Among the many vital tools Voice of the Martyrs offers to help us remember our brothers and sisters in chains is B.A.S.I.C. Check it out and get involved.

b.a.s.i.c. Fellowship exists to:
encourage partnership with our brothers and sisters in chains
report activities of believers in behalf of the persecuted church
promote prayer, local projects, and other awareness programs
communicate with local believers and stimulate involvement
provide a place to exchange ideas and encourage each other

b.a.s.i.c. fellowship is:

Fellowship
The acrostic, b.a.s.i.c., stands for “brothers and sisters in chains.” Fellowship comes from the union we have, in Christ Jesus, and with other believers. This includes believers both here at home and in the most restricted countries of the world.

Sharing Ideas
b.a.s.i.c. Fellowship is a network of friends sharing ideas. These ideas not only tell the story of the persecuted, but also deepen our fellowship with God through the examples and victories of the persecuted church.

Making the Voice of the Persecuted Heard
b.a.s.i.c. Fellowship is making the voice of our brothers and sisters in chains heard in communities and churches across America.

Leading Others Into the Fellowship of Sufferings
b.a.s.i.c. Fellowship consists of average people finding ways to lead others into the fellowship of sufferings with our brothers and sisters in chains.

Speaking of getting involved; Matt Rose, A Voice of the Martyr Representative will be visiting Dumas, TX next week and discussing Enduring Faith.
For more info on VOM meetings in your area please visit VOMMeetings.com

While this is not a political blog. . .well as of late not really a blog at all. . .but I digress. . .While this is not a political blog, it is mine. It’s a place where I occasionally share my heart and views. Today I want to say:


Mike Huckabee that is. You know who I’m talking about don’t you? You should, he’s a Republican presidential canidate and he’s worth taking a look at.

While there are other canidates I can half heartedly support, Mike Huckabee is the one canidate I can proudly stand behind without first having to brush moral convictions aside.

Apparently I’m not the only one speaking up on Huckabee this week. Check out what Chuck Norris had to say yesterday over at World Net Daily.
Mr. Norris wrote a great heart-felt endorsement of the former gov. and since I’m short on time I’ll send you over to him until I can write my own.

While lookng around please check out this post, Our Faith Makes Us. It was written by Mike Huckabee and featured on his Vertical Day Blog

Thanks to our slow connection I’ve yet to check out the video. If you get a chance let me know what you think of it and if it’s worth the download time.

Update:

Here’s a few shots of Charleigh’s baptism. (Notice her daddy is the one who did it) I really wish I’d have paid more attention to getting a good picture, I was too busy being wearing my “proud mommy” hat to put on my shutterbug one.

Here’s a pic of Joshua and his B-day Cake. (He decorated it) This is another example of a great day but no great pictures to show for it. . .


Joshua had an awesome birthday party! It was a “rock and roll” party. Some great friends of ours on the worship team at church came and rocked the place out for him. We got him a guitar and he was estatic to get to play with the band on stage with a huge audience. That night before he went to sleep he told me “In all my dreams I never dreamed a day could be as good as this”.

On October 5th Charleigh and her birthday buddy Kali turned 8. We had a mommy/daughter sleep over and the girls had a great time.

Every time Amy comes for a visit it’s a special ocassion. Here’s a picture of the two of us from this summer:


(I’m not really taller than her, I just tend to wear heels)

Here’s a link to a picture of Kaleb’s Baptism a few years ago.

I’m reposting this June post in honor of the Carnival of Recipes. Anne-Marie at A Readable Feast is hosting this coming week and her theme is “tried-and-true kid-tested and kid-approved recipes” While we have many kid-friendly recipes this one has been the biggest on going hit.

June 8, 2007-
Tonight the kids and I came across a new favorite recipe:

Fried Ravioli Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis
See this recipe on air Thursday Jun. 14 at 1:30 PM ET/PT.
Show: Everyday Italian
Episode: Italian Street Food

Olive oil, for frying
1 cup buttermilk
2 cups Italian-style bread crumbs
1 box store-bought cheese ravioli (about 24 ravioli)
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
1 jar store bought marinara sauce, heated, for dipping

Pour enough olive oil into a large frying pan to reach a depth of 2 inches. Heat the oil over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 325 degrees F.
While the oil is heating, put the buttermilk and the bread crumbs in separate shallow bowls. Working in batches, dip ravioli in buttermilk to coat completely. Allow the excess buttermilk to drip back into the bowl. Dredge ravioli in the bread crumbs. Place the ravioli on a baking sheet, and continue with the remaining ravioli.

When the oil is hot, fry the ravioli in batches, turning occasionally, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the fried ravioli to paper towels to drain.

Sprinkle the fried ravioli with Parmesan and serve with a bowl of warmed marinara sauce for dipping.

The raviolis got thumbs up all around. Except from Kaleb, poor little guy, it was his idea to make them but with a 103 degree fever he just didn’t feel up to eating. I promised to make some more later.

These were quick and easy, although not very healthy…I was thinking of coming up with a great marinara and a pesto cream sauce and making this my signiture contribution to all the holiday parties next year. MMMMM

While we’re talking about store bought raviolis I thought I’d give them a little plug. My kids love them! We buy the Great Value Frozen variaty from Wal*Mart. I’ve bought more expensive brands but this is the one the kids like the best. A bag costs around 2 bucks and they take only 3 minutes to boil up. We use them in a multitude of ways, topping them with anything from homemade marinara, roasted garlic mayo, pesto, or alfredo. We even use them in place of lasagna noodles and ricotta to make a speedy mock lasagna. Simply boil them up and layer them with your meat or veggie sauce. You’ve already got the cheese and noodles so all you have to do is top it off with a bit more cheese and put it under the broiler till it looks golden and bubbly. WhaLa! Lasagna in less than 30 minutes. If we’ve got more time to bake it I do like to add a little more cheesy goodness to the mix. Rarely can you have to much cheesy goodness you know.

(Yes, I did get the idea from Racheal Ray of 30 minute meals. She uses this techique in multiple recipes. The first I tried was a creamy spinach version with lemon and thyme which is no longer available online but here are two still listed on her site: Ravioli Lasagna, Ravioli Vegetable Lasagna

I wrote last year declaring this Joshua’s Favorite book. It still is.

Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers: The Gospel By Joey Allen The Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers series introduces preschool and elementary children to the most foundational teachings of the Christian in this four-book set at a level they can understand. Colorful illustrations compliment every page, creating an enjoyable learning experience for the child. The Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers series promotes God-centered theology with simple and precise teaching while offering stability and a strong, lasting connection with the faith. The Gospel relates a gospel message of salvation to children, at their level of understanding, planting seeds that will hopefully blossom into a Christian life of dedication to our Savior and Lord. Recommended for ages 4 to 7.

I still plan on getting him these ones some day:

Have any of you read these other ones?

Kaleb wanted to share with you his recent literary choice.
He’s been reading a Bill Myers series. We first were only able to find them at our local Christian book store but he now reports the whole series being stocked at his school library!

My Life as a Broken Bungee Cord: The Incredible Worlds of Wally McDoogle #3, Hardcover By Bill Myers / Thomas Nelson Dorkoid Wally McDoogle has never looked so cool! This special edition gives readers all of the McDoogle out-of-control humor n a hip, hardcover format with never-before-seen wacky illustrations. This book keeps readers on the edge of their seats as one calamity builds upon another until, with his life on the line, Wally learns what it means to fully put his trust in God. Recommended for ages 8 to 12.

Some of his favorite titles so far are:

My Life as Alien Monster Bait

My Life as Blundering Ballerina:

My Life as a Bigfoot Breath Mint

My Life as Polluted Pond Scum:

Carson National Forest: Columbine Campground:
On the Columbine - Twining National Recreation Trail

Charleigh is loving this Beverly Lewis “Cul-De-Sac Kids” series.

Cul-De-Sac Kids, Volumes 1-6 By Beverly Lewis / Bethany When your 7- to 10-year-olds join the kids on the cul-de-sac at Blossom Hill Lane, they’ll encounter realistic (and funny!) predicaments that point to Jesus as the ultimate mystery-solver! This boxed set of six softcover chapter books includes: The Double Dabble Surprise, The Chicken Pox Panic, The Crazy Christmas Angel Mystery, No Grow-ups Allowed, Frog Power, and The Mystery of Case D. Luc.

She’s been checking them out at the school library and just can’t get enough of them! She says they are way more cool than the Junie B. Jones books! Charleigh can’t even hold still when she’s reading them, she has to jump up every two minutes to update me on the story.

An (updated) Alphabetical list of both Democratic and Republican Presidential Candidates linking to where they stand on “The Issues”

Hillary Clinton -D
Mike Gravel -D
Mike Huckabee -R
Alan Keys -R

John McCain -R
Barack Obama -D
Ron Paul -R
Bill Richardson -D

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Joe Biden Withdrawn 1-03-08
Sam Brownback Withdrawn 10-19-07
Chris Dodd Withdrawn 1-03-08
John Edwards Withdrawn 1-30-08
Jim Gilmore Withdrawn 7-14-07

Rudy Giuliani Withdrawn 1-30-08
Duncan HunterWithdrawn 1-19-08
Dennis Kucinich Withdrawn 1-24-08
Mitt Romney Withdrawn 2-07-08
Tom TancredoWithdrawn 12-20-07
Fred Thompson Withdrawn 1-22-08

Which issues are important to you?

UPDATE: Welcome searchers. It seems this little list has gained a lot of attention. While you’re here please take a moment to let us know where you’re from and if you’d like tell us which candidate you favor. When you’re done studying the candidates and their issues grab a cup of coffee and come spend some time over here with us at jamileigh.com. Check out the categories for past posts and feel free to jump in the conversation.

If I were a mommy blogger I’d have told you all about Joshua’s Ultimate Rock and Roll Birthday Party or about Charleigh turning 8 or at least I’d have shared a picture of her baptism yesterday. I’d tell you Kaleb is selling BoyScout popcorn and the order has to go in today.

-But I didn’t

If I were a food blogger I’d have shared my recipe for Creamy Pesto Spread, 5 minute Tiramisu or Tangy Fruit Salsa

If I were a music blogger I’d have bragged about the weekend spent here by the Amazing Corinna Smith as she prepared the songs for her upcoming CD.

If I were a family blogger I’d have shared poinant stories about taking my kids to a memorial day celebration, visiting the graves of distant relatives and hearing for the first time their stories. I would have showed you pictures of the Rocket Ship in Lavern or the Yellow house in Perryton. Maybe even a picture of my great Uncle Rod would have shown up and I would have written a nice little piece on what great guy he is.

If I were a Bible blogger I’d offer insight on Collosians, Romans and maybe even Isaiah.

If I were a linking blogger I’d have linked you on over to Rachel or Amy

If I were a garden blogger I’d have subjected you to pictures of chives, sage, basil, mint, oregano, dill, cilantro, parsley, rosemary, thyme, and tomatoes. Maybe even a pepper or two. I’d also have made you read the multitude of things you could do with such things and how I know God made sweet basil and thyme just to show how much he loves me.

If I were a political blogger. . .oh, the things I’d write if I were a political blogger.

But I didn’t, not a bit. Nope, nada.

Alas, I am not a blogger. . .had anyone noticed?