have been able to talk about, think about, and even dream about is sourdough. Sourdough, sourdough, sourdough!!!!! I am gluten free because my body does not process gluten well so I decided to try making sourdough. My theory is that the fermenting process might be able to help my body digest the gluten. So I started researching. I found a basic sourdough recipe and put it to the test. I made a white flour starter, a whole wheat starter, and then I decided to bust out and create a yogurt based starter! The white flour and water starter turned out to be a flop; it got black flecks on top and had an awful smell so I threw it away! I'm not sure why it did this. White flour starter before I threw it out! My whole wheat starter (Wheatdo for short) has been by far my most interesting starter to watch. After I feed it it goes crazy! It nearly doubles in size and gets beautifully bubbly. It smells nice and sour too. Wheatdo on da

My new blog!!! hop on over to The Mighty Ukulele and check it out! Dust your ukulele off and tune up for some action..... Get ready to make a joyful noise, Emily Jo   Promise: Psalm 100:4,5  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  For the  Lord  is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 1 John 3:17 The doorbell rings. A woman stands outside the gate with a baby in her arms. Her name is Luisa. She is very stooped and thin, her face is careworn and sad; she is old beyond her years. Her story is a sad one: her husband has left her and her five children in the worst of circumstances. She has come to ask for help. One of her small daughters has a tumor in her lung. Luisa lives in a three roomed hovel with her children and her friend and her 7 children. They barely make it from day to day; she sells orange juice on the street, and her friend, Sulma, works full time at an orphanage.  I recognized her voice when I asked who it was. I was reluctant to open the door. She has come to us many times asking for money. We have always helped her with her rent, food, and medications, but suspicion and runs deep and in t