tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:49:46 +0000The Fresh Prince was right...Parents Just don't Understand...Once Upon a CelebritySouth AfricaConstruction Workers are People TooHealth Care-lessWord of the DayM.O.M.ChristmasGirl TalkSouthern Hospitality?What the ...?freebiesAmerican IdolHudsonSix year olds should rule the worldmoviesOprah and Barak ObamaPortly Mommas Blog RingThanksgivingThings that Make Ya Go Hmmmmini van disgraceohio statePoly-TickssoldiersFeast DayMemorial DayMother of the Year AwardNew Year's DayPeepsallergybirthday partyblizzardblog partymother's dayport-o-johnCrazy LoveEasterHillary ClintonI believe in MiraclesIndian costumesIraqJelloKevinMIchael JacksonObamaOprahPakistanPilgrimsValentine's DayVirginiaamanda overmeyerbooksconstructioncouponsgratefulkindergartenmommother's day giftspregnant manroad tripsnow daysputumsummertimewordless wednesdayAfghan StarAldous HuxleyAmerican GladiatorsAngelina JolieArAudrey HepburnBhuttoBig MamaBiscuit WorldBob GreeneBob MarleyBod4GodBreakfast at Tiffany'sBrennan ManningBrittany MurphyBrooke WhiteBurmaCaptain KangarooChristie BrinkleyDavid CookDiet Coke addictionDina McgreeveyDr. PhilDylanEvangelineFMGFalse eyelashesFlannery O'ConnorFourth of JulyFrancis ChanGIantsGolden GirlsHSLDAHalloweenHarriet JacobsHollandHomerHummerIllegal homeschoolingInfanticideIron MaidenIron ManIwo JimaJack BauerJacksonJason CastroJenny SanfordJim BakkerJon and KateJulian of NorwichKit KittredgeKung Fu PandaKung PaoLa TraviataLittle DebbieLybrelMagiMaricopa CountyMarinesMark SanfordMartin Luther King Jr. Medgar Evers Anne MoodyMichiganMiracle on MY StreetMiss PotterMr. CleanMystery and MannersNew Year's Day. New Year's Eve dropsNew YorkerNews of the WeirdNo Cussing ZoneNorman ShereskyNot for SaleO.HenryOn LiteraturePTLParis HiltonPeter CookRandy JacksonRich MullinsRichard HatchRobert Downey Jr.Rock BandRodney DangerfieldSUVSame Kind of Different as MeSanta ClausSephTammy Faye Bakker MessnerTasersThe Audacity of HopeThe OfficeThe Ultimate GiftThings I want you to readThomas BeatieTime magazineTom BradyTooTrick or TreatVerdiadvertisingagingairport securityaldibackwards maskingbah humbugballoon boybatmanbreaking newsbric a bracbroken doorsbrowniesbumper stickersburned aliveburqabuyer's marketcarly smithsoncarrotscharitychrisitan balechristianscivil rightsclass partiescleanersclichescold weathercountingcraftscraigs listcredit cardsdeathdeipnosophistdibsdictionarydietdirectionsdivorcedog hairdog housedog loversduct tapeelfembarassingexerciseexpelledface paintfarsifat pantsfecundfedexfireworksfollyfreedomfreerice.comfudgesciclesfunfuneralsgilmore girlsglobal warmingglumgoody bagsgorgegraduationgrandmothers with gunsgrandpagrinchgroundhog daygrowing upgun controlheartburnheavenly manhebrew alpha bethellherbshonor killinghospitalhousehouse for salehubby luvhuman traffickinghusbandshuskiesidee fixeidentity theftin the tale on the donkeyinterpretationjell-ojonahjungle bookjunior highkidskitchenknick knackkrispy kremekrogerlabelslactationlands's endlatinlaughterlsulyricsmaxmean redsmehcanical bullmel tormemens volleyballmetropolitan mamamiddle agemorning peoplemothermotorcycleno sugar?nurseolympicsoutdoor plumbingparentingparentspartypea coatperiodspiece of junkpinky tuscaderopitch forkpnuemoniapoemspop tartspotty trainingpregnancyprideprisonpumpkin pieraftingrandom drawingreality blog ringsrealtorsrecipesrecoveryreproductionrice cakerock musicsaschasaving moneyschoolschool daysscrubssenior classsewersshort storiesshrewsketchersslaverysleepsnackssoccersoldersstephstupid questionssurvivalswimsuittapeteenagertelevangelisttextingtripsturkeyugandaunderwearvernon gholstonviewvocabularywalletsweight losswhat the ?womenwomens beach volleyballwordsworld peacewriter's strikeyard salesridiculous ramblings from a mediocre mindhttp://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (christina)Blogger258125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-6652292715507435045Sat, 12 Nov 2011 14:33:00 +00002011-11-12T09:33:51.016-05:00Ten Reasons to Listen to Questions Before You Answeror, things I need to do on a daily basis.http://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2011/11/ten-reasons-to-listen-to-questions.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-3815938394105525588Mon, 05 Sep 2011 01:46:00 +00002011-09-04T21:46:00.357-04:00South AfricaGuess what?! We have officially launched our 1000 Friends for South Africa Campaign. I guess you could say we are social media missionaries of sorts. If we can find 1000 Friends who will commit to just $10 or more a month, we will be fully funded for our first year in South Africa. You can read about the budget, and why it costs so dang much in South Africa, on our website, www.thequists.com. http://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2011/09/we-need-friends.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-3126556546606994240Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:32:00 +00002011-07-20T18:32:14.351-04:00South AfricaI had  a dear friend ask me last night, “Why don’t you just go into the inner city and work with kids there? They need hope also.” She’s right, they do need hope and love and attention. We had the privilege of helping at a church-sponsored sports camp for kids just off 5th Avenue in Columbus. There was about 130 kids  running, kicking, yelling, singing, dunking and having a good time. http://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2011/07/take-away.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-4715682199091353698Tue, 12 Jul 2011 14:28:00 +00002011-07-12T10:28:31.482-04:00South AfricaWe FINALLY have a 'lil website that tells of our journey to South Africa. It also gives some background about the township communities we will be working in. I would be honored if you would share it. We are in the midst of the not-so-fun-fundraising. We are looking for people who would like to join us in the work in South Africa. Kevin will be pioneering a sports ministry in each of the the 5 http://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2011/07/big-news.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-7795369777965862082Thu, 24 Mar 2011 02:36:00 +00002011-03-23T22:40:51.164-04:00South AfricaFor the last few months, we've been wrestling with how exactly we are going to move our family to South Africa. I mean, living in Africa is way more spendy then we thought. I've been bombarded with doubts and disappointment and fear.  Fear can overtake a person and make the most clear messages become garbled. Sure I'm afraid of moving my family half way across the world, relying only on the http://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2011/03/jesus-is-on-twitter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-5730573007373190539Sun, 27 Feb 2011 00:45:00 +00002011-02-26T19:45:13.456-05:00Dear Jackson, I see you use Swagger Body Wash. You need it. Because I'm a great sister, I will lend you some of my swagger. I can spare it. My swagger meter is dangerously high. Love, Eviehttp://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2011/02/how-12-year-old-girl-survives-in-house.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-7046719041125101024Sat, 26 Feb 2011 22:23:00 +00002011-02-26T17:23:08.149-05:00I believe in MiraclesSouth AfricaI believe in signs and miracles. As it becomes more and more clear to us, that we are about to move our family of seven across the world to another continent, I wanted to share just a few of the little things that keep us going. In the winter of 2009, we shared our plan to take a short term mission trip, with our pastor. I laughingly said, "Maybe we will be Terra Nova's first missionaries." I http://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2011/02/its-little-things.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-5700379135510907891Sat, 26 Feb 2011 20:43:00 +00002011-02-26T15:43:24.548-05:00I believe in MiraclesSouth Africa "Sometimes I'd like to ask God why He allows poverty, famine and injustice when He could do something about it. But I'm afraid God might ask me the same question." We spent a lot of years chasing the American Dream. Then we woke up. This isn’t what we want in life. What we want is to “give hope, ...to loose the chains of injustice, ...to set the oppressed free” (Isaiah 58: 6). In August, 2010http://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2011/02/because-theres-more-to-life-south.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-3390806064743745975Tue, 04 Jan 2011 04:12:00 +00002011-01-03T23:12:14.612-05:00ChristmasMy parents decided to go rogue this Christmas and mix up the gifts ideas. Instead of buying toys, they bought all 24 of us a day pass to the local indoor water park. Plus pizza. For 24 people, that's a pretty generous gift. Plus, it's memorable and didn't get lost in the shuffle of tissue paper and gift cards. Have you been to an indoor water park in late December? A) It's -2 degrees outside, http://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2011/01/burqa-some-bikinis-and-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-8453264298206347837Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:07:00 +00002010-12-21T19:07:41.586-05:00This video has been all over facebook, but I thought I would share it here too.Merry Christmas!http://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2010/12/social-network-christmas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-4945650360779409001Fri, 03 Dec 2010 03:36:00 +00002010-12-02T22:36:13.780-05:002010 Top Baby Names Great, the names Jackson and Ethan are #3 and #4 on the list of popular boys' names. Also newly popular and in the top 100? Evangeline and Hudson. Seriously, I'm gonna have to re-name the kids. So much for originality.http://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2010/12/top-baby-names-for-2010.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-941397372261218750Thu, 25 Nov 2010 15:27:00 +00002010-11-25T10:28:47.454-05:00 Happy Thanksgiving!http://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2010/11/gungor-beautiful-things-acoustic.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-1005894258253149193Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:19:00 +00002010-11-19T09:19:16.523-05:00freebiesStarbucks Buy One Get One Free Holiday Drink! November 18-21 from 2-5 p.m. Shopping and Starbucks go hand in hand.http://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2010/11/starbucks-festivus.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-8692737228921182774Tue, 16 Nov 2010 03:29:00 +00002010-11-30T13:34:02.782-05:00South AfricaI wrote this while we were in South Africa this summer. I'm just now posting it.  I know, I have issues. ************************************************************************************ I want you to meet  Jennifer. We spoke briefly in passing last week but I got a chance to sit down and get to know her last night. She's very quiet until you get to know her and then she's goofy http://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2010/11/wake-them-with-kiss.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-5485709231596210401Sat, 30 Oct 2010 17:59:00 +00002010-10-30T13:59:51.306-04:00Things that Make Ya Go Hmmm Trick or treating, the great evangelical taboo. I was raised in the 80’s. Celebrating Halloween was sure to put one on the emergency prayer chain. My parents bought large picture books explaining why Halloween’s ancestral roots were not to be celebrated. We were all fascinated by the message from supposed ex-Satanist Mike Warnke. Remember him? He was the Christian comedian who wowed audiences http://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2010/10/in-defense-of-trick-or-treating.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-621067450231834842Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:25:00 +00002010-11-15T22:51:46.909-05:00The Fresh Prince was right...Parents Just don't Understand...I had an odd conversation today with one of Dylan's teachers. "I overheard Dylan say the P word in class today." "Um, the P word," I say, racking my brain for all possible cuss words, or inappropriate language.  PerhapsPontificateProliferatePopulate "He said he was pissed," said the teacher, lowering her voice to a whisper during the first syllable and vaguely pronouncing the rest. "Oh, http://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2010/10/mind-your-ps-and-qs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-8886959102818888109Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:24:00 +00002010-10-06T20:24:21.208-04:00South AfricaI can't believe it's been almost 6 weeks since we returned from Africa. We arrived on Tuesday and started school that Friday. Yikes! To say I've been in a free fall would be accurate. Schedules, soccer, jobs and laundry all awaited my arrival. Too bad I didn't come back the same person. http://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2010/10/from-one-continent-to-another.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-6091802951641524706Thu, 19 Aug 2010 23:10:00 +00002010-08-19T19:10:31.941-04:00South Africa This video got me thinking about fathers, and being able to lean on someone. In the township of Masiphumelele (Masi) it's estimated that 87% of the children have no male figure in their home. Notice, it's not even a FATHER figure, just no male figure. Can you imagine living your life without knowing the security and comfort of a strong arms? There is something about the male embrace that is keyhttp://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2010/08/leaning-on-everlasting-arms.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-5845233944472281777Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:21:00 +00002010-08-13T16:39:33.119-04:00South AfricaBehind these walls is a future, that lives with a past. Behind these walls are beautiful faces, laughter and heartache. Behind these walls are young women who own a business, lead children's church, who see needs and fulfill dreams. Behind these walls are young men who want to lead, pastors who are messengers; Who see the absence and strive to provide a glimpse of the Father. Behind these http://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2010/08/behind-these-walls.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-4588288398405586072Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:56:00 +00002010-08-13T15:24:07.604-04:00South Africa A warning against human trafficking in the homeless shelter. It's in Afrikaans. Jose, the "Mad Portuguese." Notice the stove he's using. The kitchen is quite small and outdated but they happily serve two meals a day. Jose does not have a home but is currently looking for work. Living Grace offers the homeless a locker to store their belongings for security so they can go to a job http://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2010/08/weird-smells-selfish-thoughts-beautiful.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-6188745462484370307Fri, 06 Aug 2010 22:30:00 +00002010-08-06T18:30:59.461-04:00South AfricaOne theme that I've noticed since being in South Africa, is that, "South Africa does its best." So very true. It's a  tenacious, resilient country. They've endured so much already yet there's so much to overcome. Our first afternoon we went to an after school kids' club in a township called Ocean View. Ocean View is a 'better off' coloured community. I say better off because part of the http://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2010/08/doing-their-best-but-am-i.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-6162921537209026275Wed, 04 Aug 2010 19:05:00 +00002010-08-04T15:05:03.483-04:00After 38 hours of travel, we are securely in South Africa. We had a 12hr layover in London. That's the first time I've ever been to London. Twelve hours just whet my appetite. We did a whirlwind tour and saw Picadilly Circus, Chinatown, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, rode The Underground, dined at an authentic pub (literally it was called "an authentic pub" which makes me think http://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2010/08/short-stop-in-london-town.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-8656229564743159263Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:28:00 +00002010-07-29T10:28:25.933-04:00South AfricaFive days. Five days until I understand how 1.1 bilion people live on less than $1 a day. Five days until I start to understand how African countries can barely afford to focus on their own development because they are paying off debt owed to rich and unforgiving countries. Five days until I meet the faces claimed by the disease I know only as AIDS. Five days until I meet the people who will http://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2010/07/five-days.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-7852948334332384906Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:54:00 +00002010-07-19T10:58:33.316-04:00The Fresh Prince was right...Parents Just don't Understand...  In the words of Ethan, "It's the end of the world as we know it, I feel fiiiiiiiine." Ha, I'm just kiddin'. Pretty soon I'll have another chauffeur in the house, what's not to like? In the great state of Ohio when a young person reaches the ripe age of 15.5, the youngster is bestowed a driver's permit. This means that for another 6 months, he can drive with his mom and dad right beside himhttp://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2010/07/teen-driver-in-house.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2942017470082274338.post-5410483312374194865Sat, 10 Jul 2010 05:02:00 +00002010-07-10T01:02:42.253-04:00Mother of the Year AwardI hate cooking! I hate to cook! I hate trying to think of meals to cook! I read a lot of blogs where moms post recipes and pictures of the recipe in action. Like Kelly, she's crafty and likes to cook. And she's good. There's is not enough gumption within my being to prepare a meal and then want to take a picture of it. Can't someone e-mail the dinner plans to me each night? And then come http://minimalshrinkage.blogspot.com/2010/07/dreaded-c-word.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (christina)0