YOB: A New Bucket List

By Beth

As you are all aware, the Year of the Birthday is over. Been over for some time, though that didn't stop us from doing some of the things on the list. In hindsight, we really were a bit too ambitious. So the last time I went to see Lara, we discussed those items that were left and what to do with them. Lara and I are all about lists, and adventures together, so we decided to make our own Bucket List. This new list has no time frame, so no pressure to get it done. We can also add to the list if we want and remove things that we deem unreasonable. We came up with the list while at Buffalo Wild Wings, or walking through the woods (I did some rock-and-tree-hopping, Lara did not). Our environment may have influenced some of the items on the list. So here is what we have so far, one will hopefully be completed this weekend, but I won't tell you which one, that would take some of the fun out of writing the article to go along with the adventure.

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Rejoice In the Boredom

By Pat

Have you ever wished your life was more exciting? I admit that I have, and I am pretty sure that at some point we all have. I have often felt bored and restless, like one day is the same as the next with the only variation being the dinner menu and clothing selection. You know..."same stuff, different day"...But I have been learning that, instead of grumbling, it's actually a reason to rejoice.

No funeral to attend? Praise God! Car didn't break down? No accident today? Praise God! No trip to the doctor, or hospital visit to a sick friend or loved one? Praise God! No crisis? No family emergency? House didn't catch fire or become flooded? Praise God!

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Praying For Faithfulness

By Jason, M.Ed., M.A.R., Headmaster

Oh, to be Faithful!

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
    bind them around your neck;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.
So you will find favor and good success
   in the sight of God and man. - Proverbs 3:3-4

How do you measure the greatness of a man?  Some are great athletes; others are great geniuses.  One man can hold an audience spellbound with his amazing oratory skills, while another has built a successful company from an idea on a napkin to a billion dollars in revenue. 

I talk to a lot of parents in my line of work, and I enjoy asking them what goals and aspirations they have for their children.  Sometimes I'll phrase the question like this: "What kind of an adult do you hope your child will grow up to be?"  I get many different answers of course.  The most common response is that most parents want their children to be happy and successful.  What parent doesn't, right? I certainly don't want my three children to grow up to be miserable failures.  But what do our children need to remember to keep in front of them if they want to be truly successful, successful as God defines it?

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Tasty Bites: Susan's Healthy Oat Pancake Mix

By Beth

I don’t know about you, but my kids LOVE pancakes! So do their parents. There is not much more comforting than a fresh, warm, fluffy pancake, especially a pancake made from scratch. I rarely have time to make pancakes in the morning, so they are often saved for a breakfast-for-dinner nights. Well, a friend recently shared a recipe that might help us actually have pancakes for breakfast more often. It is a made-from-scratch mix that can be kept on hand to quickly whip up a hot batch. Not only is this recipe convenient, it is actually quite a bit healthier than your run-of-the-mill pancake. Made with whole wheat flour, oats, and optional chopped walnuts, this recipe packs a nutritional punch of fiber, protein and healthy fats. You can make a tiny batch of 4-6 pancakes, or simply double or triple the recipe to feed a hungrier bunch.

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YOB International Adventures 2010 (Part 7) Crete

By Lara

Honestly? After Turkey, Israel, and Egypt, Crete wasn't terribly spectacular. It was pretty, though. The water was beautifully clear. The people who wanted to go swimming were encouraged to do so. I just wandered from shop to shop doing some last minute souvenir buying. I meandered over to the lake. I look some pictures of churches. I ate some mediocre gellato. We didn't have very long on Crete. I think it was only about three hours. I got back on the boat early and camped on the fifth floor deck to people watch from above. I'm also fairly certain that I went to bed early that night.

We disembarked the next day and rode back to the hotel. Karen held a farewell thing for us in the hotel lobby with coffee and some sort of uber-sweet thing. The remaining eight of us decided to go out to lunch to get our fill of souvlaki and tzazicki and baklava. Food was consumed. Photos were taken. Jokes were made. It was wonderful.

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