October 6, 2008
September 16, 2008
Book 3
The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks.
A beautiful and timeless story of a man who has taken his wife for granted and one day realizes his transgressions. He is determined to love and care for her as he should. This book is romantic and refreshing.
September 9, 2008
2 books in 2 weekends
It seems that I have been bitten by the bookworm again and I have to say, I feel like my old self! The feeling I get from reading a good book is equivalent to running a marathon or catching an awesome wave (or so I've been told). Lately we've been watching a lot of tv, though my hubbie would disagree, and it is so unfulfilling.
Anyway, the 2 books I read were actually quite good despite the fact I found them both by accident.
1) Chesil Beach, Ian McEwan
A beautifully written book sometimes a bit graphic at points but I guess it was necessary to carry out the moral of the story. I'm a prude. It definitely illustrated the danger of the mind and how if we're left to figure out things for ourselves, we'd mess things up pretty badly. I'm glad God's done all the figuring out!
2) The Choice, Nicholas Sparks
Definitely a lighter read than Chesil Beach but it had some great twists! Nicholas is quite verbose, however, that's how he gets you to fall in love with the characters. This book made me cry.....a few times!
Anyway, the 2 books I read were actually quite good despite the fact I found them both by accident.
1) Chesil Beach, Ian McEwan
A beautifully written book sometimes a bit graphic at points but I guess it was necessary to carry out the moral of the story. I'm a prude. It definitely illustrated the danger of the mind and how if we're left to figure out things for ourselves, we'd mess things up pretty badly. I'm glad God's done all the figuring out!
2) The Choice, Nicholas Sparks
Definitely a lighter read than Chesil Beach but it had some great twists! Nicholas is quite verbose, however, that's how he gets you to fall in love with the characters. This book made me cry.....a few times!
September 2, 2008
God uses license plates
I heard on a recent radio ministry broadcast that God speaks to us in big and small ways. Sometimes they're blaringly obvious almost audible and other times you wonder if you're making it up in your head (the latter happens to me a lot).
This afternoon on my way to the doctor, I began thinking about my conversation with the pharmacist last week. As he handed me my ovulation-inducing prescription, he said, "Go to Catalina. It's always worked for me." At first, I didn't think too much of it, but then as I got into my car, I started thinking about how the first time we were pregnant it happened while we were on vacation. I decided that there was some wisdom to the pharmacists' words. Anyway back to my drive to the doctor, I began thinking about whether or not we would really go to Catalina. Then I started rationalizing (something I do too much of according to Melvin - who happens to know me best) that we're going to SF and Orlando in October and that a trip to Catalina would be expensive. And then for some reason my eyes shifted right to the truck passing me and his license plate said "Catalinaxxxx." I don't remember the last digits.
I laughed and thanked God for His note to me. It is so awesome to me that He, our BIG GOD, has a direct line to SMALL ME. He knew that I would engage in another crazy conversation with myself and used that truck to send me a message. Catalina it is.
This afternoon on my way to the doctor, I began thinking about my conversation with the pharmacist last week. As he handed me my ovulation-inducing prescription, he said, "Go to Catalina. It's always worked for me." At first, I didn't think too much of it, but then as I got into my car, I started thinking about how the first time we were pregnant it happened while we were on vacation. I decided that there was some wisdom to the pharmacists' words. Anyway back to my drive to the doctor, I began thinking about whether or not we would really go to Catalina. Then I started rationalizing (something I do too much of according to Melvin - who happens to know me best) that we're going to SF and Orlando in October and that a trip to Catalina would be expensive. And then for some reason my eyes shifted right to the truck passing me and his license plate said "Catalinaxxxx." I don't remember the last digits.
I laughed and thanked God for His note to me. It is so awesome to me that He, our BIG GOD, has a direct line to SMALL ME. He knew that I would engage in another crazy conversation with myself and used that truck to send me a message. Catalina it is.
August 21, 2008
My Summer Vacation
Gosh, remember summer vacations? I used to thing 2 1/2 months was practically a lifetime, but now I find myself wondering where the summer's gone!
We did a few BIG trips this summer, the first one being one of my favorite vacations.
BIG TRIP #1
Long Beach - Salt Lake City - Drive through Idaho - Camp in Grand Tetons - Camp in Yellowstone - Spend 2 days in Bozeman - Somewhat Camp in Glacier National Park - B&B in Jackson City - Salt Lake City - Long Beach.
BIG TRIP # 2
First family vacation EVER - camping in the Sequoia's.
We did a few BIG trips this summer, the first one being one of my favorite vacations.
BIG TRIP #1
Long Beach - Salt Lake City - Drive through Idaho - Camp in Grand Tetons - Camp in Yellowstone - Spend 2 days in Bozeman - Somewhat Camp in Glacier National Park - B&B in Jackson City - Salt Lake City - Long Beach.
BIG TRIP # 2
First family vacation EVER - camping in the Sequoia's.
July 25, 2008
MercyMe - even better LIVE
So last Wednesday night, Melvin and I celebrated our 3-year anniversary with MercyMe (our favorite band EVER!). We purchased these tickets about 3 months prior and had no idea how healing it would be for us at that moment. God's plan is divine! Anyway, Bart shared some of his experiences and they weren't the warm and fuzzy stuff, but you know, the stuff that hits home. They sang Bring the Rain, one of our all-time favorites, and I felt the Holy Spirit embrace me. He was right there holding my hand enjoying the glory! This was by no means a concert, but a time of worship!
Here's a pic of us with Tenth Avenue North playing in the background. We didn't dare bother someone to take a picture of us while David Crowder or MercyMe was performing! LOL
David Crowder with his keytar. You gotta love him.
Bart of MercyMe. Even though we don't know him personally, he is very special to us. And he sounds even better live, even with pneumonia!
Here's a pic of us with Tenth Avenue North playing in the background. We didn't dare bother someone to take a picture of us while David Crowder or MercyMe was performing! LOL
David Crowder with his keytar. You gotta love him.
Bart of MercyMe. Even though we don't know him personally, he is very special to us. And he sounds even better live, even with pneumonia!
July 16, 2008
Grieving and healing
I understand that everyone grieves differently and I know finding the words to comfort someone who has experienced a miscarriage can be difficult. As my brother so honestly and refreshingly put it, "I don't know what to say." Sometimes that's the best thing to say rather than hastily saying something for the sake of saying something, because that could result in a horribly insensitive and hurtful comment despite the best intentions.
Statements like "At least now you know you can get pregnant" or "Your baby's in a better place or is better off" are extremely upsetting to me. I believe life begins at conception and even though there was no child physically born, we still had a baby who had a spirit. Would you tell someone who just lost their child that it's okay since they have another child or could easily have another? I also don't want to forget about our baby or act as if our baby never existed so please don't avoid the topic by talking about senseless and random things out of desperation. If you still don't know what to say or do, pray for us and let us know that you are praying for us. You may not grieve with us because you personally didn't feel a loss, but if you do grieve, please let us know and perhaps let us know more than once. Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. We also appreciate acts of service as we are very tired physically and emotionally. Finally, call me. I most likely won't answer because the truth is, most of the time, I don't want to talk but it doesn't mean that I don't want to hear what you have to say. So leave a message or send me a note. If I want to talk, I'll pick up, call you back, or reply to your note.
A website perfectly described how I feel, "Christian friends and family, you are missing a tremendous opportunity to minister to your loved one. I understand that you do not know what to say or do, but your silence hurts so much. Your kind and loving words are needed at this time. Words hold so much power. A hurtful word is long remembered. Please wrap your arms around me. Tell me that you are sorry and that you are here for me if I want to talk. Don't try to fix things or give advice. Just be ready to listen. I will need to tell my story over and over again. Please listen and listen some more. Please ask about my husband because he is hurting too. He just hides his grief or shows it in other ways."
Our dear friend wrote, "You two are very precious to me. There is a very special bond with you like we've been family for a long time. It's like you're my peers and at the same time I feel fatherly toward you both. My heart hurts for you both and I already have felt a love for your precious one and feel a loss. I know God loves you guys and has great plans for your life. I will be praying for you guys, for your hearts, for your future. I consider it a great privilege to have shared in your joy and now your sorrow for that is what true family is for."
This has meant so much to me because he shared our loss and he expressed it to us. I will never forget the love and compassion he showed to us. This was a pivotal moment in our healing.
Statements like "At least now you know you can get pregnant" or "Your baby's in a better place or is better off" are extremely upsetting to me. I believe life begins at conception and even though there was no child physically born, we still had a baby who had a spirit. Would you tell someone who just lost their child that it's okay since they have another child or could easily have another? I also don't want to forget about our baby or act as if our baby never existed so please don't avoid the topic by talking about senseless and random things out of desperation. If you still don't know what to say or do, pray for us and let us know that you are praying for us. You may not grieve with us because you personally didn't feel a loss, but if you do grieve, please let us know and perhaps let us know more than once. Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. We also appreciate acts of service as we are very tired physically and emotionally. Finally, call me. I most likely won't answer because the truth is, most of the time, I don't want to talk but it doesn't mean that I don't want to hear what you have to say. So leave a message or send me a note. If I want to talk, I'll pick up, call you back, or reply to your note.
A website perfectly described how I feel, "Christian friends and family, you are missing a tremendous opportunity to minister to your loved one. I understand that you do not know what to say or do, but your silence hurts so much. Your kind and loving words are needed at this time. Words hold so much power. A hurtful word is long remembered. Please wrap your arms around me. Tell me that you are sorry and that you are here for me if I want to talk. Don't try to fix things or give advice. Just be ready to listen. I will need to tell my story over and over again. Please listen and listen some more. Please ask about my husband because he is hurting too. He just hides his grief or shows it in other ways."
Our dear friend wrote, "You two are very precious to me. There is a very special bond with you like we've been family for a long time. It's like you're my peers and at the same time I feel fatherly toward you both. My heart hurts for you both and I already have felt a love for your precious one and feel a loss. I know God loves you guys and has great plans for your life. I will be praying for you guys, for your hearts, for your future. I consider it a great privilege to have shared in your joy and now your sorrow for that is what true family is for."
This has meant so much to me because he shared our loss and he expressed it to us. I will never forget the love and compassion he showed to us. This was a pivotal moment in our healing.
July 15, 2008
Our little gift from God
On Monday, July 7 (also Melvin's birthday), we received the most precious news - we're pregnant! I remembered our doctor saying, "Congratulations," and then not much else after that as my mind already begun planning how I would share this exciting news with Melvin. I decided to pick up an infant outfit that said something like "Loved by Daddy." That evening, we celebrated Melvin's birthday at Napa Rose, where I gave him his gift. We were both so overjoyed, we cried then rushed home to read What To Expect When You're Expecting and look through baby names. God gave us a precious gift and made this "first" experience for us so very precious.
Two days later we were told that my HCG (pregnancy hormone) level had decreased. This either meant that we miscarried or that we had twins and one miscarried. It was a long week until Saturday, when we learned we had officially miscarried. That day was extremely difficult for us. I wrestled with God about the why's and the what if's and it seemed like I cried all day long. He was quiet though and in retrospect, I think He was allowing me to grieve. Little did I know that He had Sunday all planned out for us. The message was impeccable. It was 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, Comfort in Affliction. After service, Pastor Rob and Karen prayed over us and ministered to us. They are so very special to us. Then we had some time with our dear friend Pete, who showered us with his fatherly love. Later that night we had friends over for dinner where we spent the night fellowshipping and sharing testimonies. The night ended with a touching email from Pete (really, from God) that comforted us and reminded us how much we are blessed. Sunday was a glorious day of healing. God is so great.
As I've shared with others, we are rejoicing and resting in God's promises. He is so good and has taken great care of us during this time. He has used this experience to strengthen our marriage and bring us closer to Him. I am sure that He will also provide us with an opportunity to minister to others who have experienced a similar loss. Although our baby's passing was the saddest moment of our life, his/her life was THE MOST joyful moment with the BEST ending ... he/she is in heaven with our Father who loves him/her even more than we do. God also faithfully blessed us with a special memory. Our baby loved Japanese food, especially nori (plain, seasoned, and paste) as well as noodles and sembei. We are excited to meet him/her in heaven soon. Until then, these words bring much comfort to us:
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed,
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
Psalm 139:13-16.
and
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.
Jeremiah 1:5
Amen.
Two days later we were told that my HCG (pregnancy hormone) level had decreased. This either meant that we miscarried or that we had twins and one miscarried. It was a long week until Saturday, when we learned we had officially miscarried. That day was extremely difficult for us. I wrestled with God about the why's and the what if's and it seemed like I cried all day long. He was quiet though and in retrospect, I think He was allowing me to grieve. Little did I know that He had Sunday all planned out for us. The message was impeccable. It was 2 Corinthians 1:1-11, Comfort in Affliction. After service, Pastor Rob and Karen prayed over us and ministered to us. They are so very special to us. Then we had some time with our dear friend Pete, who showered us with his fatherly love. Later that night we had friends over for dinner where we spent the night fellowshipping and sharing testimonies. The night ended with a touching email from Pete (really, from God) that comforted us and reminded us how much we are blessed. Sunday was a glorious day of healing. God is so great.
As I've shared with others, we are rejoicing and resting in God's promises. He is so good and has taken great care of us during this time. He has used this experience to strengthen our marriage and bring us closer to Him. I am sure that He will also provide us with an opportunity to minister to others who have experienced a similar loss. Although our baby's passing was the saddest moment of our life, his/her life was THE MOST joyful moment with the BEST ending ... he/she is in heaven with our Father who loves him/her even more than we do. God also faithfully blessed us with a special memory. Our baby loved Japanese food, especially nori (plain, seasoned, and paste) as well as noodles and sembei. We are excited to meet him/her in heaven soon. Until then, these words bring much comfort to us:
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed,
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
Psalm 139:13-16.
and
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.
Jeremiah 1:5
Amen.
June 26, 2008
Religion in America
Here are the latest Religion in America survey results published by Pew.
SUMMARY:
"Among those who are affiliated with a religious tradition, seven-in-ten say many religions can lead to eternal life. This view is shared by a majority of adherents in nearly all religious traditions, including more than half of members of evangelical Protestant churches (57%). Only among Mormons (57%) and Jehovah's Witnesses (80%) do majorities say that their own religion is the one true faith leading to eternal life. "
We need to pray for our country! I am praising God for being a part of such a wonderful church family that actually teaches/understands the message of salvation!
Religion in America
Non-Dogmatic, Diverse and Politically Relevant
The second major report on the U.S. religious landscape finds that most Americans do not believe their religion is the only way to salvation. This openness to other religious viewpoints is in line with the nation's great diversity of affiliation, belief and practice as documented in a survey of more than 35,000 Americans. Read more
June 24, 2008
Sen. Obama's speech on religion and government
As you may know, I'm not much of a political being but there are some serious flaws in a speech given by Sen. Barack Obama on religion and government. Please listen to this speech and decide for yourselves. Go to http://www.citizenlink.org/clspecialalert/A000007665.cfm <http://www.citizenlink.org/clspecialalert/A000007665.cfm> and click on Listen to the Broadcast for a commentary by Dr. James Dobson. To listen to the full speech, click on the video below it.
"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible." - George Washington
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and Bible." - George Washington
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
February 29, 2008
An article from www.star-telegram.com
Stephanie has sent you the following story:
This is a really neat article. The first time we prayed together was not easy by any means, but after a few times it became really natural for us. It really is the most intimate thing a couple can do together and as a result, will help you grow together in a way that nothing else can.
This is a really neat article. The first time we prayed together was not easy by any means, but after a few times it became really natural for us. It really is the most intimate thing a couple can do together and as a result, will help you grow together in a way that nothing else can.
Posted on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008
Praying together means more than just staying together, authors say
By TERRY LEE GOODRICH
For Valentine's Day this year, couples might try some extreme intimacy, and it doesn't have to start with a kiss.They could pray together.Jeff and Amy Young of Keller pray together often -- a habit that began on their honeymoon four years ago.
January 29, 2008
My testimony
It dawned on me that I have not shared my testimony!
Before I received eternal life, I was always stressed from worry. I worried about many things from family affairs to school/work to my future. Because of this worry, I felt the need to always be in control, which often translated to doing everything myself and as you can imagine, I was constantly overwhelmed. Worried, stressed, and overwhelmed, I was on an endless emotional rollercoaster and extremely unhappy.
Then one day, I was driving my daily commute and I stumbled on the radio ministry station. The pastor on that radio ministry shared the most compelling news I have ever heard – that there was a divine purpose for my life, that God – the One who made the heavens and the earth – had a plan for MY life! Shortly thereafter, I received eternal life.
Now that I received eternal life, those worries have subsided and there is a peace that has taken place of those worries; a peace that allows me to enjoy my life and look forward to the future rather than fretting it. What I've learned is that God's plan is much better than mine!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
Before I received eternal life, I was always stressed from worry. I worried about many things from family affairs to school/work to my future. Because of this worry, I felt the need to always be in control, which often translated to doing everything myself and as you can imagine, I was constantly overwhelmed. Worried, stressed, and overwhelmed, I was on an endless emotional rollercoaster and extremely unhappy.
Then one day, I was driving my daily commute and I stumbled on the radio ministry station. The pastor on that radio ministry shared the most compelling news I have ever heard – that there was a divine purpose for my life, that God – the One who made the heavens and the earth – had a plan for MY life! Shortly thereafter, I received eternal life.
Now that I received eternal life, those worries have subsided and there is a peace that has taken place of those worries; a peace that allows me to enjoy my life and look forward to the future rather than fretting it. What I've learned is that God's plan is much better than mine!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
January 25, 2008
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