2 Cor 12:15

This is Dr Jim. He has been working as a surgeon in PNG for 25? years.
Jim and his wife Kathy, are amazing examples of Christ for our family and for the PNG people.

My Utmost for His Highest devotions for today is based on the verse
"I will very gladly spend and be spent for you".

I think this is the Radcliffe's family verse, or a verse I will give to them. They are continually laying down their own interests for the needs of those around them.

I am thankful to be serving with them!

Em

This is Emma, last Easter, when she was 7. She is now 8 and has her big teeth in the front. She talks about getting her hair cut off because she hates having it fixed in the morning.
Em is a ball of joy. She is bubbly, talkative, silly, funny and very creative.

Since Christmas however, she has become a grumpy child. Does this happen to all 8 1/2 year olds? I don't remember. My mom would probably say that I was grmpy from 13-16 years old. Emma bites people's heads off and her sisters can to nothing right.

I don't know why this phase is happening to our usually cheerful child, and really am at a lost of how to help her through it. So, what does a mom do? I listened to my words to Emma for awhile and realized how critical and bossy I can be to her. Therefore, I focused on using kinder words like, "What can I do to help you finish getting ready for school?" instead of "Emma! You only have 5 minutes! Hurry up!"

Kinder words might have helped some, but the problem is still there. Now I am trying a more forceful attack on this bad attitude. I am trying to lavish her with love. We made little books at Valentines and that is what I am trying to achieve with Em.

Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.

So, practically, what does this mean?
I try to wake her with love, by playing with her face and talking with her and singing a silly song.
I try to have my work done so at 3:00, when she comes home from school, I am available.
We read together. (instead of me reading my own book)
We clean up together. (instead of me sending her off to do it on her own)
I want to talk with her and play imagination games when she takes a bath.
Give her lots of 'mommy time'.

As I am lavishing love on Em, I am learning to do it to all of the girls, my hubby, my friends and all those around me. Maybe Emma's grumpy period is for me...to learn to love more.

Olivia and Mommy work out- by Olivia

I'm walking. I was gonna walk to the exercisne room.
I was taking a picture of Mommy. She wears a lap lap pecause she likes it.
I was exencising on the ball.
I played on the ball. I gathered up the play stuff (small weights) and made a house. I did those and those exercizing. (bench and leg lifts). Mommy exercisized. We could not listen to music pecause there was class right be-size the exercise room

Play day!

Our friend's mom and dad went to town for grocery shopping.
So we got to play with our friends.

We played outside with balls and made pretend food.
We went on a walk to get chocolate milk and flour balls.

We played with play dough from Aunt Pattie.
Ate lunch.

Read books, laughed a lot and took a nap.
A perfect 3 year old day.

New duds for the house.

We were furnished with very nice furniture when we moved to PNG.
The first year, my bible study friends mailed me some material and I made some pillows and made the house more "us".

On Scott and I's trip to Singapore, I experienced Ikea for the first time. On our second trip, I picked out 8 pillows and curtains for our home! 4 of the pillows, I recovered with extra fabric from the curtains and also made a valance. When mom and dad come in March, they are bringing actual tie backs for the curtains.

Upon returning to PNG with my new stuff, I had to get new curtain rods, holders, and end caps. I got all of these items in one day of town shopping. I bought each thing at a different store and went to 9 different shops trying to find the stuff. But the task was accomplished, without a Lowes or Home Depo! And I am so thankful for my new pretty touches in our house.
Did you think we lived in a hut?

Cookie anyone?

Because of our illnesses, we have been indoors more that out lately.
So the girls and I were able to make a little craft from Chasing Cheerios blog.
It was lots of fun to make and pretty cute too.
Scott was wishing for real cookies by the time we were done!

Sick days!

Well! We have been sick forever, so it seems. Last weekend, Olivia and Scott had fever and coughs.
Then Monday, I was out flat in bed all day with sinus stuff and fever no food all day.
Tuesday, Scott and Livy still coughing.
Wed and Thurs, Allison misses school, sinus and fever.
Friday, Saturday Emma is rarely out of bed for 2 days, only talks 1 hour after Tylenol doses. (Em is our non stop talker too!)
Livy and Scott still coughing. Livy coughs and swallows so much mucus that she has thrown up every day at least twice!
Sunday...I wash everything in the entire house, open all the windows, disinfect, and call the house germ free.
Just in time for Al to come home Sunday evening with a headache, cough and fever.
So...it is now Monday. Allison is lying on the floor, watching Tom and Jerry, with a fever.
Even Lena our friend is sick, the picture is her on the cough with Livy on Thursday!
Mama said there would be weeks like this!

Beautiful feet.

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news.

We have lots of beautiful feet here, black-white, young-old, dirty-clean, men-women, calloused, fungus toes-pretty pedicured, ol kain kain lek!
What makes them beautiful? Bringing the good news.
Friday was the dedication of the new hospital. Lots of people have worked on this new hospital, but Bill has lived, breathed, sweat, cried, and I am sure bled for the new hospital! Bill's dad came for the dedication and Bill's son surprised everyone and showed up on station the morning of the dedication. This morning, as Bill is headed to Thailand and Grandpa is heading back to America, there was a plaque unveiled on the new hospital, in loving memory of Bill's mom, who died in the past year. Thanks Bill, and Big Al for having beautiful feet!


How are your feet looking today? Someone you meet will need to hear about the hope of Christ today.

Cornerstone Church

Oh my! Do you know how little boys love matchbox cars? Cornerstone church, from California sent a box of cars, bracelets, and balls to the McCoy's. I am getting so much joy out of giving out those little toys! Surgery is of course a scary time for any kid, and these little cars make the boys so happy. We have 3 boys with bone infections and one with a dislocated toe. They have all been through surgery and I have shared with them 2 toys cars each (so they can race!) They love them and it takes their mind off of the surgery for a little while.

You can see this guy's still present tears!

If your toys are breeding at your house (really how do those things multiply?), let me know! We love the little toys that come in kids meals to give to patients.

Thanks Cornerstone for your generosity!