Rhymes

I just discovered the coolest two words that rhyme with each other! The rhyme alone speaks VOLUMES.

Stressed - Blessed

Yes - this is deep. Can you relate?

One Decent Pic

I love my family. They are always there for me - they defend me - they love me. OK, sometimes they tease me too much, but I can handle it.

Spencer Family Benefit 1/7/2011

We did it! In a little over 3 weeks, we put together an AMAZING concert to benefit our neighbors the Spencers. There were nearly 400 people in attendance to support them and to hear Jordan Tolentino and Matt Peterson perform.

What a blessing! God brought a mighty army together and blessed them, The above photo says it all - we pray for them as they face an uncertain future - certain only in the sense of incurable advanced cancer for Joe. Please keep them in your arms and care, Lord.

Happy New Year!

Lamentations 3:22-24 ~ The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!"

EACH and every day is a gift from God. Even if you don't believe this - it is true. We have no choice in breathing each moment - it is a gift from our Creator and sustained by our Savior and Lord.

Cherish life. I have two friends with terminal cancer now. Why them and not me? I do not know - I do know that each day is a gift and I will never take that for granted.

If you do NOT know Jesus, you are experiencing common grace - and each day is a new day for you to turn your life over to Him, repent of your sins, and live for Jesus.

Oh - My - Goodnesses

All the bad ones go here:

Thousand Words

A picture does tell a thousand words. Julianne and I in Seattle, picture taken by our friend Kelly.....priceless memories.

Celery? Really???? Anaphylactic Shock?

WHO ever heard of severe allergies to CELERY???

Hubs and I were at a party in the boonies. I ate a lot of celery, which has always made my tongue feel weird, so I usually don't eat much. I was eating lots of it instead of the wonderful-looking cookies and other goodies.

Suddenly, my tongue hit the wall and I stopped eating. It hit hard - burning and swelling. Next, my thin lips followed suit - actually, I didn't mind the bigger lips - it looked nice. Face was next - other than the swelling hiding each and every wrinkle and crows feet, the redness was not very becoming.

Next(which hubs actually probably wasn't too worried about) my voice went out. My hands started itching like crazy, and the red and swelling was covering my whole body.

The gracious hostess had me down some benadryl (which now I think probably enabled us to get home on that 45 minute drive from their home).

I started feeling pretty bad, and hubs made me leave the party. The car ride home was weird - it felt like someone had a chain saw in my stomach, and I was in and out of consciousness. I THOUGHT I was repeating to hubs that "I am not going to make it",
but I wasn't making any sound. (although that is what I thought I was saying)

When we arrived home, I managed to get to the bathroom to release a load of toxins, then crawled into bed. Hubs went on Internet to google celery allergy - and kept coming in the bedroom to wake me to ask me if I had a headache - check - if I was nauseated - check - if I had a tummy ache - check....if I was dizzy - check...the list went on. He had a hard time waking me up - I heard him say right in my face "Do I need to call the ambulance or can you get to the car?" I managed to the car (did not want to pay for ambulance).

Once at the E.R. I sat in the triage chair, and could not talk (hubs talked FOR me - that's a first!) They got me immediately into a bed, and immediately a shot of epinephrine and I.V. of steroids and anti-histamine. By then, my whole body was shaking uncontrollably and I could not respond. THAT is when hubs knew I was really in bad shape - when HE had to talk for me :)

It took about one hour for me to get under control, and then they observed me for a few more hours.

I will now have to carry an EpiPen with me. I think I need a new purse.

I am thankful that hubs was smart enough, and with me, and was watching over me. I surely most likely would have not been alive in the morning had I just stayed in bed.

Wasn't my time - I am thankful for each day we have.

But really????? CELERY??? It is second only to peanut in the anaphylactic shock allergy. Weird....if it is weird - I will get it.

Bummer I didn't think to get a picture.

The end.

I JUST READ MY ENTRY FROM 3PM SAME DAY OF THIS INCIDENT! THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN WEIRD IF I DID DIE!

UPDATE: the only other thing I nibbled on that night was meat drippings, I was telling the host that I started eating those out of the pan because I thought it would help my tongue, and he said " I used celery seeds to season the meat!" I got the concentration of them!

Brain

My Bloggity Brain is all Foggity. BUT I am thinking up a good one....I really am - for my children. I mainly blog so my children will know me after I am long gone - isn't that nice of me to think of their future? I think so.

Broken Vows, Dying Love

I am sad - saddened by a friend who is divorced. It was a slow, painful process. Actually, it has been 2 1/2 years since the divorce. Only now is my friend able to let go of it. She held on with all her might, hoping and praying that it would work out - that the love they once shared would come back around. The love was hidden from her - she sought it - it fled from her efforts.

Now, after 2 1/2 years, she let go - she is free, so to speak. She no longer pines, she no longer yearns for the love they once had.

Letting go is a good thing I guess, under the circumstances. She did everything in her power to halt the divorce - yet it wasn't enough.

I guess there comes a time in each of us where we allow what is to be - to just be. She can move on now - see the opportunities to find love again.

There is a point of no return in some relationships - she hit hers.

Pray for anyone you know who has experienced love that was stripped from them.

"Mom, Tell Me The Story Again"

So, the story she loved to hear is how we were blessed with her.

We had horrible pregnancies - longer story. We always wanted 5 children - don't ask why, we don't even know. So after having the three boys, we looked into adoption. We were ready to go. We prayed and sought the Lord to bring us the child of His choosing.

I remember one day I got a phone call from some friends who had also adopted. They said they know a pastor whose teenage daughter is pregnant and she is giving the baby up for adoption! We were elated! We were given all the attorney contact information, and did all the paperwork, etc. It was a shoe-in since the daughter had some Asian in her, and of course would want her baby to go to an Asian-ish family.

One day, full of anticipation and excitement, we received a letter from the attorney saying that the young mother had chosen a family on the East Coast to give her baby to. The disappointment was strong, to say the least. At the same time, we knew God had a different plan.

Well, we did our home-study and got all our ducks in a row for our next try. We would go to Bethany Christian services frequently to look through the books of children waiting to be adopted. We knew one thing: we did not want a drug baby.

We found 3 siblings, who also had Asian in them! They were 3 girls, all young and very close in age. We prayed about it and decided to go for it. With fear and trepidation, we awaited the committee to make the decision from the 3 families who had applied for them. We got a phone call, saying "I am sorry, they chose a doctor and his family". Sad beyond grief - but still trusting that God had something else in mind.

We saw a special on Junk Science - exposing the drug baby horrors. There IS no long term effects from it! (another long story in itself) - next morning we call the adoption agency and said "we will take a drug baby".

I went to the agency and once again looked through the books. When I brought home this picture of "Chae Love Morgan", the boys laughed and said "she has no neck!" then quickly named her Squash Blossom. There was something in her picture that drew me in.

In March, we applied to be considered for her adoption. Once again, we were up against 3 other families and a committee was to decide. I waited with baited breath the day of the meeting - wringing my hands and praying. The phone rang, I had half a notion to not answer it. It was Donna - our case worker. I said "Hello?" after what seemed a very long pause, she said "Congratulations! It's a girl!" By now, Julianne was 8 months old.

I called my friends from church - they descended on my house with balloons and celebratory greetings. We sat in the backyard together and sang hymn after hymn. It was the most surreal experience, knowing we were going to get a baby soon!

A few hours later, Donna met me to give me the baby book that the foster mom had so lovingly put together.

We prepared to greet her, went to Oregon to get her from the foster home, and the rest is history. We love her, and she loves us :)

Family, Marriage, Love

To start the weekend off, on Friday met the Richards in Leavenworth for dinner, ice cream and fairy kisses
The occasion was my parents 60 years of marriage celebration - a surprise to my dad until the day of. (and we actually pulled it off) My mom was positively giddy pinning on her very wedding gown and walking in to The Anniversary Waltz, which was played at their wedding.Their five adoring children were there to celebrate...not to mention most of their grandchildren (all were there but Drew, Jordan, Dolly, and Josh)There were 54 of us there, with 12 missing. This, mind you, is immediate family only!
Family - some are born into it, some marry into it, and some (Julianne) were adopted into it. One thing that binds us together, we all choose to remain a part of it and be there for each other. What a blessing to have such a rich heritage, honoring marriage, commitment, and family.

Cutest thing Ever.......

I had a voice mail on my answering machine this week. The voice was very masculine, deep, and assured.

On the machine, the voice said "Mrs. Tolentino? This is Alex. Remember me? I used to take piano lessons from you up until I was in eighth grade. I am wondering if you have time in your schedule to give me some lessons before I go off to the University of Washington in September. Please call me."

My heart leaped (lept?) - this little boy is now a man, and just graduated from high school and wants to freshen up on the piano before he pledges to a fraternity, where they have a grand piano.

Now, isn't that the cutest thing ever?

I love it...really. Huge smile. Seriously. It is things like this that keep me going.

Ears, Thumbs, and Toes

Today's sermon was so good! We are going through Leviticus, and today was 8:1-36. God commended that blood (substitutionary) be sprinkled on the priests right ear, right thumb and right toe.
The ear is made holy by the sprinkling of the substitutionary blood of the animals, a mere shadow of Christ who was to come. We are all now priests of God, called to listen to His Word and obey Him. Romans 10:17 "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." This sprinkling of blood on the right ear is significant to the very life-giving gospel. Without hearing, there is no power. But know that hearing without doing is death. James 1:22 "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. The right thumb indicates dominance in what we do with our hands - how we live our lives and what we put our efforts into. Sprinkling blood on the priests right thumb consecrates everything the priest does with his Hands, serving God with his hands. We are now that priest of God - and we are anointed with the Spirit in the same way the priests were - Jesus has fulfilled the sacrifices with His own blood.

The right side indicates a side of prominence - of strength. Thus, sprinkling blood on the right toe would indicate that the priest will walk in the ways of God. We walk in faith, sometimes (most times) not seeing what lies ahead.

The fascinating thing about this text is that God began at the top and worked down to the bottom. First we hear the gospel, we work with our hands (do His will) and walk in faith. Each of us has heard the gospel - we are each responsible to embrace or reject that truth. If we embrace it, our entire dominant side is ruled by God's purpose in our lives.We live for Him, to Him, and with Him.

Are you on the RIGHT side?

More Alaska

Susie came up with a great name for Alaska "Washington on Steroids"
A quick stop at Worthington Glacier - I love this picture because my leg looks like Julianne's - or should I say HER leg looks like mine...lol These mosquito nets really worked, but I had a hard time seeing out of it
Wanting so badly to see a bear, we frequented this little spot where the bears seemed to go to - FINALLY we saw it:

A whole day of river fishing yielded us one King Salmon, and a Red that Earl caught
This picture of Julz and Auntie Susie was in a barbecue screen house, and Julianne's new bear was fondly named Valdez -
Our last night there we were saying our top 5 favorite things - and surprisingly, some of our funniest moments hit the top list - we had so much fun playing dress up in the hardware store in Seward...

First Fishing Day

Got up at 4am, ate breakfast, and met a shuttle which took us to the charter boat.

Nice little nap on the 3 hour trip to where the fish were waiting.


Joseph caught the first halibut - we had amazing deck hands that did the dirty work for us.

Second fish caught by
Julianne....

When it was not expected, Julianne reeled in a 14 pound Silver.

My halibut was the biggest one of our boat, so I wanted to kill it...GRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rawr

Our family catch = 6 Halibut, 5 Salmon, and 1 Rock Fish.

Alaska

I cannot believe it has been 1 year and 2 months since I spent a month in Houston for my brother's heart valve re-replacement!

We are privileged to come visit him and Susie in Alaska for a fun trip!

First night, Joseph, Julianne and I arrived in Fairbanks at 2:30am. Cute hotel, good night sleep, nice breakfast - then TWO cars come in to snatch us up. Susie and I in one, the men plus Julianne in the other.

Starting our the right way with matching shirts...
OK - this bathroom really took "family room" to the hilt - I mean, really?

I suppose that you COULD be in such a great conversation when you make a pit stop....but...

Walked in town of Talkeetna - all the power was out!
We also saw a place where Man vs. Food went!

Babies in the Fuschia's

My beautiful fuschia plant in the backyard was having a lot of unplanned activity in it. At night, we had company over and were sitting around a cozy fire, and heard rustling in the plant, and could hear birds. Silly birds! They were supposed to be sleeping! The mommy in me knew immediately that the only thing that could keep a bird awake at night when they should be sleeping was a baby. Sure enough, next morning I looked to see newly hatched birds.

Doing the most compassionate thing - I stopped watering that plant. I watched as the birds grew feathers and started flapping their wings.

Today, I sadly missed their departure from the nest - but wish them well.


I will also now try to revive the plant. Pretty sad looking - and kinda lonely.