Oct 31, 2014

Sneak Peek!

Here's a little sneak peek at what Hannah and I have in the works! What'cha think it is?

siggy

Oct 30, 2014

Modesty Rebounding; Boing!

A couple weeks ago I was peeping at some of my favorite missionary wife blogs and read and interesting post over at Sarah Joy's blog. It's called Modesty Rebounding; Boing! It was so well written and timely that I asked if I could share it with you all. She sweetly agreed, so here it is. BTW, make sure you check out her blog, she has a great family and honestly the cutest little girls I've ever seen.


Modesty Rebound; Boing!
I'm amazed by how much confusion has been blowing around Christian circles in regards to modesty.   I've read lots of different articles posted to social media criticizing legalistic notions.  These posts have made me take a long look at my own traditions, and also at these trends in the community of believers who call themselves by the name of Christ.

Oct 27, 2014

Sunday Review Monday



I love Sundays in our little church here in Croatia but especially love baptism Sundays. Baptisms in Croatia means so much more than it seems to mean in the States. To be baptized at a Baptist church in Croatia is a statement. It's a statement of acceptance of the doctrine of the Baptist church but it's also a statement of rejection of the Catholic church and in Croatia that's a big huge deal. 

To be baptized in a Baptist church in Croatia often means to turn your back on years and generations of family tradition. Being Catholic in Croatia is more than being religiously Catholic it is an identification. Before Croatia won it's independence from Yugoslavia in the mid-nineties Yugoslavia was made up of six difference socialist republics: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia. Three major republics were Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia. If you lived in one of those during that time you were not identified by where you were from but by what religion you were. You weren't Croatian, instead you were Catholic. If you were Orthodox then it was assumed you were Serbian. Religion here isn't just another adjective you use to describe someone, it is in fact who that person is. So, for a Croatian to be baptized in a Baptist church, they are serious. It's a statement. 




Hannah and Johnny did a lovely special in the morning service. I love this song and I love to see them sing together.  

Per usual we have our normal Sunday morning service at our church and then after it's over we head over to a sister church in a nearby city.  

We bring desserts and we all gather around to see the baptisms. 

We were delighted to see Ana Marija baptized yesterday. She is newly saved and has such a sweet spirit. She is engaged to one of the men in the church. 

Also baptized was Robi. Robi is a newer member of the church and last night after the service his fiance was also saved. Praise the Lord!!


We have been blessed with some incredible special people, (not special in that way!). They are the most loving and forgiving people I know. I've never seen a church with members that are so happy. 

We have a great group of folks at Victors Baptist Church here in Croatia. We're not large but we're growing and we're excited to see what God does with our little church over the next few years. 



siggy

Oct 25, 2014

My Missionary DOM Tour Part 1



I had taken a bit of a hiatus from my blog a while back (strictly due to laziness) and during that time I really missed out on some things, like the Missionary Home Tour over at the Baptist Missionary Women blog. I didn't even know it was going on till I saw Rachel's home tour on her blog, Rachel's Reflections
Anyhoo, a whole bunch of missionary ladies posted tours of their homes from all around the world and I super-loved getting to see what their lives looked like. 
I'm too late to link up with the Baptist Missionary Women Home Tour link up so I'll just do my own!

This is a tour of our little "dom" (home) here in Croatia. It truly is our home and when we're away or have to make a trip to the States we love for our little abode. 


Oct 23, 2014

Just an Realization

A few weeks ago I heard Johnny on the phone with our oldest son who lives in Texas and I could hear their conversation. The jest of what I heard was that they lived through the rough years here in Croatia.

I started thinking about that and it's so true. When we arrived in Croatia our children were 7, 4 and 2. They were just little tykes and life was full just managing our days. I had school every day, normal home making, ministry, hubby and life in general all on top of extreme loneliness and culture shock. There was barely internet much less Vonage or MagicJack.

Oct 22, 2014

12 Awesome Fall Lowcarb Dessert Recipes

I'm sure most of you already know but last April we started a whole new way of eating. First of all I'm completely gluten free and feeling amazing and then at the same time Johnny and I both started Atkins. The last 6 months have been a real learning experience but we've both grown to love this way of eating and we've successfully made it a life style. Between the two if us we've lost a total of 75 lbs and we're not finished yet! Actually Johnny is finished and maintaining but I still have about 20 lbs left to shed. Anyhoo, the old adage: You have to work your plan! is so true with this way of eating but it's worth the time it takes to feel amazing!

So here are some of my favorite picks for Gluten Free / Low Carb Fall recipes from around the blogosphere!


1. I'm so excited to fine this recipe for Pecan Pumpkin Butter Cups at Worth Every Chew. Don't they look delish!

Using heartbreak to help others

Recently my blogger friend Kristy renamed her blog to Mourning my Marriage. Her husband left her a year ago with four precious children. Her story is tragic but her use of it to help, inform and direct others away from such heartache is very moving and needed. If you know someone who is dealing or will deal with such a situation, please send them Kristy's way. She is so honest and candid about her story and I think that's why God is clearly using her situation to help others not to make the same mistakes.

Oct 15, 2014

Time for a little sprucing up!

I'm bored! So, it's time for a little sprucing up! BTW, what in the world does that mean? Sprucing? some sorta Christmas thinggy. Dunno. Anyhoo, it's gonna be a mess around here for a few days. So be patient my friends!!


Oct 10, 2014

Ridiculously Easy Propagating from the Airplane Plant

 When my chillins were young I couldn't keep anything green alive, I killed everything but apparently now that my kids are young adults I have more time and I am finally developing a green thumb. I super-love plants! So when we headed to the States 2 months ago I asked my sweet Croatian Grandma Marija to watch my house plants while we were  away.

Oct 8, 2014

What!?! No more Torani!?!


It's always hard as a missionary to make such dramatic moves every so often and leaving family is heart wrenching, especially since our sons live Stateside. Leaving dear friends is difficult. Leaving the comfort of a country whose primary language is English (or used to be) is totally inconvenient. 
But leaving Torani coffee syrups behind is a whole differnt heartache in itself!!!

Oct 2, 2014

Found, one blog!

Do you have any idea how long it's been since I last posted on my blog? It has been so long that I actually had to go back and look at my last post. It's been 5 full months since I even visited my blog much last posted. I'm sure many of you thought I abandoned my beloved Home Away From Home but I didn't. Okay, so maybe it could be considered short-term abandonment but I'm back!!! I've come back to stake my claim to what is rightly mine and begin a new relationship with my blog and earn back some of the lost months.