Car Thief

After a wonderful 7 day cruise to Mexico with hubs and friends, I land in L.A. to do a business trip visiting 7 banks and credit unions. Since there was a ton of driving in 2 days for this, my very reliable sister flew in from Arizona to be my driver. We met at the L.A. airport to send hubs home and get the rent a car to head to Ventura.

Oh lookie! A HUGE outlet mall! Let's go! OK!!! It is so so huge - you would not believe it - in Camarillo. We decided to eat first so we pull up to Panera Bread for a yummy dinner. My sister refilled her tea, me my coffee so we could take our drinks as we shopped. I remember her saying she wanted Harry and David samples for dessert, so we went there first.

After walking and shopping for one hour, we decide it is time to call it a day. Guess WHAT? OUR CAR WAS GONE!!! totally = we looked everywhere in front of Panera Bread and on both sides. Gone. All of our things were there - my lap top, passport, ipod, clothes, her phone. I DID have my cell with me, but no charger and the batteries were nearly dead.

We went back into Panera and announced that someone had stole our car! The manager there was the sweetest man, and gave us tea, coffee, and cookies as he called the security.

I stayed inside to call the rent a car place to report the theft and to order another car. Unfortunately we had to take a shuttle an hour away to BURBANK to get a replacement AFTER the police report is done. GUESS what their phone number to call back ended in?? 666 - not even kidding!

I get off the phone and walk to a table of young college students to see if I could charge my phone on their laptop - and noticed they go to Westmont. So, I said "Do you know David Fertello?" and one of them said "I roomed with him in Europe on orchestra tour!" So that nice young man drove me to the Verizon store to get a charger.

While Jerry the security guard was on the phone to fetch the police, they told him to ask us what we are wearing so they can find us - and we said "we are two blondes with matching coats, only one is purple the other brown".

While I went to Verizon, my sister waited for the police in order to fill out the report. One policeman drove around looking for the car while the report was being filled out.

I came back from store, and told police and sister that we cannot get a car this night unless we go to Burbank, and we almost were upset. It was cold, raining,and that thief had all of our things. The very kind policeman offered us a ride to the hotel in his car! We had to ride in the back though - so we jumped in. As we pulled up to the hotel, got out of the back of a police car, we were laughing hysterically, while being sad at the same time.

We told the front desk man of our plight, and he was so sorry for us. He arranged a driver to take us to Walmart (at 9pm) to: "get a business suit for me"??? Really now, Walmart. I needed shoes too. Makeup - etc. etc....etc......We make our $135 purchase, and call the hotel for a ride back. As soon as we return to the hotel, I get a call from the security man Jerry exclaiming gleefully "Guess what I am standing next to?"
I said "OUR CAR!" I was elated! I asked if things were still in it - but WE had the key. At first signs, there were "no signs of tampering and the doors are locked". He said "It is parked by the Tommy Hilfiger store" and I said "where is that?" he said "near Harry and David". I gulped a tad.....then the phone call with Jerry was interrupted with a call from our police friend, saying our car was found - and he arranged for his partner to pick us up from the hotel to take us to our car! We raced out of there, telling the front desk clerk the good news!!!!

Once again, a ride in the back of a police car - really weird seats - they are bucket plastic seats so they can be cleaned. (THAT made our minds wander) As we passed Panera Bread, the police asked if we were sure we parked there, and we said YES - we went straight to Panera for dinner before shopping. We exclaimed as he passed Panera Bread at how large the mall is, and he told us it is the largest outlet mall in the US. We ooed and awed at the stores - Harry and David, Coach. We were still not positive how the car got there!

Pulling up to the missing but found car were three police cars and our famous security guard Jerry. He was so joyful at his find! We opened the trunk, where we discovered my OPEN suitcase. They said "check to see if anything is missing" - which I did, and said I cannot see that anything is missing. (I could not bear to tell them that I had left it open when I got my rain coat out of it)- they thought it was so weird that the thief would not take my laptop, or anything of value that was lying next to the open suitcase.

We hugged them and thanked them and said goodbye to our new friends. When we got in the car, the proof was sitting in the cup holder - there was my sister's tea that she had brought from the Panera Bread. (I tossed my coffee cup after the Coach outlet) We DID go to the car and drive to the other parking lot! WOWSERS!!!!

We started back to the hotel, having NO idea at all WHERE it was since we had only been taken there in the back of the police car. Driving around and around making illegal you-turns, a police car pulls up and turns his little siren on. We look over, and it was our friend! He escorted us back to the hotel and we once again said goodbye.

We were elated to tell the hotel front desk clerk we had ALL of our things - but we had to admit to him the entire story. He could not stop laughing.

Next day, everything was returned to Walmart - except for the matching donkey jammies that we bought in honor of the bad bad thief - oops. (donkey - get it?)

New Baby in the Family

I have waited and waited for this moment. After years of urging my husband to agree, I was accompanied on Saturday by husband and oldest child Jason. We looked and looked before stopping at the best fit. It isn't easy choosing a baby - after all, they all need homes.

This particular one would be the perfect match for me and my family. We all held him, carefully determining his responses, etc.

His name is Walther, and he weighed a mild 380. The most intriguing thing to me was his eye - one bright red eye! Who could ask for anything more perfect? That one red eye will go far in guiding our way.

I went ahead and purchased 1000 diapers for him, knowing we would surely need them all, plus more.

Since it has been awhile for me since our last baby, and since I really have never had one this unique, my husband is making me take a parenting class - to allow me all the tools necessary to handle this baby.

I really wanted a girl, but Walther will have to do. I can always dress him in girls clothes I guess.

So on Valentine Day evening, we are going to take him in public for the first time. I am really really excited.

See below for picture:

I Am Not Really A Piano Player

And so it goes:

I went to college majoring in vocal performance, minor in music therapy. Into my second year, I experienced hoarseness that would last for months and months. I finally was sent to the doctor for exploratory surgery, where they discovered years of abuse on my vocal chords. (I cannot imagine that screaming and yelling would have long term effects!) Intensive speech therapy was recommended...but I was IN college as a VOCAL PERFORMANCE major and did not have time for that! After much soul searching, I decided to focus on music therapy while trying to keep up with voice.

The move to Hawaii to teach music helped give my chords a rest, as well as my soul. I longed to sing...to get better and better, and in Maui is where I started teaching piano. I NEVER EVER wanted to be a piano teacher. That was 32 years ago.

Since then, I have always been the piano player at every church we attended - sort of begrudgingly, as I preferred to SING. Yes, I can sing while I play, but it is not the same.

Today in church, my heart smiled - really and truly. Our sweet little congregation of 80 souls filled my longing-to-sing as I played. Every voice ~ big and small, young and old, on tune and off tune, trained and untrained ~ FILLED the room. It was a sweet chorus to hear from the piano in the front of the church, where I have always wished I was IN the pew singing. From my spot the sweet sound wafting up to the front of the church blesses my heart so much. I tell you, each and every voice can be heard loud and clear, since it is only accompanied by piano.

Where else in this world can you go to hear people sing: (and WE sing each and every beautiful verse)

God, be merciful to me,
On Thy grace I rest my plea;
Plenteous in compassion Thou,
Blot out my transgressions now;
Wash me, make me pure within,
Cleanse, O cleanse me from my sin.

My transgressions I confess,
Grief and guilt my soul oppress;
I have sinned against Thy grace
And provoked Thee to Thy face;
I confess Thy judgment just,
Speechless, I Thy mercy trust.

I am evil, born in sin;
Thou desirest truth within.
Thou alone my Savior art,
Teach Thy wisdom to my heart;
Make me pure, Thy grace bestow,
Wash me whiter than the snow.

Broken, humbled to the dust
By Thy wrath and judgment just,
Let my contrite heart rejoice
And in gladness hear Thy voice;
From my sins O hide Thy face,
Blot them out in boundless grace.

Gracious God, my heart renew,
Make my spirit right and true;
Cast me not away from Thee,
Let Thy Spirit dwell in me;
Thy salvation’s joy impart,
Steadfast make my willing heart.

Sinners then shall learn from me
And return, O God, to Thee;
Savior, all my guilt remove,
And my tongue shall sing Thy love;
Touch my silent lips, O Lord,
And my mouth shall praise accord.

WORTH 32 years for this - thank you God.

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.