Reading Aloud is Fun

Sarah and I have recently finished reading a very enlightening book. It's titled The Read~Aloud Handbook. The book discusses the practice of reading books out loud. (had you already guessed as much?)The author has compiled numerous statistics that show the link between academic achievement and students that had been read aloud to throughout their lives. The bond between the reader and the listener is strengthened and the listener builds a positive feeling toward reading that can last a lifetime. I am writing this post to encourage all the parents we know to begin or continue to read to your children. The benefits are great and the investment into your children's lives is well worth the time spent. It is also something that I will be doing in the classroom. All teachers should also be encouraged to read aloud to your students. The book itself is an easy read and includes a great list of suggestions for books to read to all different ages of children. The author is Jim Trelease. I have a feeling the Pittsburg Public Library has a copy of the book as well as many of the titles that the book suggests. We don't have children yet. I read to Sarah. She loves it. I love it. It's fun!

How He Loves

I'm listening to How He Loves by Kim Walker. It's a powerful song, message and sound. I've also been reading a book that deals with encountering God in a very real way. It speaks of the love of God and how He loves us. I would like to give you a few quotes from the song and the book, if I may. They are these:

So we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean we're all sinking
So heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss
and my heart turns violently inside of my chest.
I don't have time to maintain these regrets,
when I think about the way He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us.

How He Loves - Kim Walker


"He chooses.
He pursues.
He rescues.
He woos.
He protects.
He lavishes."

Black - Ted Dekker

I believe God wants a deeper relationship with His people. I know He has been drawing us closer throughout this entire experience. I was reading One Chronicles this morning and something David prayed really resonated with me. In chapter 17, David finds out that one of his sons will build a house for God and David prays: "Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family that you have brought me this far?" He also says, "You know what I am really like." The Message Remix says, "...even though you know me, just as I am?" When I think about where I am, (on the Earth and in my life), I have the same thoughts. I think of the way He pursues and rescues. I think of how He protects Me and lavishes His love on Me even though He knows me just as I am. And I sink again into His mercy and grace.

Love to all~Micah

BBQ Chicken and the New School Year

BBQ Chicken is the name of a fast food chicken joint in Korea. It's not necessarily barbeque chicken, though. They do have some barbeque-type chicken, but most of it is more like a KFC feel. They only use olive oil for frying and their stuff is delicious! (and supposedly more healthy). We had our Vineyard leaders drop us off at BBQ Chicken yesterday after church. We got plenty to have some for dinner Monday also. Sarah is going to make cous cous to go with our chicken. She's also making Devil's Food pudding that my mom sent us. Can you tell that I'm hungry?

I had a really great day today. All of the concerns that I have had about the coming school year were addressed and resolved. Basically, without really trying, I got my way. I usually like to get my way, but I don't always press to get my way. I'll just not say anything until later and then pout. This time, I shared my worries in the form of a prayer request with our vineyard group. Today, everything worked out just fine. God shows us over and over that He does care about the deets. You know, the sparrow and all that.

I also had the great pleasure of photographing Sarah's class in their traditional Hanbok. Some of the kids were threatening to jab me in the keester, but luckily, they did not succeed. Thank you for your continued interest and connection to our lives and for your prayers.

Love,

Micah

Good Morning, Good Evening

Whichever applies :) Morning for us, evening for Pittsburgians. It has been encouraging to read all of the comments and to see all of the traffic that's been through our blog! Our first week back went well, even though Micah was sick. This week we're both healthy and excited for what God is doing.
This morning as I read Acts 1, an interesting thought occurred to me. In verse 6 we find that the disciples are still asking Jesus if now was the time that He was going to free Israel and restore their kingdom - and yet, Jesus still went ahead and ascended into heaven! Even though the disciples still didn't quite get it, He knew it would all work out, that the Holy Spirit would come, and everything would be fine. How often are we willing to just trust people like that? Or at least, trust that God is more than capable of bringing people into a better understanding of what His purposes are, all the while, still entrusting them with responsibility? I know we have to be careful, but sometimes I think I'm a little too stingy with my trust. I wish I had time to write more and make this a more complete thought, but I have to get to work now. Hope this makes sense - in my head, it does! Love you all! ~Sarah