Baby News!

We are delighted to announce to you that we are about to have a baby!!
We are 8 months pregnant!! :))

Deep in the South Pacific, in the beautiful islands of the Marshall Islands, there is a baby who will be born in a month. This baby is soon going to be our new son or daughter!!

Wow! The Lord has moved quickly!! It was just about a month ago that Richard and group of staff led by Renee Loux of the Orphan justice Center, and her mother, Flo, (a pominent missionary in the Marshall Islands), traveled on a ministry trip to Northwest Arkansas to serve the pastors of a large group of people from the Marshall Islands. These pastors have transplanted here in the states. this meeting was a first of its kind and it was quite an honor to be invited.

There leaders had been praying for several years for God to lead people to them; people who would help show them God's keys to bring answers to hardships in their community. During the meeting, after the Marshallese worship and prayer time, pastors shared their hearts. the OJC team was very aware that God was opening a door to have a deep impact in the future within this precious community. Richard and I felt as though this trip was something the Lord was calling us to be a part of, through bringing God's heart and the Good News of His gospel to the nations. We are so excited about partnering with His perfect heart to restore people who are so precious to Him.

Also during this trip, God pressed on several hearts within the OJC team, that He was wanting to do something with children, and restoration.
God used Isaiah 58:6-7 to confirm to us what was on His heart for these precious ones.

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke, 
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter--
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"

Little did we know what part He would immediately be inviting us into!!

During the time of this ministry trip, at the beginning of 2013, our hearts were stirring with a favorite theme on God's heart... ADOPTION. The Lord was telling us that it was time again!
Through prayer, and in discussion with one another around the Tucker table, the Lord continued speaking. Our children said things like, "It's time to share my room with a baby!!" They even went back and forth about whose room the baby would be in.

YES.

It is time to walk along side our "Daddy Shepherd" once more...to be awed and stretched, overjoyed and pressed, to yet again see Him knit a new life into our family through the miracle of adoption. The ministry of adoption has been a highlight of our ministry as a couple and as a family.
This journey has pulled us into an utterly dependent and lovesick relationship with God. It has also helped us to fall in love with other cultures, and to know that because of this journey, Christ will receive more inheritance around His throne. We will also be sharing in Christ's suffering and its impact on the voiceless and vulnerable ones. WE want to be a part of His solution for the brokenhearted, to know that captives will be set free under our watch.

Its hard to put into words what it's like to be able to hold and kiss on children who otherwise would have been overlooked, in danger and in great need of rescue. What and honor it is to be a part of seeing children coming to salvation and seeing them literally dance in praise before God!

SO, HERE ARE THE DETAILS!
Just last week, we received a phone call from Renee' Loux with urgent information regarding a Marshallese baby in deperate need. This mother is related to one of Renee's Marshallese daughters, and is also the sister of another woman who is pregnant and adopting her son to Renee'. The baby we are going to be adopting is 1 month from being born. The mother is a young woman shoe will be arriving in the U.S. soon, to have her baby. We were asked if we would  adopt the baby and we excitedly said, "YES!"

The next five weeks will be spent ministering to the needs of this young mother as she prepares to give birth. We will be responsible for her daily care as well as the legal and medical needs of the baby. We greatly look forward to getting to know and show love to the birth mother of our new child. Family is a very strong value in the Marshallese heritage as well as making bonds with his or her family. Please pray with us as we trust Jesus to bring hope to this young woman, the hope that can only come from God.

We would love to invite you to pray with us and for us! We would appreciate your prayers for the baby's health, for safe travels, for a healthy birth, and for a smooth transition for the Tucker family as we bring in another son or daughter.

We are estimating that the total cost of this adoption will be around $ 25,000. This will include the home study, various travel fees (for example passport, plane tickets, legal costs for the mother and the child, care for the mother prior to and just after the delivery, and the delivery itself.)

We are confident that God will be faithful to complete all the good work He's begun and has called us to. We have lived this reality as missionaries, it's incredible!

Due to the urgent timing of this adoption story, we will need to raise the funds for this baby's adoption within weeks. There are several thousand dollars that will need to be raised within the next week.

We know that many of you, our fiends, have hearts for the vulnerable. We ask for your prayers for this little one. We ask also that you seek the Lord as to what part you might play in this story of rescue.

To give a donation online please use this link, http://tinyurl.com/clkx6jp

All checks may be written to Orphan Justice Center, with a note stating that your gift is to going towards our adoption. For example, 'Tucker Adoption", in the memo line of the check. Checks may be mailed to the following address:

Orphan Justice Center
P.O. Box 877
Grandview, MO 64030

Thank you for walking with us in the glory of adoption!
Love from,
Richard, Gillian, and all the Tuckers!

The Favorite Hour

Not an unusual day. But I make a promise to my almost 11 year old. After schoolwork we'll try out those binoculars from Christmas.

The day whirls by for him and for me and after schoolwork and play practice and a special drink date at Sonic with sister Ashley you might not think the boy NEEDED anything extra...his cup was full...his day looked complete. Even as he drank a huge Coke with Ashley he was thankful and said, maybe now I won't need to go out with Mom.

But he remembered the promise.
And so did I.

They head back with stories of the day and I exchange ours and he was surprised when I suggest for him to get his coat back on for we are goin' on our nature date.

"REALLY?" He smiles BIG.

"You don't need to Mom. I'm o.k."

{But would I be o.k. without YOU,son? ~ Be o.k. letting you go today?}

We each were not needy but needed to fill our promise to one another.

We head into the smaller car and I feel my Mama's heart begin to climb, sitting next to this one, looking so big and innocent in his big jacket, binoculars around his neck.

He looks over at me kinda shy like.

"Mom, don't tell the boys. I don't want them to feel bad."

I don't understand I tell him.

"Don't tell the boys that I am so special or something. They might feel bad that I get to do so much great stuff."

My feelings catch. Oh, my baby...in a large family this usually is not an issue!...I was just glad to have a moment to shower on you...and you felt like a favorite one...Don't FORGET Mama..these moments mean more than you could EVER know.

{Pssst...they EACH are my favorite ones!!}

We take a SIMPLE 5 minute drive. We have to get back in an hour to cook dinner for eight...but he owns my heart for this hour...

There is a business complex with a pond...near a bridge we have watched being built near our home...we pull in the parking lot and deliberate about which spot and where and what to bring or leave on our journey down around the pond...

I am getting motherly and he shouts out, "COME ON, MOM!!!!" and he pulls my arm so that our arms are locked and we are heading down at a run to the pond.

My buddy and I share the time God has made...and the beauty

And WHO said that boys were only all about ugly things and tails and such?
When I see life though this set of eyes... All SORT of beauty is reflected back to me.

Oh, my precious son...you reflect the beauty of the world back to me...how can I have amnesia to the beauty before me in my days?...but behold...here it is...what we passed by on so many errands and in our to and fro..And here WE are, my little friend...


Throwing rocks...and finding a surprise under the ice...



Watch out!! Sharks!!




And, {Be Still my Heart} he says, "Well, I guess that's just a part of adventure."




He actually blew into his wet shoe to 'warm it up' next!!!

Next, we look at ALL the differences in pond ice, hiking all around the pond and make it to the bridge to get all blown around by icy wind. He takes my hand {protectively!} as we cross the street...and we walk down the bridge sidewalk silly and slow while the world {most likely my neighbors and friends} past us by...headlights turning on...a truck beeps hello...we can't look back...we are on a journey...just us in the world...

We had to go in an hours' time and it was Anderson who says, "Awesome, MOM! Should we be getting back?" Like he is awakening to remembrance of other promises to those back home... We run back, over the road, down an embankment, and around the pond to the car, laughing and acting out, acting like 11 year olds :). Real JOY was found in one hour's time.

Taking time for the great rewards of the little moments. Digging in for them... finding LASTing treasures!!

Love, Gillian

Prairie Gold

"The Golden Time of Day"  ~  I think I'm made for "such a time as this".

So as we were driving along and they asked to stop here in this grassy prairie field to chase and play around...I couldn't resist!

They burst out of the van ~ all loud and full of puppy energy...or maybe they were horses...galloping across the pastures...or fleet-footed like deer...or little rabbits making cozy nests all hidden within swaying walls of tall grass...but in a moment they looked so small as they headed for the horizon and their voices blended in with the sound of wind brushing through the tall grassy weeds and wild grains.

Go my beauties...run for the horizon...

  Like a day at the beach does, nature's vastness hushed us and swallowed us up in beauty. We were lost in the gentle majesty of reeds bowing down  in the late afternoon sun.

  This was yet another tabernacle.

  Another place TO tabernacle with the creator who cannot be contained in buildings or structures--who bursts forth in in majesty and heart-pounding wonder.   It felt so sacred, standing here, brushing my hands lightly across fuzzy dried seed stems, stroking them, petting them...and considering the weight of glory of a moment and a place... meditating upon the ONE who IS Beauty...who was blowing wind all over us in this gentle,golden moment... loosing strands of my brown hair to play and dance across my face... to join in on the choreography  of life all around me...

I spun around, like the little girl who used to spin around in the shallow end of the pool, splashing my hands all across the surface of the water...and when the world drew into horizontal lines again of stripes of amber and tan and cobalt and white, I heard them calling me, a further invitation into the sacredness of this moment..."Mom, PLAY with us!!...CHASE US, MOM!!..."for a moment, I held back.  But my heart overcame my default setting of "staid adultland" and I ran...

The boys are faster and finer than Mama in all things athletic but we laughed and teased and they LET me catch them after they hid in the grasses and it got SO quiet that all that I could hear was the sound of the wind breathing over the prairie and the sound of some sweet bird song near a thrush of creek nearby.  I caught them and spun some until we were all dizzy and the sky touched the Earth in slants and circles.  It was glorious!

And look, do you see the light on Bruik's face?  Highlighting him?  In this moment...all his tender beauty shone forth...I want to ever see my children in golden light.

Big brother Graham had his turn shaking out his little siblings and swooped them all up with muscles that have grown strong with service and discipline over the last season.  He's a kind sheepherder of the youngers, a strong young man, a diligent laborer.  We are so very proud of him.  He's amazing at industry.  At this time in life, one does not impart manhood to the son for it should already have been formed over the years into his very nature.  But it is almost time for the blessing and the release.  He has become aware of it...so have we.  It catches in my heart when I see him at full run.  It won't be long...  In this moment,  I saw the man to be.  Running for that horizon...into the golden light....across  swaying harvest fields...with purpose, with fire in his eyes...

And my heart beats so fast, with such awareness in these moments, for I know that we are made for golden light...that our lives are being refined "like the gold" if we are setting our gaze on the beautiful one, Christ Jesus...that we tabernacle with a God who has a golden sash around His waist, who IS the Beloved of Heaven...who prepares a place for us with Him...in His tent with Him...NOW, it is possible in every day, in every moment...

and forever...

My heart worships, it sings like the wind blowing over the prairie fields...how can it not?!

Love and Blessing,

GG

P.S.  Hopefully in the next days and weeks we will be journaling here about our current ministry calling and more stories about this. :)

Getting Ready to Hear :) ~ so cute!!

I am having so much fun sharing this fun resource with you today!!

This little video is made by The Daniel Academy, our school here in Kansas City Missouri. We love how our children are being trained up in adoration for Jesus and in the knowledge and wisdom of the Lord here.

In this video, Ava's Kindergarten teacher, our dear friend, Lelonnie Hibberd,who has a heart for children to know God's heart ( she's just the bestest Kindergarten teacher EVER!!), is showing what it means to get your heart ready to hear from God as you study scripture. This is how our kids study the Bible every day in addition to Bible teaching and worship. There are jewels on this little video here for each of us!

The super-cute family highlighted, is the Mike and Stephanie Gerard family--such an amazing family, full of life and God's joy and love. Each one of us in the Tucker family claims a buddy in the Gerard family and you will easily be able to see why!! :) ~ Make sure you watch long enough to hear little Shekinah sing--it is WELL worth bringing joy to the heart and a smile to today!!

Maybe show this to your family and try the "dare" at the end. :) You may be wowed at what God wants to say through your children. We did the "dare" last night and it was incredibly special to later gather round on the living room floor as the children shared what God had revealed to them as they meditated on Psalm 23:1~each one was so different and so special. We grew.

Blessings as we all grow in waiting on God and knowing His voice more every day...

"My sheep will know my voice" (John 10)

(Ashley will be on the next "Daniel Dare" video we will post and then Jack and Anderson too! ~ stay tuned! )

Love Letters to Mimi

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Just about a week ago, on August 23, 2011, my precious Mother ~ in law,  Laurie B. Tucker,  passed away into the arms of Jesus.  She was 68 years old.


Mom Tucker "ran the race of her life" WELL. ~ with so much Grace and Faith and Beauty. 

  She was a superb mother and raised three Godly children.   Her husband, Richard was her best friend  and they enjoyed 46  rich, joyful years of  marriage. I loved all the visiting times I have had over tea with her for it was then that I got glimpses of her heart for those who did not know Jesus, or her love for God's word, or her tenderness for her family.  She loved to be around her family and her laughter was a gentle breeze around the family table.  Her voice was musical.  She had enjoyed years of professional opera singing and solo singing for many large churches.  One of Richard's special memories of his mom growing up was hearing her singing and piano playing in his home.  He also remembers rocking in her lap and resting his head on his mama as she sung his favorite song, "Jesus Loves Me."  Mom Tucker was a WONDERFUL teacher.  She enjoyed many years of teaching and some of her favorites were with underprivileged girls in Atlanta. 
 I lOVED hearing her stories!   Having grown up in Atlanta,she was a southern girl at heart and could tell a colorful,tender, or funny story in a way that slipped quickly into your heart.I loved seeing all my children grouped around her as she would tell them and teach the littles....And even more, to see our children each have their turn with Mimi to sing praise songs at the piano--well it just doesn't get better than this in a family!! 
She was diligent and hard working ~ quite a role model for self discipline and self denial for others. As well as a wonderful model for me when I was a young homemaker!  For years, through the course of  many different visits, we would hear her get up very early in the morning to get an early swim in at the Rockville, MD pool.
  She also did retreat leading and was absolutely gifted at encouraging large groups of women.
She loved to be amidst her twelve grandchildren.  I loved talking to her about her "tribe".  I loved walking into a room and finding her with her bible or a devotional...I loved hearing the story of how when she was five she walked down to the front of the Billy Graham Crusade...and began a walk of love that day...I love that she loved people and was such a dear friend to so many women.  


There is much more to be shared about Laurie Tucker.  
She was a truly remarkable woman.

She ran her "race" so well.

And finished it in grace and triumph...

For the last two and a half years she had wrestled with ALS (otherwise known as Lou Gerick's disease).  This is the terrible disease that paralyzes a person's body progressively.  While her body gradually shut down, her spirit remained joyful.   I am told she never complained, so great was her dependence on God for her strength of heart, soul, and body.

On August 23, 2011, Our mom/Mimi went to be in the literal presence of Jesus.  Her passing was like her illness, a drawn out endurance of pain and struggle but threaded through with such grace.  She was surrounded by her beloved Richard (senior) and two of her children and their spouses as they prayed and sung hymns over her.  The entire family ~ ours especially included in this~ keep the fires of prayer and watch burning continually during this week and still now.  It was very difficult to be eleven hundred miles away from our family as they suffered a travail we wanted to shoulder with them. We are immensely grateful that in another week's time we will get to journey to Maryland (Washington D.C. area) to join our family and celebrate Mimi's life.  We will be joining Richard's father,brother,sister, six young cousins, and a very close extended family including Laurie's Mother, Rachel and her brother and sister and their families.  Please pray for the Tucker/Bunte/Wormald families next week.  Laurie was greatly beloved and will be acutely missed.  Please pray for travel mercies for so many traveling from long distances.  And that Jesus will be greatly glorified at her celebration/funeral service next Saturday ~ she would greatly have desired this!


And please, keep Mr. Tucker in your prayers over the next season.  his love for his precious wife was an epic one and deserves much honor and thanks to God who is the only one who can pour that kind of "BRAVEHEART" love into a heart.  He never left his wife's side and tended to all her needs day and night week after week until it became year after year of loving care.  How we admire his endurance as well as Mrs. Tucker's.  The loved well to the end... may we all.


Richard Jr., my husband, is grieving but so thankful also for this relief for his mother.  I am blessed to have days to tend to him as he grieves and processes his love for his mother...and so another Tucker generation walks in the good footsteps of  forever marriage vows...Thank you for lighting the way, Mom and Dad...of the walk of love.


We are having a sad and sweet time with the children.  They adored their Mimi.  They will each need the closure of next week and also to represent and honor their unique love for her as they stand with the other precious grandchildren of Mimi.  Mom Tucker  told me several times, that she loved the way her Mother~in law passed away...to the touch and the sounds of her grandchildren surrounding her bed and singing hymns all around her.  She would then ask, "Don't you think that's so beautiful?"  We will be gathering her grandbabies next week to honor her good and precious name...more precious than silver...more costly than gold is a good name Proverbs says. 


We each in our family look forward to next week to:


 Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gates.  Proverbs 31:31




My children came up with these descriptions of their grandmother this week (I loved being their scribe) :)...





Mimi Tucker was a

Kind

Generous

Nice

Loving

Funny

Full of Life

Caring

Lover of God

Lover of the Bible

Servant


These are some of the words that my children have shared with me this week as they have considered love for their precious Mimi. And I would say, praise such as this from the "mouths of babes" is most precious indeed!!


Please feel free to click on the "smilebox"  below to listen to the love letters they have spoken over their precious Mimi.  Please allow a little moment for all of Ashley's video's to load--go back to them--they are precious ;)--if you click on a video and want to see another---just click on it again to return it to its place.

This free scrapbook personalized with Smilebox We love you, Mimi!! We love you, Grandpa!!  We love you Family!! We love you dear friends of the family! May blessings ring like bells.  You are loved,   You are loved,  You are loved. Love, Gillian

Gotta Love it!! :)

Don't you LOVE it when the children learn how to write? :)

another pic of Joyful Jack :)...taken by Anderson...
in a "snowstorm"...in the rec room...

:)...just noticed the dude scaling our bookshelf...

Yep.

After all the  hours stuck inside due to several snow storms....MAMA was itching to climb some bookshelves!!

BUT,
The Sledding was the BESTest!!

A long winter made us so thankful for ~

Leafy trees to climb again ..
   for finding big sis up there reading in the big ole maple in the    back !!...
       for runnin' around and
           for "just hangin' out"
              on bright blue playground slides warmed by friendly sunshine...

AHhhhhh....so nice!
Happy Springtime everyone!

Love, G

Child of Wonder....Child of God....Oh, my Boys...

Cute Little Boys!!


Three of the Tucker brothers share a room.

10,7,and 6 year olds

And last night they made me laugh!!

We were going through the evening routine when the subject of marriage came up.  :)


Jack, all business announces, "Marriage, yeah..."He saunters over to his lower bunk and swings himself in... "I've got that ALL figured out."

 "Oh, really?"  I laugh :)

"YEAH!" Bruik peeks out of his covers, Big almond eyes shining with excitement,

"ME TOO!"...He exhales....I'm going to be

RICH.

(oh,NO, I'm thinking....we've got alot of training to do here!!)

But he stands up on his covers and declares,

"Yeah, I'm gonna be RICH cause I'm going to marry my wife and we are going to take care of hundreds of babies"

"Yep,...me too"  Jack still so matter of fact..."gonna adopt alot of kids and take care of them."

Bigger bother chimes in from the top bunk...

"Well, I'm making a list...I may not know her YET...but maybe I MIGHT..."  He stuffs his head into his pillow while his brothers explode with OHHHHHhhhhhh noises and reved up laughter

...bigger brother turns a shade of light red....

He stuffs his head in the pillow to not reveal any more sound of heartstrings playing...and we hear "Well, I am making a list."

They all calm for a second in the midst of some hyper giggles to each give sweet lists of who they pray God will pick for them in their future wife...

And I am thankful, honored to be sitting a bottom bunk in the midst of lego creations,army men, books, and paper airplanes...suddenly not so rushed to keep to the schedule...we dream of courting and dates, and beautiful ladies who are kind and generous, who love Jesus with all their hearts, and who love my boys...

 And I am thankful I get to be their girl first...

They listen to sappy stories...about how Daddy and I first met ....and how we "knew"

They grin ...my junior knights...

How blessed three fair maidens will be one day...

The moment is mist  --in just a moment laughing returns

and body noises replace deep heart sharing...:)

Yep, time to get these guys tucked in...

But to go off to pray and wonder over precious destinies of the boys I get to steward...

The weight of the day has all fallen off in the past minutes...what glory can surprise us in our every day moments!!

Blessings to the boys in your camp!!

Treasure Em :)

Take it from a mama who now buys shaving cream for her oldest son

It "all" is over...in just

Moments...

Treasure them

Love, Gillian




Remember me
In a Bible cracked and faded by the years
Remember me
In a santuary filled with silent prayers

CHORUS:
And age to age
And heart to heart
Bound by grace and peace
Child of wonder, Child of God
I'll remember you
Remember Me

Remember me
When the color of the sunset fills the sky
Remember me
When you pray and the tears of joy
fall from your eyes

CHORUS

Remember me
When the children leave
their Sunday school with smiles
Remember me
When they're old enough to teach
Old enough to preach
Old enough to leave

CHORUS

Age to age and heart to heart
Child of wonder child of God

Remember me

Age to age and heart to heart
Child of wonder child of God

A GREAT Idea for a Super Summer

For all you moms out there who LOVE all things organized and ....for those of you who may be "organizationally challenged" like (ahem) myself :). (I'm really more of a "go with the flow" girlie)....  Here's a great program to get us ready for Summer with our Kiddos!!

The other morning I was praying through this upcoming season.   When I got to school, a lovely mom, Laura C., Anderson's bible teacher, handed me this book, The Super Summer Challenge, written by her sister-in-law, Linda H. Wicks.

You can find it at www.supersummerchallenge.com

Linda came up with a wonderful idea to challenge our kids to accomplish Goals in multiple levels--Spiritual,Physical,Mental, Caring/Sharing  etc...

There are points for each area to be worked toward --short term and long term goals and a family reward for the end of the summer.

I love that the whole family is working together as they grow!!

I know that the kids will LOVE this idea because my mom used to do challenges like this with my younger brother, David, and I over our summer breaks.  The first day of the summer she would reveal a wonderland of projects, and interesting activities in our garage and lists of ideas for activities for the summer that kept us growing,learning, and loving all summer long.  I do believe our summers turned us into readers,  taught us how to organize our time, brought out our creative streaks, made us into good friends--first with one another and with our neighbors.  We were given opportunities to make lunches and snacks that taught us how to love cooking and creating in the kitchen. Other activities turned us into lovers of the outdoors and made us contemplative and great observers-- I still love taking a hike and knowing how to identify wildlife along the route.  We also developed practical chore skills,  worked  ahead--even though we did not know it at the time in school skills...I spent hours singing and making up songs...David learned several instruments...Most treasured, were the times we grew in the Lord when we would visit nursing homes and sing together or bake cookies with a neighbor or memorize scripture together or read through awesome books that grew our hearts such as the Patricia St. James series....SOoooomany memories...of our dog Taffy running after the family on bike rides, of playing tag with neighbor kids AND my mom and dad into the night,of catching fireflies, laying in the grass and imagining and looking up at clouds, making a doll house out of cardboard and all the furnishings too, dressing up the dog and the cat in my baby clothes and taking them on stroller rides (oh, they were so embarrassed!), selling lemonade,making card towers......cheering and swimming at swim team matches....digging a humongous hole in the back yard and lighting campfires in it....

My own kids later would tell similar stories of long days streatched  out in to glorious wonder...

AHHhhhh.... Summer!!!!  It does NOT have to dreaded   ;)
I grew up not allowed to say the word, "bored".  Don't think I understood the word!
How was this in a world with no T.V.,computer,or video games?
Ahh....perhaps the LACK of these was the blessing!!!

These days are more challenging. Entertainments seem to push in from every angle.  Draining our kids of imagination and good ole pure learning, fun,play,growth.  And I find my most challenging times with patience and love between siblings and for growth in my home is when the things with electric cords start to push out the REAL life in my home.  I'm putting a mark on this Summer--taking back the land!!--Anyone want to join me?  Last night our Wii found a new home--the inside of my closet...and you know what?  Instead of upheaval, my ten year old son woke up this morning and after heading out to weed the garden with me and have a breakfast smoothie at the picnic table he smiled at me and said, "You know what, mom?  Just knowing the Wii is put away for a while makes me feel really new inside.  I feel...kinda...clean."  ....

".something new is growing up, can you not perceive it?"

We played and at a park today began our goal lists--eventually they will be written on poster board and revealed the first day of summer--there is a system for recording points and setting goals...but for now we have  a lot of anticipation for growth this summer--not just from me but from the kids.  I love that they will own their own challenge.

So far the boys have come up with so many cute and interesting and really useful ideas.  I loved, read a book to my brother and learn how to make a meal for the family one night a week and look up a dictionary word and teach it to the family at dinner...learn how to do a cartwheel....play chess...clean up toys without being asked...make a creation out of recycled items...play legos for 45 min....  One even suggested to memorize Matthew 5 and to "write a letter to God" during his days....

Below, another mom has put together a sample chart of the activities and points for her family's summer challenge.  I hope it is helpful to take a look at it--and the link above to Linda's book is a gem as well.

I encourage you to redeem the time this summer.  Our days are so fleeting and our children's destiny so precious.



Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.  (Psalm 90:2)


 Love, Gillian

Luke 10:27 Way Of Life Planning Sheet

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Start Date:	Katie (Age 10)		Hollie (Age 8)
End Date:	Point Value	Points Earned	Point Value	Points Earned	Item(s) Needed
Tasks that Focus on Loving God
Heart (Pursuing Interests & Passions)
1.      Make a bracelet	1		1		Bracelet Kit
2.      Complete a sewing project	3		3		Sewing Kit
3.      Cook something new	2		2		List of simple recipes kids can make http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/kids
4.      Write and illustrate a story	3		3
5.      Write a poem	2		2
6.      Perform a song in front of 1 or more people			3
7.      Write a script and act out 1 scene	3
Soul (Spiritual Growth)
8.      Memorize books of the bible	5		5		Print an Old and New Testament test kids can take when they are ready to show what they’ve learned.
9.      Memorize a bible verse from ones provided	1		1		Print verses from http://www.diggingouttogether.com/ organizing_tips/images/200710_Verses_To_Heed.pdf
10.  Complete a daily devotion	2		2		Purchase an age-appropriate devotional
11.  Read the bible for 20 minutes	1		1		Age-appropriate bible
12.  Apply a bible verse to a current situation	3		3

	Katie (Age 10)		Hollie (Age 8)
	Point Value	Points Earned	Point Value	Points Earned	Item(s) Needed
Strength (Physical Dvlpt & Forming Good Habits)
13.  Brush your teeth five days in a row without being told	1		1
14.  Clear the table after a meal without being asked	1		1
15.  Eat 3 servings of fruit and/or vegetables every day	1		1
16.  Try a new food (1 point per bite up to five)	1-5		1-5
17.  Jump rope without stopping (Katie: 125 times, Hollie: 65 times)	2		2		Jump Rope
18.  Pick up brick from 10 foot			3
19.  Swim 1 lap at YMCA	1		3
20.  Attend Saturday morning yoga class	2		2
21.  Pick up sticks in the yard	1		1
22.  Complete a parent-approved chore that is not normally your responsibility (1 point for every 15 minutes worked)	1		1
23.  Organize a drawer, shelf or area of a room (before and after photo required)	1		1		List of areas in the home to organize (craft closet, desk drawers, etc.)

	Katie (Age 10)		Hollie (Age 8)
	Point Value	Points Earned	Point Value	Points Earned	Item(s) Needed
Mind (Academic Growth)
24.  Play an educational online game for 15 minutes	1		1
25.  Read a nonfiction chptr book	3		3
26.  Create a Power Point presentation	5
27.  Learn how to type			5
28.  Practice cursive for 15 min.			1
29.  Create your own stationary	1		1
30.  Create a scrapbook page	3		3
Tasks that Focus on Loving Your Neighbor
31.  Write a one-page letter to a friend or family member	2		2		Stationary
32.  Serve at a homeless shelter	1		1
33.  Visit a nursing home	2		2
34.  Take food to a neighbor	1		1
35.  Babysit a neighbor’s child (1 point per fifteen minutes)	1		1
36.  Send a thoughtful e-mail to a friend or family member	1		1

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