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Rumble in the Dark Jonah is now 6 weeks old. I hope he is not getting sick. Lately he has had frequent loose stools, kind of like diarrhea, that causes a very bad diaper rash. So one thing I’ve been doing is to give him frequent diaper changes. And last night, I heard the “rumble†twice in the middle of the night. So each time, I stumbled around bleary-eyed and fumbled for the clean diaper, wipes, and diaper rash cream and did that night-time duty…Oh, for the day you will sleep through the night and be potty-trained!! Or at least the day your daddy returns from his trip and can take over in this department…4/28/03 2:30 pm
In other news, we had a rather routine but sometimes crazy and chaotic Monday. After some home school work (Speaking of home schooling, here is the website about our home school group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sigonellahomeschool/ ), we met Mrs.I.H. and kids J. and G. at the playground in our housing complex for a quick picnic lunch and recess. I hope Jessica is ok. She fell from the swing and hurt her arm. Even in the evening she was complaining about the pain…Why do these things only happen when Ben is away? We’ll see how she feels tomorrow…
Before we ended up at the playground, I was trying to find some shorts to wear because it was a fine warm Spring day here in Sicily. Of course, not many of my shorts fit me anymore in this post-pregnancy state, other than the elastic waistbands
This afternoon, it was really nice of our friend Mrs. CG and her family to make dinner for us and bring it over, since your Dad is away. We have been so blessed here with neighbors who brought dinners after Jonah was born, OCF Bible study friends hosting a baby shower, other friends bringing gifts, letting us borrow necessary baby gear/clothes, etc. While we were in the car to go to the store to get milk, the kids were enthralled listening to an audiobook of Odysseus and Jeremy complained when I had to turn it off. Tonight we played Monopoly Jr., read aloud a bit from Strawberry Girl, and briefly talked to Dad on the phone. 4/28/03 10:15 pm Posted 4/28/2003 at 4:12 PM
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…so I told the kids we are going jogging. Well, I jogged with the stroller and they rode bikes. (Josh had a big wheel.) So we jogged/rode about a mile and ended up at the playground.|
******************************************************* Annual Letters to the Kids From Ben (and Vicki)*******************************************************Thoughts From BenJeremy celebrated his 8th birthday this month. I feel kind of guilty that his baby brother’s birth last month sort of precluded or possibly delayed, our, or at least, my ability to celebrate this event in any grand fashion. Ben and I try to write the kids an annual letter around their birthdays. (Ben has been much more productive lately than I have been…) Here are some of Ben’s recent letters to the kids…2003AprilHappy Eighth Birthday Jeremy!I thank God for you always. Time really flies by fast. You are already eight years old! It feels like you were just born yesterday. It has been such a pleasure having you as the first-born son. You are so thoughtful and delightful. You take good care your brothers, Joshua and Jonah and the princess sister Jessica. I pray that all of you will continue to love and care for and mutually respect each other throughout your life and pass that legacy to your children and to their children’s children. Let’s see what you are into lately. You are enjoying swimming very much. You belong to the Swordfish team at Sigonella, Italy. Your coach’s name is Coach R. and he works you hard but you are improving well as a result. Remember “Work Hard†is one of our family mottos. You are a “reader rabbitâ€. You enjoy reading books by yourself. You have a daily reading time in the afternoons and read many books such as Star Wars and Misty of Chincoteague.You are into the Star Wars a lot. You must have watched Star Wars movies more than ten times in past six months. You received Light Sabers as a birthday gift and enjoyed them very much. You like playing with Lego and build things. Five months ago you build a blue Navy Airplane by Lego. It took you a while but you did it and had lots of fun. I had fun helping you too.Jeremy, l loved to read Jessica’s bible stories in the morning and read biographies on the Christian heroes such as Nate Saint, Gladys Alyward, George Washington Carver and Amy Carmichael. Jeremy, I pray that our God may continue to give you wisdom and insight so that you will grow up to be a godly man and reaching out to the world with His wonderful message.I enjoyed also your Wolf cub scouts. Your leaders are Mr. BB and his wife Mrs. LB. We made kites, pinewood derby cars, maracas and many more fun things and activities. Jeremy, I look forward to another wonderful year. May our God bless you richly and make you a blessing to many nations and peoples.With Love, Your dad, B.K. Lee, written when we lived in Marinai Housing, Sigonella Italy************************************************ April 2002 My Son, Jeremy, Happy Seventh Birthday! I just want to let you know I much I love you. You will always be my wonderful gift from God. I will always cherish and love you. You are a true blessing from God. Your zest, enthusiasm, curiosity, contagious humor and love of God and family all have positively enriched all the lives you have touched, including mine. Do you know what I like when I come home from work? When you lead Jessica and Joshua into jumping, pumping your arms, broadly smiling and shouting “Daddy…Daddy†gives me the biggest gift of welcome. Thanks for such wonderful gift. Do you like to know what you have been doing lately? Yesterday, we, the whole family, went to your Cub Scouts at Mr. and Mrs. D’s house and Mrs. B made your Cub-Scouts award-vest and dad made your pinewood derby racing car. You made the surface smooth by sanding it down with the sand paper. You liked it, I can tell. Do you know what else you have been doing? You enjoyed home-schooling, swimming – you are getting buff and swimming really fast. (one motivation is that you want to do snorkeling or scuba diving in Italy), bowling, reading, attending AWANAS, visiting Leprino Cheese factory. Did I tell you about your fishing derby last year? You won the first place by catching the biggest cat fish weighing over three pounds. Do you know what else has been significant? You accept Jesus into your heart during the Billy Graham Crusade in the Central Valley, CA in October. We are so excited for you, Jer. You love to help cook.. You like eating pancakes over the weekends. You have been a great leader, a wonderful big brother to Jessica and Josh… Love, Dad
Happy Third Birthday Jeremy!!!I just want to let you know how proud I am to be your father. You truly are a wonderful gift from our Heavenly Father. It is my privilege and high calling to be your father and the best friend to help you to be a godly person that God intends you to be. I know time is limited. There will soon come a time when your mom and I will release you into the world. I hope you to be mighty in God’s spirit, filled with love and obedience for God.. Well, it has been a real pleasure to be with you for the past three years. You are so good natured and fun to be with.. Your curiosity and mischievousness and hearty laughs reminds me of your vibrant and friendly personality. You love people and being with other kids. Even though at times you will be so tired, you rather play or be with mom, Jessica or your friends likes Nathan and Ms Jaku. You are very smart, too. You never seem to stop amaze others about puzzle solving on computer learning programs such as “Jump Start Toddlers”, and able to manage TV and VCR by your self. Your also use English, Japanese and Korean words and even translate some words.. You made mom proud by mastering “potty training”. Good Job, son.. You are also gentle and loving which is evident when you play with Jessica. You love Jessica. When you were sleepy, you used to hold her hands and fall asleep. You often ask for Jessica as you get up.. I hope you continue to love and take care of her as you both grow older together. You are so courteous, too. You love to say “thank you”. You also like to ask “May I be excused?” after dinner. Good job. I hope you continue to be sensitive to others and be considerate. I just want you to know that God has blessed you, not only for the material things but most of all, for your mom… Mom loves you, is devoted to you, and concerned for your welfare. Your mom is my best friend and hope you grow up to honor, respect and love her all through your life. I pray for God’s wisdom as He entrusted you to us for a time being. May God be glorified through your life. Pray that your future wife to be will grow up knowing and loving God and be filled with His Spirit. Happy Birthday..04 April 1998Love, “Appa” “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.†Psalm 127:4. You indeed are an extension of ourselves. *************************************Jeremy’s 3rd Birthday /1998 Highlights Ht 35″ Wt 33# Hct 35 Physical changes : about 10% ile on growth chart How we celebrated/Who was there:Mom, Jeremy & Jessica were visiting CA. Appa had to stay behind and work in Iwakuni, Japan. You had 2 birthday cakes-on the Lee side in Corona, with Halmoni, Uncle Kirk, Aunt Bea, Jonathan, Rachel, Choi aunties, Great-aunt Yun and on the Nakaji side in Irvine with Grandma, Grandpa, Kwongs, Browns. You received a lot of nice clothes, computer games (Grandma/pa) and pirate ship (Kwongs). New Skills/Accomplishments/Talents:You are very observant, smart, with attention to details, good memory, “fastidious”, meticulous, love to copy others, esp your friends, can have big temper tantrums. You were potty trained by 2 1/2, although you occasionally wet the bed at night still. At 3, you have a large vocabulary, can understand and speak some Japanese and Korean, speak in complete English sentences, can be a “motor mouth”, love to sing songs and sometimes make up words (like Baa Baa Black Sheep, you sing, “one for my master, one for my babe”), you can write a few letters like T and L. You handed me some play food on a plate and said, “don’t eat this, you have to pray first.” Favorite Things/Activities:You love to play educational CD computer games like Reader Rabbit and Jumpstart, watch videos like Barney, Thomas, Sesame St. You also like playing with balls, puzzles, play food, trains, pirate ship, farm, house, legos. You are interested in all kinds of animals, esp in books. You really like climbing on the jungle gym and riding in the red wagon. You are kind of a picky eater-you really like pasta, food you can dip, sweets, and don’t like anything “karai” (spicy). You love riding buses and airplanes. Closing Thoughts by Mom:It is amazing how much you are growing up before my eyes. I am so proud of your special qualities -your gentleness toward your baby sister, Jessica, your exuberance and zest for life, your complete trust in us, your early faith in God (“God fixed my owwie”), and the way you make me laugh by the funny things you do and say. You were the first person to make Jessica laugh with your funny antics. I hope and pray that you will grow up to be a Godly man, with His character, love, and compassion. It is such an awesome honor, privilege, and responsibility to be your mother. I am so grateful that God allowed me this wonderful experience of raising you and watching you grow up everyday. Nothing in this world can compare to loving, training, disciplining, teaching and spending time with you and Jessica. I love you so, so much, Jeremy. Love, Mom My dearest Jessica, (Her birthday is in September, written in November 2002 from Dad)Happy Fifth Birthday Jessica! We are so thankful to God for you Jes and glad that we are one family. We are grateful that He made us your parents and asked us to take care of you while you are young. You have been a blessing indeed in our lives. Jessica, you are growing up so fast. You are home schooling with mom and learned how to write and enjoy writing letters to your friends such as A, the Ks and R. I love it when I come home from work and you squeal with excitement and give me a big hug. I cherish the times when you want to walk with me wherever I need to go and do an errand. You like to express yourself with words and you are good at it. We loved carving a pumpkin with you.With all of our Love, From Dad November 2002 at Sigonella, Italy (from our long-term hotel/TLA in Motta) *********************************************My dearest Joshua, (November 2002 from Dad)Happy Third Birthday!!! We thank God for you Josh. How wonderful a gift you have been to us, and what a privilege it has been for us to be your parents. Your enthusiasm for life evidenced by “your loud voice†and “bouncing on the house including the walls, coffee table, sofa†is at times difficult but definitely adds excitement to our lives.Joshua, you are so outgoing. Wherever we go and meet people in the street, especially in Sicily, Italy, you greet people with either a loud “HI†or “CIAO, “BUONA SERA†or “BUONGIORNOâ€. People seemed drawn to you and want to talk with you. You like to be around your brother Jeremy and sister Jessica. As a matter of fact, we noticed that you like to hold Jeremy’s hand when you go to sleep. Sometimes we have to move you back to your bed because you ended up on Jeremy’s bed during the night. You liked to have your short hair spiked with styling gel by Jessica. She did a wonderful job because you looked so COOL. We also noticed that you liked Jessica so much that you prefer to wear her pink “pull up diapersâ€. We are so glad that you all are getting along so well and becoming best friends to each other. That is our dream and prayer that you all come to love Jesus, and each other as best friends. That will give us tremendous joy.Josh, I would like to share with you some of my journal entries with you. What magical moments I shared with you. On July 2, 2002, we were still at Lemoore, California before we moved to Sicily, Italy. While mommy took Jeremy and Jessica to swim meet, you and I walked to the playground. I saw a pure joy in your face as you were swinging on the swing. Your joyous squeal and laughter seemed to slow the time. We played “catch†with a small nerf ball. Small things such as that matter a lot. I remember Grandpa C. at age 95 when we were visiting him at the end of June 2002. All he wanted to do was play “catch†with a light soccer ball with you kids, especially you, Josh. Another joy was giving you a shower. You were so delighted to have water splashed on your face and back. Life is indeed made of simple joys.Josh, I just would like to let you know how much we love you and are glad to be your parents. May you grow up to be a godly and courageous man of God, accomplishing His mission for your life. May you grow up to love your brother and sister and continue to become best friends in life.With all of our Love, From Dad, November 2002 at Sigonella, Italy (from our long-term hotel/TLA in Motta)***********************************************2003 March 15Hello Jonah Yeh-Joon Hiromichi lee!Welcome to the family! We are all excited about your arrival. Mommy, Jeremy, Jessica, Joshua and I could hardly wait until you came to this world. I am so glad that God entrusted you to us to take care of you and see through that you grow up to be a godly person and teaching your children and children’s children to be God loving people. You were born on March 15th 2003 0220 (Early Saturday morning) at the U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella, Italy. On March 14th, dad was on duty at the Emergency Department at the hospital. Mom came to hospital around 7pm and worked on arranging pictures for the family scrapbooks. Dr. D was the doctor for you and mom. Your mom labored wonderfully. She was a real trooper. She really did not complain much at all. The nurse anesthetist LT KS, who gave mom the epidural anesthesia, said that your mom was so relaxed during the labor. When you were ready to come out to the world, I had the wonderful privilege of delivering you. Mom pushed only twice before you let out a very loud cry as you came out into my hands.You came into the eager group of brothers and a princess sister. Jessica (5 yrs old) loves to hold you and give kisses to your soft cheeks. She cannot get enough of you. She will be a wonderful sister to you. Jeremy (now just turned 8yrs old) is your elder big brother. He is very protective of you. He too likes to hold you. Joshua (3 yrs old) is your older brother. He likes to sing songs and hold and give you kisses even though sometimes he struggles to hold you right. They cannot wait until you can talk, walk and play with them. I pray that you will develop such a wonderful bond of mutual love, care and respect among your brothers and a sister that will last eternity.Now let’s talk about your name. We decided on the name Jonah because Jonah is the bible character who demonstrated God’s compassion. We pray that God’s compassion may fully be demonstrated in your generation and your children and their children’s generations to come. Yeh-Joon is a Korean name that your paternal grandmother helped us pick. It is an acronym for “Yeh-su Joon-beeâ€, which means to “prepare the return of Jesusâ€. Hiromichi is a Japanese name after your maternal grandfather (Your mother’s father’s brother). Your mom has wonderful memories of him.Let me briefly tell you about our family values. Our family motto is (1) Love God (2) Family first (3) Work hard (4) Tell the truth (5) Be kind.Well Jonah, May our God bless you and watches over you. May you be a blessing to many peoples and nations. Welcome to the Family.Gratefully, Your dad, B.K. Lee at Marinai Housing, Sigonella Italy Posted 4/27/2003 at 5:53 AM
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Ben has included a few select, edited comments from his journal that reflect our life here in Sicily and his thoughts toward the kids… Ben’s Journal Ben’s Personal Goal/ Priorities MISSION: Matt 28:19-20.1. Make disciples of all nations,2. Baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit3. Teaching them to obey everything Jesus has commanded me. . VISION: “Honor God” by “Daily walks in obedience”. Reach present generation. Reach future generations by preparing my children and children’s children. GUIDING PRINCIPLES:Put Christ FirstBe successful husband & dad. Totally love each otherServe others through competent & compassionate healthcareDevelop World and Eternal Vision STRATEGIC GOALS Included the headings: PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, FAMILY, PROFESSIONAL, MINISTRY, PERSONAL Here is the FAMILY portion: FAMILYVicki – (Constantly seek to honor my wife) Children – (Leave godly legacies, influence future generation by reaching my children andtheir children)Dinner with Family (Go home by 6pm)Bedtime stories and prayerGo over Billy Graham studiesFamily NightHoliday traditionsYearly letter to Vicki and ChildrenSaturday cookingCross Country skiing, hiking, fishing, (camping)FinancesGodly legacyPray through Children’s Operation WorldParticipate children’s education through homeschooling 4/7/02 9:18 am *Painful experiences-make me grow, mature, better person + doctor. *On my deathbed, right before I’m to depart this world, what would you like to have you accomplished?-man after God’s own heart-faith legacy for my childrenWill I be afraid of death? No I welcome it b/c I have hope in Jesus Christ, my Lord. Journal 7/2/02 (Lemoore, CA) 7:03 pm Aaah…. What a magical moments. I had wonderful time w/ Josh alone. While Vicki took Jer & Jes to swim meet, Josh & I walked to playground. Pure joy of swinging showed on Josh’s face & his laughter seemed to slow the time. We played “catch” w/ a small nerf ball. Small things such as that matter alot. I remember Grandpa C. @ age 95 when we visited him a week or two ago @ Sun Mar Nurshing Home. All he wanted to do was play catch w/ the kids. Another joy today was giving Josh a shower. He was so delighted to have water splash on his face & back. Life is indeed made of simple joys. 7/17/02 6:00 am Yesterday was special. Express shipment to Italy was sent & Vicki made an announcement that we are expecting our fourth child. All the kids were excited. Jessica wanted a girl so that she can share her bed. We all put our hands on mommy’s tummy & prayed that this baby will grow strong & be filled w/ God’s spirit & live fully for Him & pass on to the generations to come. As Vicki made e-mail announcements, we heard back from many friends. How refreshing it is. 8/10/02 2:55 pm Forest Lawn, (Ben’s father’s burial site) ready to leave for Sigonella. Dad, thank you for loving me. … For your hugs + tender & tough loves. You may not physically walk on this earth anymore, but your precious presence is evident in me. As our physical bodies return to earth when our time come, may I not be afraid to try my best, even though it may cost my life, while living. Thanks for the courage. See you soon. I love you. 9/2/02 7:09 am Sigonella (Sicily, Italy) Visited G. Family yesterday. Thanks for their hospitality. L,D,W,A,P,C, and M. 9/12/02 6:51 am This is a new Palm. Previous one was ‘fried’. Give thoughts to what you do. (Ben writes his journal from a Palm or IPAQ, handheld organizer. Vicki, in a late night, jet lagged state, accidentally “fried†his Palm by using the adapter from the cell phone (220V) instead of the Palm (110V)…) 9/15/02 8:35 am Two nights ago, met w/ PD’s family-K, M, S, D. Wonderful family @ wonderful place (Aci Trezza) overlooking the ocean. 9/23/02 5:31 am Monday Today is the first day @ work. 3 yrs translates to 1095 days. It is a journey & adventure (in a sense an adventure like crossing the Atlantic on a sail boat). Somedays there will be storms & tough winds as well as smooth sailing. I know I am not here alone. God, whose mission I am on, is with me. Lord, each moment, may I pray & totally depend on YOU. I know You calm the storm. May my faith be put into action. 9/24/02 5:25 am Yesteday was the first day @ work. Started out w/ a transfer. It was hectic but a blessing in disguise because I learned the transfer rope. 9/24/02 10:13 pm Tonight is the 1st night on call. Lord, may I look & depend on You always. You are my goal & reward. Thank You for loving me & I love You 9/29/02 6:06 am Today is 2nd duty. Lord, may I make wise & decisive decisions. Pray that Joshua will listen better. 9/30/02 7:09 am Naval Hospital Sigonella is a great place to be + work. This is where God wants me to be. It is my joy to put my whole faith in Christ. Jeremiah (29:5) “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce (Do your best, bloom where you are planted) (29:7) Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. (Have genuine good will toward the place where you are. Your job is to make this place successful) (29: 11) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (29:12) Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. (AMEN) 10/1/02 6:28 am Use every available time to teach Jx3 on reading/writing/counting. Trivium (Classical) way of teaching sounds interesting. (Ben was reading through Vicki’s book The Well Trained Mind.) Joshua is very headstrong. He tends to have very strong will, he is sometimes like an untamed wild horse. Lord, help us to train him the way he should go that he may benefit all through his life. 10/7/02 6:20 am My Lord, Jesus, I need help in modeling Jx3 w/ your patience & love. I see Vicki trying to deal w/ all three kids as well as her pregnancy. Lord, please show us your wisdom & insight & give us your calm spirit & strength to work through helping children to grow up more like You.
12/16/02 05:52 Monday Just came back from a one week trip to. Naples + Rome 2 days ago. Thank You, Lord for a safe trip + wonderful sites. At the church (Chiesa Battista Calvario, The International Church, website http://www.cbcalvario.org ), Pastor V. talked about the steadfastness of Micaiah the prophet. Because he obeyed the Lord, he was ‘hated’, slapped on, imprisoned, given only bread + water. Yet he was ultimately victorious at the end because he was faithful + steadfast. Another point was choosing friends wisely. Judaen King Jehoshaphat not only put himself at risk of being killed but also the lives of his army personnel when he joined up with evil Israeli king, Ahab. Prayer List-Prayer and Praises12/2/01 10:49 am*Encouragement thru cards, phone-calls. 8/16/02 2:58 am*Yes-answered-successful rental of a van to travel across the country.*Yes-safe travel across the country*Yes-building memories as family as we travel (cross country road trip from CA to VA). Vision-appreciate God’s creation & one another 9/2/02 7:36 am*Meaningful family time*Obedience from Jeremy*Building confidence in Jeremy *No whining from Jes 9/7/02 6:57 am- *Return to daily routine9/7/02 6:57 amThank you Lord, for precious Jessica (on her birthday)!• buying a trouble free 2nd car• moving express shipment on 9/11• safe & relaxing day trip to Taoromina• connecting to Mom via phone. 9/23/02 5:52 am Mon*Lord, lift up 1095 days here @ Sig. May I glorify You & honor You.*Jer-cont. good attitude*Jes-cont. no whining*Josh-listening better*Baby-growing well*Vicki-prenatal appt 10/3/02 6:06 am * housing & car situation (we were in a long-term hotel for 3 months while waiting for base housing) *Joshua-may I see him with your eyes*growing family team members-jer, jes, josh 10/30/02 7:09 pmLord, may I focus on what You want me to do. Help me not to seek men’s recognition but rather may I look forward to You & You alone. You are my reward! May I train up children in a way of You. Posted 4/26/2003 at 4:31 AM
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Ben has included a few select, edited comments from his journal that reflect his relationship with Christ, our life here in Sicily, and his thoughts toward the kids… Ben’s JournalBen’s Personal Goal/ Priorities (Dashboard) MISSION: Matt 28:19-20.1. Make disciples of all nations,2. Baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit3. Teaching them to obey everything Jesus have commanded me. . VISION: “Honor God” by “Daily walks in obedience”. Reach present generation. Reach future generations by preparing my children and children’s children. GUIDING PRINCIPLES:Put Christ FirstBe successful husband & dad. Totally love each otherServe others through competent & compassionate healthcareDevelop World and Eternal Vision STRATEGIC GOALS Included the headings: PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, FAMILY, PROFESSIONAL, MINISTRY, PERSONAL FAMILYVicki – (Constantly seek to honor my wife) Children – (Leave godly legacies, influence future generation by reaching my children andtheir children)Dinner with Family (Go home by 6pm)Bedtime stories and prayerGo over Billy Graham studiesFamily NightHoliday traditionsYearly letter to Vicki and ChildrenSaturday cookingCross Country skiing, hiking, fishing, (camping)FinancesGodly legacyPray through Children’s Operation WorldParticipate children’s education through homeschooling 4/7/02 9:18 am *Painful experiences-make me grow, mature, better person + doctor. *On my deathbed, right b/f i’m to depart this world, what would you like to have you accomplised?-man after God’s own heart-faith legacy for my childrenWill I be afraid of death? No I welcome it b/c I have hope in Jesus Christ, my Lord. Journal 7/2/02 (Lemoore, CA) 7:03 pm Aaah…. What a magical moments. I had wonderful time w/ Josh alone. While Vicki took Jer & Jess to swim meet, Josh & I walked to playground. Pure joy of swinging showed on Josh’s face & his laughter seemed to slow the time. We played “catch” w/ a small smurf ball. Small things such as that matter alot. I remember Grandpa C. @ age 95 when we visited him a week or two ago @ Sun Mar Nurshing Home. All he wanted to do was play catch w/ the kids. Another joy today was giving Josh a shower. He was so delighted to have water splash on his face & back. Life is indeed made of simple joys. 7/17/02 6:00 am Yesterday was special. Express shipment to Italy was sent & Vicki made an announcement that we are expecting our fourth child. All the kids were excited. Jessica wanted a girl so that she can share her bed. We all put our hands on mommy’s tummy & prayed that this baby will grow strong & be filled w/ God’s spirit & live fully for Him & pass on to the generations to come. As Vicki made e-mail announcements, we heard back from many friends. How refreshing it is. 8/10/02 2:55 pm Forest Lawn, (Ben’s father’s burial site) ready to leave for Sigonella. Dad, thank you for loving me. … For your hugs + tender & tough loves. You may not physically walk on this earth anymore, but your precious presence is evident in me. As our physical bodies return to earth when our time come, may I not be afraid to try my best, even it may cost my life, while living. Thanks for the courage. See you soon. I love you. 9/2/02 7:09 am Sigonella (Sicily, Italy) Visited G. Family yesterday. Thanks for their hospitality. L,D,W,A,P,C, and M. 9/12/02 6:51 am This is a new Palm. Previous one was ‘fried. Give thoughts to what you do. (Ben writes his journal from a Palm or IPAQ, handheld organizer. Vicki accidentally “fried†his Palm by using the adapter from the cell phone (220V) instead of the Palm (110V)…) 9/15/02 8:35 am Two nights ago, met w/ PD’s family-K, M, S, D. Wonderful family @ wonderful place (Aci Trezza) overlooking the ocean. 9/23/02 5:31 am Monday Today is the first day @ work. 3yrs translates to 1095 days. It is a journey & adventure (in a sense an adventure like crossing the Atlantic on a sail boat). Somedays there will be storms & tough winds as well as smooth sailing. I know i am not here alone. God, whose mission I am on, is with me. Lord, each moment, may I pray & totally depend on YOU. I know You calm the storm. May my faith be put into action. 9/24/02 5:25 am Yesteday was the first day @ work. Started out w/ a transfer. It was hectic but a blessing in disguise because I learned the transfer rope. 9/24/02 10:13 pm Tonight is the 1st night on call. Lord may I look & depend on You always. You are my goal & reward. Thank You for loving me & I love You 9/29/02 6:06 am Today is 2nd duty. Lord may i make wise & decisive decisions. Pray that Joshua will listen better. 9/30/02 7:09 am Naval Hospital Sigonella is a great place to be + work. This is where God wants me to be. It is my joy to put my whole faith in Christ. Jeremiah (29:5) “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce (Do your best, bloom where you are planted) (29:7) Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. (Have genuine good will toward the place where you are. Your job is to make this place successful) (29: 11) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (29:12) Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. (AMEN) 10/1/02 6:28 am Use every available time to teach J3 on reading/writing/counting. Trivium (Classical) way of teaching sounds interesting. (Ben was reading through Vicki’s book The Well Trained Mind.) Joshua is very headstrong. He tends to have very strong will, he is like a untamed wild horse. Lord, help us to be train him the way he should go that he may benefit all through his life. 10/7/02 6:20 am My Lord, Jesus, i need help in modeling Jx3 w/ your patience & love. I see Vicki trying to deal w/ all three kids as well as her pregnancy. Lord, please show us your wisdom & insight & give us your calm spirit & strength to work through helping children growing up more like You. 10/8/02 7:06 am Thank You, my Lord, Jesus for good interaction w/ the housing director yesterday 12/16/02 05:52 Monday Just came back from a one week trip to. Naples + Rome 2days ago. Thank You, Lord for safe trip + wonderful sites. At the church (Chiesa Battista Calvario, The International Church), pastor V. talked about steadfastness of Micaiah the prophet. Because he obeyed the Lord, he was ‘hated’, slapped on, imprisoned, given only bread + water. Yet he was ultimately victorious at the end b/c he was faithful + steadfast. Another point was choosing friends wisely. Judaen King Jehoshaphat not only put himself at risk of being killed but also the lives of his army personnel when he joined up w/ evil Israeli king, Ahab. Prayer List-Prayer and Praises12/2/01 10:49 am*Encouragement thru cards, phone-calls. 8/16/02 2:58 am*Yes-answered-successful rental of a van to travel across the country.*Yes-safe travel across the country*Yes-building memories as family as we travel (cross country road trip from CA to VA). Vision-appreciate God’s creation & one another 9/2/02 7:36 am*Meaningful family time*Obedience from Jeremy*Building confidence in Jeremy*No wining from Jess9/7/02 6:57 am- *Return to daily routine9/7/02 6:57 amThank you Lord, for precious Jessica (on her birthday)!• buying a trouble free 2nd car• moving express shipment on 9/11• safe & relaxing day trip to Taoromina• connecting to Mom via phone. 9/23/02 5:52 am Mon*Lord, lift up 1095 days here @ Sig. May I glorify You & honor You.*Jer-cont. good attitude*Jes-cont. no wining*Josh-listening better*Baby-growing well*Vicki-prenatal appt 10/3/02 6:06 am* housing & car situation*Joshua-may i see him w/ your eyes*growing family team members-jer, jes, josh 10/30/02 7:09 pmLord, may I focus on what You want me to do. Help me not to seek men’s recognition but rather may I look forward to You & You alone. You are my reward! May I train up children in a way of You. Posted 4/26/2003 at 4:28 AM
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Jonah’s Birth Story 2003 Let me preface Jonah’s birth story with a couple of points. Now, I know that God is always in control of every situation I will ever face, but for some reason, I was a bit more apprehensive about this birth than some of the others. First there was the fact of being overseas. We were cutting it a bit close by taking a trip for Dad’s work to Crete, Greece at 37 weeks pregnant. The US base over there didn’t have facilities to deliver babies so the whole trip I was wondering how I would manage to get myself to a Greek hospital and hope that there was a translator available, etc. Then, there was the factor of Jonah being born just days before the Iraqi War started. Those were unsettled times and we weren’t sure if or when the base would basically shut down under Force Protection Condition Delta. I thought, “What if the base’s front gate was shut and I was stuck in congested, long lines of traffic at a standstill in the middle of labor…†There was a major anti-Iraqi war protest at the NAS II base with thousands of protesters during the weekend right around my due date. The roads around our housing complex were closed to traffic. I kept wondering how I would get to the hospital if my labor started during the protest. Then, there is the fact that, even after bearing 4 children, I am not good at predicting when I am actually in labor. I know, I should not complain because so many mothers-to-be wish their husbands were medically trained with the ability to check the cervix at home. But of course, Ben always seems to be gone at work when I need him to check it. I really think someone needs to invent some sort of cervical-checker tool. I mean, if an ear thermometer can check your temperature, there has to be some gadget that can check the cervix from home, don’t you think?? The day before the birth, March 14th, was a Friday. Grandma and Grandpa N. were visiting from California to help us all out. Jonah’s actual due date was March 19th. Our OCF Bible Study had held a surprise baby shower for Jonah a few days earlier on March 12th. On March 15th, Ben was on duty that night in the ER. He had switched duty dates with our friend MS, so MS could do a talk at a special dinner held at a local restaurant for a physician’s medical staff meeting. A few days previously, I had thought I was in labor a couple of times and was wrong, do so I was half-doubting myself that I was actually in labor that day. Ben agreed to meet me upstairs at the hospital. The plan was to have him check me and then call Dr. D, who was at the medical dinner. I had to figure out the most convenient way to get to the hospital that evening. Ben was already at work, Grandpa could drive, but he wasn’t sure he could find his way back on the Italian roads at night and he would not be allowed to drive our car passed the sentry at the gate. I really didn’t want to bother and inconvenience my friends and neighbors. Most of them were gone or busy that Friday night anyway. And maybe I wasn’t really in labor, so I didn’t want to make it into a big deal. So I ate dinner, took a shower, and drove myself to the hospital. I had a few contractions on the way, but managed to drive ok. Of course, that weekend there was a huge festival at the base for St. Patrick’s Day and the road in front of the hospital was blocked off. The security guard tried to lead me to the overflow parking lot. I told him I might be in labor. He abruptly starting shouting to the others, “Let her through!! She’s in labor!!†As I was wheeling my suitcase into the hospital, the contractions got strong enough that I had to stop walking once in awhile. **To Be Continued…(I can’t seem to finish anything in one sitting these days…)
Posted 4/26/2003 at 1:59 AM
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| 4/26/03 Ben left 3 days ago for a 10 day work-related trip to the States, which includes a few days in CA to visit family. We had made up a shopping list for him of certain items that are hard to get here in Italy. Our neighbors Mrs. EC and son M. have been gone for a month (!) on their trip to the States. Later on that day, I was telling Jessica that they just bought a house (for after their time here in Sicily). Her eyes got really wide and she asked, “How are they going to bring it over here??!â€
Posted 4/26/2003 at 1:22 AM
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| Monday 4/21/2003 Pasquetta or “Little Easter”, an Italian National Holiday where people traditionally have a picnic. We had a great time at a huge picnic at church, intense soccer games, and as our friend Mrs. PG said, “a sweet day in the Lord.”
Posted 4/22/2003 at 3:52 PM
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4/21/03 Buon Pasqua and Happy 1st Easter to Jonah. On Saturday, it was a beautiful spring day and Jeremy raced his orange car in the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby. His car got 2nd place of the Wolves. Jessica and Joshua also had fun racing their cars in the siblings’ race and Jessica got a certificate for “Wildest Color,†which was hot pink. Saturday evening, we went to an Easter egg hunt in the dark and a BBQ with Jessica’s Daisy Girl Scout troop. Mr. and Mrs. B. are such wonderful, dedicated leaders for your Wolf and Daisy Scouts. We will miss them after they PCS (move to a different base) in a few months. On Sunday, we dyed Easter eggs and decorated an Easter cookie. Then we had a good time at our neighbor’s house for a BBQ and the kids ran around with water guns and played. In the evening, we went to church (Chiesa Battista Calvario, aka The International Church) for a worshipful Easter celebration and communion service. Posted 4/21/2003 at 2:22 PM
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| An 8 year old’s PerspectiveJeremy celebrated his 8th birthday this month. I feel kind of guilty that his baby brother’s birth last month sort of precluded or possibly, delayed, our, or at least, my ability to celebrate this event in any grand fashion. I came across a Kid’s Questionaire and I hope to ask these questions every year around their birthdays. Here are some of his comments: (Jeremy’s comments are after the …)
I like to…play my computer games and play outside. Mothers are…nice. My favorite foods are …ice cream float, apple pie, macaroni and cheese. My favorite place is… Orange County, CA (where most of our extended family is located), at home, at my friend’s house. Daddies are…hard workers Today I feel…happy. I get mad when…Jessica doesn’t share. The best thing about my home is…I have a new baby brother. If I were a parent, I would…have a little boy. I love to …hug Jonah (can you guess who I was holding while asking him these questions??) My favorite toys are…Scooby and Hobbes (stuffed animal toys) My father…is a doctor. My mother…takes care of all four of us. I don’t like…going to bed early. I wish people wouldn’t…litter When I grow up, I…will visit my mom and dad. When I am alone, I…am sad. I don’t like it when…Jonah cries. It’s hard for me to…go to sleep. I hate it when…Mom or Dad get mad at me. I wish I could…get a present. I feel happiest when…I see Jonah. I feel important when…I hold Jonah. I feel like crying when…there’s a sad ending. What I want most is…for my mom to have a thousand kids. (Sorry Jeremy, I don’t think so…) I feel proud when…I help my mom or dad. Something that bothers me is…mom never changes the music (in the cd player). I’m good at…swimming. The most important person in the world is…God. Posted 4/17/2003 at 9:56 AM
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OK, I need to stop procrastinating…I (Vicki) have finally decided to write in this blog (web log). Our neighbor, Mr. PC (all names and identities may be changed or altered to protect the innocent…  ) was giving me a hard time because, as he said, “There’s nothing in your blog and that is false advertising (on our web page)!”  I think I have decided the format. I am planning to write brief and occasional notes to our kids, Jeremy, Jessica, Joshua, and Jonah so they can read about themselves and our family life 20 years from now. It will probably be a very eclectic mix of anecdotes, thoughts, ideas, observations, cultural impressions, advice, etc. You may be asking, “Now why is she putting this on the web instead of in their scrapbooks??” One reason is that I can type, albeit very slowly, with one hand while I nurse the baby (which is rather frequently these days, in case you were unaware… ) Then, I will have to figure out some way to compile this journal into their scrapbooks. And another reason is the easy access for the grandparents (and other interested parties) to keep in touch with the kids across the miles. Well, the baby is crying now, so I will have to continue this later. 1:30 pm2:45 pm- Taking advantage of a rare, quiet moment in the house. Hi Kids, Today your dad was home because he gets the next day off after his “duty” nights of working in the ER. Those days are great for me because I can use any help I can get these days…He took Jeremy and Jessica to swim team practice and is doing a few laps himself (Do you want to see the team’s web site? It’s at http://www.sicily.navy.mil/afn/swordfish/ ). Joshie and Jonah are both napping. Jonah is now a month old. He was born on March 15, 2003. At some point, I’ll have to record some details about his birth before I forget them. I am so glad that he is sleeping a little more at night (3-4 hour stretches) and nursing is getting a bit better. I was hoping for an easy baby, but Jonah is not…He seems to be like Jessica was, a rather high need and high maintenance baby. I was pondering this morning as I was changing Jonah’s diaper, in my sleep deprived state, about how one’s priorities change so much with a newborn around. I have a long “to-do” list of things that “need” to be done, but, in this season of my life, they will probably remain undone for awhile. I know the little baby in my arms who stares so longingly and lovingly into my eyes everyday will grow up so fast. He has such simple needs…he doesn’t even ask for Gameboy Advance games, Pokemon cards, or ice cream (at least not yet  ), all he wants is to be held or nursed. He is such a blessing from God. One thing Jonah does not like is diaper changes. He screams and cries during those…but he stops crying the second you pick him back up.I’d better go and get ready for Bible Study tonight. That’s all for now…Love, Mom (Vicki)
Posted 4/17/2003 at 9:25 AM
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Vicki -I love the idea of writing notes to the children that they will be able to look back at.
I have been doing something similar in a traditional journal, but I’ve been doing it less and less lately. I like the idea of switching over to an internet-based journal. Maybe I’ll do it sometime soon…. I also love how conscious you and Ben are of the principles that you are following as you raise your family. Very beautiful. I liked the comment about me giving you a hard time, but don’t worry I’ll find another way to give you a hard time…… God bless. |
| Here are some e-mails I wrote soon after we arrived in Sicily:From: Lee, Vicki and Ben Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2002 7:37 AM Subject: Siracusa/Thoughts on Sicilian Culture Oct. 2002Hi again,How was your Columbus Day weekend? We went on a camping trip to Siracusa with Jeremy’s Cub Scout group. The kids and I will be gone on a little trip for 3 days this week back to Siracusa with a friend E, who also home schools her 5 yr old son and her husband works with Ben at the hospital. There is so much ancient Greek and Roman history in Syracuse and it is also mentioned in the Bible (Acts 28:12) as a place the Apostle Paul visited for 3 days on his journey to Rome. It’s also where the Greek scientist Archimedes, who discovered the principle of hydrostatics, was born and died back when Sicily belonged to ancient Greece. I’m attaching a photo of us at a Greek amphitheater near the catacombs. We found out that we will be able to move into the new on-base housing on Nov. 25, right before Thanksgiving. Thanks for your prayers! Love, Vicki P.S. Here is a web site about scenes in Sicily. http://ragusaonline.com/e-cards/index.htm We are near Catania and about an hour from Siracusa. P.S.S. I jotted down the following first impressions of Sicily for my journal and for friends and family who may be interested…It may be long and boring, so I wouldn’t be at all offended if you choose to delete it… The first conclusion I made when I came to this island is that practically everything is slow paced, except their driving…The driving is absolutely crazy…anything goes. I guess that since I have not yet driven on the German autobahn, that I haven’t seen anything yet, but it kind of reminds me of driving in Tijuana…There will be a rather narrow two-lane road, one lane for each direction, with maybe a one-foot dirt shoulder or a curb and cars will frequently pass in both directions directly in front of oncoming traffic, so that road suddenly turns into a 4 lane road…and this occurs at high speeds! And of course, obeying the stop signs is optional…We hear about Americans getting into auto accidents all the time. Although it’s harder to navigate the narrow streets and alleyways in our big, bright red, American-sized mini-van, it probably is a mixed blessing because I think they try to stay out of my way. Otherwise, it feels quite safe, as there are usually no major crimes, only petty thefts, like pickpockets or teenage boys breaking into cars and homes and stealing things like stereo equipment. In some ways, being in this country is like stepping back in time 20 years ago and you will see very young children (and adults, as well) riding in the front seat of a car without a seatbelt or on a motorcycle or motorbike without a helmet. Dining out in a restaurant is another experience. The Italians definitely enjoy the entire eating experience as a social event and dinner could take about 3 hours. First of all, traditionally, the restaurants don’t serve dinner until around 8:30pm. Then the meal comes in different courses, the antipasto (appetizers), first and second courses, salad, dessert, coffee, etc. All of this could be quite trying for a family with young children like us…It’s a good thing some places have take-out…In this culture, like in Mexico and other countries, they have a daily “reposo†or rest time/“siestaâ€. They may begin work at around 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., then go home to have lunch and a rest and return at around 4 p.m. and work until 7 or 8 p.m., which is why dinner is after 8:30 p.m. That system works well, especially in the hot summers, so workers can rest during the hottest part of the day, especially since there usually isn’t central air conditioning… We have to get used to always drinking bottled water here because the tap water is full of calcium and other minerals from the nearby volcano, Mount Etna. I guess I was ignorant before coming to Italy…I thought that pizza and spaghetti were Americanized versions of “real†Italian food. I was wrong. It’s not like in Japan, where I knew that Japanese people don’t necessarily have sushi and tempura at every Japanese restaurant. The pizzas and pasta dishes are very delicious and are a bit different than their American counterparts. They use a lot of fresh olive oil and the fresh veggies and cheeses that grow so well in this area. On the salads in restaurants, you would not usually get to choose the dressing. The standard dressing is olive oil and vinegar. Our area is famous for the olives, prickly pears (from the cactus plant), blood oranges, and pistachios. As we drive to the second base, (there are two bases here, about 7 miles apart) we are occasionally delayed by the passing flocks of sheep and goats or sometimes cattle and the shepherd crossing the road as the animals graze. It’s interesting, in Italy, homes are taxed based on their exterior appearance. As we were deciding whether to live on base or out in the Italian economy, we saw some old, ugly gray homes with paint chipping off, surrounded by weeds on the outside and entered it to find the interior quite beautiful with marble floors, iron staircases, and fine wood finishes. Since then, we have prayerfully decided to live on-base in a new housing development that will be ready to move in Nov. 25. We are excited to have found an Italian international church called “Chiesa Battista Calvario†(Calvary Baptist Church) which meets on Sunday evenings and provides worship songs and sermons in both Italian and English. The church’s web site is at http://www.cbcalvario.org . It has been encouraging to meet Italian Christians and an American missionary family in our area. Well, more later…Ciao,Vicki From: Lee, Vicki and Ben Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2002 6:12 PM Subject: Looks like a baby boy Hi,This is just a quick update…We’ve been dealing with all the ash from the recent volcanic eruption of nearby Mount Etna here in Sicily…Here is a link to an news article about the recent eruption http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2366555.stm I had an ultrasound yesterday (at 19 weeks) and it looks like the baby will be a boy (!). It was kind of sad for Jessica…we were all in the waiting room when we told the kids and Jessica dropped to her knees and cried because she really wanted to have a baby sister to even things out…It would have been nice to have 2 boys and 2 girls, but we are just thankful to God that the baby appears healthy so far…Let us know which boy “J†names that you like…Jeremy wants the name to have the same pattern, i.e. start with a J and end in an “a†or the “ah†sound, like Jeremiah (Jeremy’s “real†name), Jessica, Joshua…Thanks,Love,Vicki From: Lee, Vicki and Ben Sent: Friday, November 08, 2002 9:31 AM Subject: Theft from Van Hi again,This is just another quick update…the other night, our van was broken into at our hotel/temporary lodging apartment (TLA) and they took the cd stereo, 2 cameras (one traditional, one digital but both were inexpensive kinds) in the glove compartment, and our jumper cable repair kit. They left our cds which were about learning the Italian language…Imagine that…(although I lost one in a set that was already in the cd player…) They pried open the window, knocking it out of it’s alignment and damaging the rubber lining, but at least the window wasn’t smashed and it works ok now. It will cost about $200 to replace the lining. Yesterday, we had to run around a lot to various offices filing reports with base security, getting a report translated into Italian, taking that report to the Italian police, talking to our insurance company, getting the estimate at the Italian auto body shop, etc., etc. Ben says we are now officially initiated and welcomed into Italian society. We plan to move on base in two weeks, right before Thanksgiving, hopefully into a more secure setting. Our American neighbors in the hotel also have a van that was burglarized the same night and they were wondering if these strings of robberies had a Mafia connection…It’s been a good teaching lesson for the kids…Jessica asks a lot of questions, like “How did the robbers get into this country?†Jeremy wonders if we will find our stereo at one of the local garage sales or flea markets…We prayed for the “robbers†that they would come to know Jesus and stop stealing… We’re planning to go on a beach bungalow camping trip with the base for the Veteran’s Day weekend and Joshua’s birthday.Let us know how you are doing…Take care and thanks for listening…Love, Vicki************************************In December, 2000, I did a little talk about Simplified Living to our church’s women’s group at Kings Evangelical Free Church (KEFC) in Hanford, CA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kefc_hanford/) 12/09/00 Simple Living Vicki LeeLet me start with a disclaimer by saying that this is a topic that I am interested in and that I enjoy researching, but I am far from being an expert in Simplified Living. I am still learning about it and working on it. And I want to take a couple minutes at the end of our time to hear your ideas, suggestions, and comments about how you have simplified your life, because I am sure I can learn a lot from you. Recent magazine/news articles show that “Living Simply†is a hot topic today due to our complex, harried, rat-race lives. Today, I would like to talk about “simplified living†in terms of making certain lifestyle changes to save time, effort, and money on areas that are of lesser importance to me so that I can spend more time, effort, and money on areas of greater significance (my goals). So, first, I want to discuss for a moment about defining our Life Goals and Priorities before I talk about specific tips for “Simplified Livingâ€: I. Life Goals and Priorities: Author Steven Covey discusses the importance of setting our life goals and priorities and living them out in his book 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families. What are your Life Goals/Priorities/Principles/Purposes? What are your goals for simplifying your life? Before we talk about more specifics of “Simplified Livingâ€, we need to define the things in life that are most important to us as compared to that which we can sacrifice, cut out, or pare down. It is almost like being on a budget or a diet. We have to “begin with the end in mind†(Principle # 2, Covey’s book). Living simply often involves sacrifice and is not always easy. It may not be “politically correct†or “socially or culturally acceptableâ€. It may involve “going against the system†and take a lot of getting used to. (As an example, sometimes I get some weird or negative responses when people find out that we don’t watch TV. It used to bother me but over the years I guess I’ve developed thicker skin…) Remember your life goals. Also remember Galatians 1:10 “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.†As an example of setting goals, Ben and I try to get away once a year around the New Year for our own short “Spiritual/Personal /Marriage Retreat†where we try to focus on the Lord, reflect on the year that past, and determine the direction the Lord might be leading us in the year ahead. Some of our recent goals and priorities included continually drawing near to Christ and developing our relationship with Him as we become His disciple (see the Navigator Wheel illustration above on the left; Christ is in the center, the spokes of the wheel are Prayer, the Word, Witnessing, Fellowship) as well as other areas such as home schooling and building Godly character in our children, being involved in missions, etc. So, those are the areas that are more important to me and I am willing to sacrifice and “simplify†some of the other areas of my life. So, as we move into exploring specific ways we can simplify our lives, I think it is important to remember Hebrews 12:1-2 “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…†I like that part about “throw(ing) off everything that hinders†and focusing on our lives on Jesus and the goals He has for our lives. I have another disclaimer that as I mention certain changes that we’ve made, certain ways that we’ve decided to cut down on or cut back, I don’t want to offend anyone who does those very things. We may do things in opposite ways and still reach our own goals. II. Vicki’s Top TenHere is a hodgepodge of ideas (in no particular order) that we try to do and/or that I’ve read about to simplify our lives:1. We don’t watch TV. We found that when we did, we ended up wasting a lot of time. Our kids have videos like Veggie Tales. It seems to help that they don’t get bombarded with all the Saturday morning TV commercials and advertisements. I have to admit, as a substitute, we do use the Internet for gathering information quite a bit. 2. Meal Planning/Cooking. We do “planned leftoversâ€. I am so fortunate to have a supportive husband who doesn’t mind eating leftovers all the time. Usually I make a big batch of an easy one-dish meal (like a casserole or crock-pot dish) and plan to eat those 2 –3 nights in a row so I only have to cook 3-4 times a week. (I would freeze a portion of it beforehand for the 3rd day.) Our dinners usually consist of the one dish meal, a simple salad of lettuce and carrots with salad dressing, and rice. (We are both from Asian countries and eat rice almost everyday. I have a rice cooker, which makes it so fast and easy.) We try to eat fresh fruit for dessert. (Margin book’s principle “Replace processed snacks with fruitsâ€) For breakfast, we usually have Crock-pot Oatmeal (after Ben found out the many health advantages of oatmeal at a medical conference). Lunch for Ben is leftovers that he reheats in the microwave and the kids and I eat a sandwich or whatever we have on hand. There are many other options for Meal Planning/Cooking including “Once-a-Month†Cooking. 3. Casual Style for Entertaining/Furniture: When Ben and I married about 10 years ago, we were both “struggling students†living off of student loans at the time and we opted for the money to pay for books instead of receiving the usual sets of china. To this day, we still don’t have any fancy china and do any entertaining on our regular dishes or paper plates. We don’t have a lovely living room filled with expensive antiques or have a home that looks anything like Martha Stewart’s or the cover of Home Beautiful. Instead, we have converted our living room into a playroom filled with toys, and so some people come over and think I must run a daycare. Our kids may have been “deprivedâ€, but, as newborns, they did not have a nursery. 4. Casual Style for Clothes/Hair/Make-up/Jewelry 5. Use Computers and Technology to Your Advantage: Some people who embrace “Voluntary Simplicity†also discourage technology and like to do things the simple and “the old-fashioned wayâ€. But I have found that computers can really save a whole lot of time and effort and hence simplify life, e.g. e-mail, Quicken for finances, electronic bill payments, and mass mailing labels. 6. Home Organization/Eliminate Clutter and Junk: Margin author R. Swenson says, “ A life of voluntary simplicity and contentment…is opposed to the unnecessary proliferation of material possessions. It is free of the clutter much of society must sort through on a daily basis. With fewer possessions, we do not have as many things to take care of. With a simpler wardrobe, our choice of what to wear each morning becomes less time-consuming. With a smaller estate, there will be less debt bondage in our work schedule.†I think having a place for everything and limiting the excess really helps to simplify life. It is easier to clean and keep track of things. It is also easier to maintain and service the items you do have and prolong its life. We try to have the Salvation Army come once every other month to clear away items to donate. My mom calls me a “minimalist†living in a “Spartan†house. 7. Limit Choices available in your home: For example, we have 2 kinds of cereal, 2 choices of salad dressing, and 3 kinds of soda available. Ben wears a Navy uniform to work but on his days off, he has a clothing selection of about 2 pants and 4 shirts. 8. Routines and Habits: We try to have daily household routines, which are especially helpful for the kids so they know what to expect and then they can help out more. 9. “Economize first on “disposable “ purchases. Food, clothing, entertainment, and gift giving are part of your life for a short time.†(From Amy Dacyczyn, author of The Tightwad Gazette). Ben and I try to implement small money saving ideas and buy some of the kids’ clothes at the thrift/consignment shops, home haircuts, use free Internet access, reuse and recycle Ziploc bags, etc. However, Amy writes, “When it comes to “investment purchasesâ€-the items that will be part of your life for years-buy the quality level that will satisfy you in the long run.†E.g. computer, furniture. 10. Christmas Ideas: 5 Gift Giving Alternatives from Unplugging the Christmas Machine Book:1.Name drawing2. Trimming a few names-talk with the people who you think might welcome an invitation not to exchange gifts.3. Family Gifts –one per household4. Just for Kids-this is what we what we did, forgo gifts to all our brothers and sisters, just give to the nieces and nephews, gift certificates.5. Alternative Gifts-simple handmade gifts, gifts of service, spend money on a special trip or vacation together.Other ideas: a. Write and send out a Christmas Letter b. Collect souvenir ornaments from family vacations, trips Simplified Living Resource ListBooks:Clutter’s Last Stand, Is There Life After Housework, No Time to Clean by Aslett, Don7 Habits of Highly Effective Families by Covey, StephenTightwad Gazette Vol 1,2,&3 by Dacyczyn, AmyShaping of a Christian Family Chapters 12-14 by Elliot, ElisabethFreedom of Simplicity by Foster, RichardHow to Avoid Housework and Guests without Grief by Jhung, PaulaDesperation Dinners by Mills, Beverly and Ross, AliciaCrock-It (Crock pot Cookbook) by Murray, BarbaraUnplug the Christmas Machine by Robinson, JoThe Simple Life by Roth, Larry Confessions of a Happily Organized Family/Homemaker (2 books) by Schofield, DenieceMargin by Swenson, Richard Web Sites:Simplicity Resource Guide http://www.gallagherpress.com/pierce/index.htmSimple Living Network http://www.simpleliving.netCenter for the New American Dream http://www.newdream.org/The Not So Big House: Simplicity http://www.notsobig.com/simplicity.html
Posted 3/3/2003 at 1:52 AM
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