Meet My New Book ~ First Steps in Missions

First Steps in Missions, Ideas and Activities for Preschoolers and Teachers

 by Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell

I'm honored to announce the release of First Steps in Missions, Ideas and Activities for Preschoolers and Teachers, Volume 22.

What? You already have a copy?

True. It was available in late summer. I was barely available. Thank you for going on without me and getting your copy!

My honey and I were eyebrow deep in cleaning, packing, sorting, storing, and donating our belongings. Why? We sold our home. I should say, God sold our home. In 3 days.

That was a quick sale and left us with no free time to do anything. Except move.

Never fear, we are not homeless. Many of you have already seen the pictures. We are full-time RV'ers living in a solid (though you can feel it move when walking inside), warm (we hope), and quite spacious RV with our 2 crazy kitties. The excitement and adventure is fantastic! Let's just not mention the period of adjustment, shall we?

In the midst of this transition, First Steps in Missions was released. I'm very excited to see this work in print.

In honor of this project, I am going to take a monthly walk through each chapter and area of the world, choose my favorite activity, and flesh out additional ways to use the activity with preschoolers. So much fun!

Coming soon: September fun in the Philippines.

If you would like your own copy, I'm thrilled to direct you on the right paths. First Steps in Missions, Volume 22

Thanks for stopping by!

Ask for Help, And It Will Be Given

Great flyers from WMU and my friends in the Preschool Resources Department

By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell

Ask (for help) and it will be given.

This weekend I will be presenting two breakout sessions about writing at a retreat. I'm very excited to attend and enjoy the retreat, as the past couple of years my schedule has not allowed me to go.

Besides sharing with women, I was invited to bring my books. Isn't that nice? Of course I'd love to bring my books.

The problem was that I didn't have any up-to-date flyers or informational handouts.

What does Angie do? She contacts the professionals (and her good friends) at Woman's Missionary Union.

I asked and boy, did I receive.

We back-and-forthed messages for quite a few days. And because there was a tiny break in their schedule of deadlines, my friends were able to put together several lovely pieces for me to use.

The flyers and posters look so lovely and colorful, I just had to share . . . though it is odd and a bit disconcerting to see so many me-faces staring back!

Thank you, Clay, Teri, Robin, and Joye! You ROCK! You also made me look good. We can never underestimate the value in that now, can we?

The Power of Words

Word sources

By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell

Words.

Words are amazing.

The entire process of how we learn to speak and use words in intelligent conversation awes me. And the fact that we learn to write and read and utilize words is fantastic.

What can words do?

They can be used to:

~ encourage

~ affirm

~ express emotion

~ praise

~ tear down

~ build up

~ destroy

~ curse

~ forgive

~ add fuel to or put out the fire

~ share dreams

~ explain

~ teach

~ condemn

~ inform

~ question

~ make choices

~ create

~ stand firm

~ call for help

~ offer assistance

~ distribute faith, hope, and love


Words can be our best friend or our worst enemy. We can use them with kind regards towards others in our society.

Or we can abuse and pirate our words to wound, pillage, and plunder the hearts and lives of those around us.

How do you use your words?

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.  ~ Psalm 19:14 ESV

Read 99 more verses about the power of words here.

Home

Home. What a big word.

Home is . . .

where I reside
the body I wear
the spouse I adore
my family of love
the animals I adopt
the nature that surrounds me
the future I hope for
my faith that centers me
friends who nuture me
fellow writers who encourage me
the city of my residence
the state and country of my belonging
the planet I inhabit

Home is a big word.

What does home mean to you?

Motorcyle Ride Lesson - Can't See the Mountain

Mt. Rainier, Washington State

I adore exploring the northwest from the backseat of our Honda Shadow.

Now, don't get me wrong. The entire middle of my field of vision is blocked by someone's big head and helmet. But other than that, I have a wonderful view, ringside as they say, of the beauty we are so happy to explore.

On a recent trip, we took a rather long ride from Yakima over Highway 410 to Puyallup. We then came back to Yakima on Highway 12. If you count miles, it is way too many for one day of riding. I was feeling it. No, I was not feeling it, as certain body parts stayed continually numb.

But that wasn't the point. What was important was my view - gorgeous scenes of Mt. Rainier, forests, rivers and streams, Mt. St. Helens, farmlands, meadows, and more. The weather was slightly warm by mid-afternoon and completely heated our frozen bodies from the early morning going-over-the-pass cold temperatures.

As we aimed for home, headed up White Pass, I kept a keen gaze glued to the north side of our path. There are some pretty exceptional scenic views of Mt. Rainier from Highway 12, and I didn't want to miss them.

I looked and enjoyed. It seemed odd, but there didn't seem to be as many as I had thought. No, the mountain in all of it's snow capped glory had not moved. (Whew, right?) But the multiple views were just not happening. Clouds, traffic, trees, buildings, curving roads - all conspired against my efforts.

I knew Mt. Rainier was there. I knew it has not skipped town for colder spots unknown. It was there, stately, majestic, and awe-inspiring. I just couldn't see it.

And then it hit me.



Isn't my relationship with God sometimes like that?

I know He is there. I traipse along, bebopping with my busy life. Sometimes when I glance over, looking for the sight of Him where He has always been, I don't see Him. Where did He go? Why can't I see Him? Has He left, vacated the premises? I keep on traveling, glancing to the sides of my path, hoping to catch a glimpse.

In all of His glory, majesty, power, and beauty, He has not moved. He hasn't packed up and skipped town. Nor has He tired of my whining or forgetfulness or lack of faith. He is there, right where He has always been.

But me? I've let the trees and clouds and traffic of life put up filters and screens that block my view of my God. It's totally my fault.

Yet I don't need to fear or worry. God is not going anywhere. He will always be there, even when I can't see Him. I can rest, knowing that He is right there, just beyond the trees. Right where I know He is.


"It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed."  ~ Deuteronomy 31:8 (ESV)

Wondering Why

It's a wondering sort of day. I fear I may be easily distractable and waylaid as my thoughts zip around looking at seemingly unrelated topics.

Potatoes in a bag are not doing well. Why? One bag had fingernail sized tubers. The other actually had a plum sized one.

Why are there aphids and slugs and pill bugs?

One kitty leans to fat, the other to slim. Same food, same diet, similar habits. Pourquoi?

My tall tall husband has always been on the thin side with a super-fast metabolism. Me? I am built totally opposite and could easily store enough excess food for a famine on half of what he eats. Not that I would ever want to test that theory, but it seems not so fun that I have to work hard to burn calories and he can sit in a chair and burn more than I can.

The rhodies have leaves with brown edges. I read once why that happens. I guess I should read it again and do something about it.

Why did the yellow squash go crazy, this year - one out of six in which both were planted - instead of the zucchini?

Why do bees lose their stinger and die when they sting but yellow jackets do just fine and keep on stabbing their victim?


And no, my wonderings are not always so innocent and surface level. In my deepest self, I wonder about the tragedies and struggles of the people I know or the stories I read.

Why cancer, car wrecks, heart disease, Parkinsons, diabetes, stroke?

Why do young mothers die and leave families behind? Or fathers run off and ditch their wives, sons, and daughters?

Why am I blessed to have my son back from Iraq in one piece and other mothers just have memories of their soldiers?

How can people throw away their children or abandon babies?

Why do some die as babies and others live over a century?

How can people, even children, be sold for slaves of the most horrible type?

Why do people text and drive and wreck their cars? Or drink and drive? Surely they know the danger.

Why is there famine, war, hunger, bad water, disease?


Sometimes it hurts. My heart is crushed and weeps. I long to fix it what is broken. But that is not my job nor do I have the ability or power to do so.

Life is fleeting and none of us knows what trials we will face and how our end will come.

I am thankful. I don't understand many things, so all I can do is trust in Him. And pray. And hope.

We all face why's.

The best I can do is to reach out and grab hold of others to help and support and encourage. It is enough to go side-by-side, hand-in-hand, through the valleys and mountains. I must help however I can.

It is enough to trust.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. ~ John 16:33

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. ~ Psalm 34:18

Thankful Thursday Brought to You By the Letter Uu

Today's Thankful Thursday is brought to you by the letter Uu.

Ugh . . . I think this may be a short list!

Things for which I am thankful that begin with the letter Uu:

~ underwear (yes, I really am thankful for them)

~ Universe - it's a great place to live

~ umbrellas, because they are fun

~ unconditional love from Jesus

~ understanding family and friends

~ union - the marriage between my honey and me

~ unspoken criticism

~ United States

~ U (as in, you!)

And that's it folks! The Uu section in the dictionary, where I looked for ideas, is quite small.

What are you thankful for that begins with the letter Uu? Maybe you can come up with more things than I did!

Thankful Thursday ~ Brought to You By the Letter Mm

Today is Thankful Thursday.

Being thankful today is brought to you by the letter Mm.

Here are a few things for which I am magnificently thankful:

~ moms

~ Messiah

~ money (it does help us purchase necessities)

~ mud (to play in)

~ Mabel and Monet (the gray kitties)

~ mountains

~ my Mazda - it gets great gas mileage

~ mahi mahi

~ machines that help us

~ magpies and meadowlarks

~ mail (real, not junk or bills)

~ my man

~ manger (the, where Jesus was born)

~ maple trees

~ maple syrup

~ markets, especially produce and antiques

~ marriage with my man

~ massage, and oh, and I needing one on my neck

~ melodies & music

~ merry making

~ mind (all the better to think about you, my dear)

~ mittens

~ motorcycle (we love the Honda Shadow - it's our hobby as a couple)


How about you? Mm is a marvelous letter for thankful thinking.

Busted

Sometimes I just fail.

And other times I think I'm doing just fine, until it's pointed out that I just failed.

This morning, while driving the Nana Bus, I was frustrated by the crowded school parking lot. We were a minute from being late, due to heavy traffic, and the car in front of me stopped - to let some children and parents cross, of course - blocking me from parking and getting out to walk my boy to his teacher.

"Come on," I mumbled in a voice loud enough for the Bubba to hear me, "you're gonna make us late!"

The car soon moved on, in reality taking only seconds for the pedestrian pause.

We quickly parked and beat a fast path to the cross walk to enter the playground. Beside the parking lot is the drive through lane, where parents can stay in cars and drop their children off, instead of parking. I've often noticed that the drive through lane is slower than actually parking and walking, due to the number of stops the drivers must make to allow for the cross walk students. (All I can say is, I am so glad there is always a staff person on cross walk duty with her little flag and official vest).

As we walked up to the cross walk, I heard a man cursing and yelling, "Come on, man, get going! What the deal?" It was quite loud as his window was open. (Colorful language removed.)

Wow, I thought.

"Someone is grumpy," I said to the crossing guard as we passed in front of waiting vehicles.

It's so silly to be riled up when you know you have to wait. It's a school zone, for crying out loud.

It took me maybe 15 steps before I realized my hypocrisy.

Yes. I might as well have yelled out the window, for all in all, I had done the same thing when I was complaining about the woman stopping in front of me for a bare 20 seconds.

Busted. It might not have been obvious to those around me, but the Lord knows my heart. And it was cranky.

Tomorrow is a new day. I will try to take my time and not worry about the little stuff. It's all good, making sure kids are safe. Better to be late than hurt someone or have a cranky heart.

They never mark us tardy anyway.

Broken Together

Casting Crowns has the most beautiful new song called "Broken Together."

When I first listened to "Broken Together," it sounded so much like the love story of a couple who had fallen on very difficult times. The couple were at the end of their strength and were seriously close to ending the whole thing.

The chorus says it perfectly:

Maybe you and I were never meant to be complete
Could we just be broken together?
If you can bring your shattered dreams and I'll bring mine
Could healing still be spoken and save us
The only way we'll last forever is broken together

(Casting Crowns, from the album Thrive)

The haunting melody and musical bridge led me to consider all of the broken dreams and struggles in my own marriage. We have been married almost 30 years, but length of time together does not mean perfection. I think the song reminded me that being broken is the first step in allowing God to put things back together, a job that only He can do. Both of us have shattered dreams, dreams that have fallen in pieces to the ground. But what it? What if we both agree and bring those broken parts together and allow our hearts and marriage to be healed?

It has worked for us, though I've just labeled it through this song.

And then even more recently, I was listening to a radio host talking about "Broken Together" being a picture of human beings, not just married people or couples in a relationship.

This song is a perfect fit for those deep relationships between brothers and sisters, moms and dads, kids and parents, and friends. Nobody is perfect. We hurt others and they hurt us. Sometimes our dreams come true, but not every time. What the Lord wants is our brokenness. Only then can we be complete and healed forever, for He completes us in every way.

The only way we'll last forever . . . is broken together.

Angie Quantrell listens to K-Love, a Christian radio station. K-Love features wonderful touching songs which are refreshment for her soul.