one year anniversary

July 26, 2012 we landed for the first time [with the entire family] in Manila.  What a ride that was....and what a ride the first year has been.  It's too hot to move an inch, or else I would've logged on more to describe more of this first year.  Maybe if I had signed up for AdSense, it would've been the incentive to do just that despite. Laugh, chuckle and snicker.

The last weeks in Arizona were strangely surreal.  Back in the 80's when a newly missionary family set sail [so to speak] for new overseas lands there was typically more expressed last minute must do gatherings of sorts before the final good-bye.  Maybe even more endearing words and affection of farewells and best wishes.  I don't know.  Maybe I'm wrong.  But today's ever evolving media technology has buffed the need for that some.  I didn't want to keep verbalizing in public "hey, by the way we're leaving in just a few days....!" The idea seemed selfishly weird to me.  But what a blessings that there was a farewell gathering set up at the station so Mike and we 7 others could hug our farewells to those that knew of the occasion.  Those that came I can still remember the few faces of.  They were very sweet in their words and truly saddened by the quickly approaching departure that would take away the one voice they learned to love so much over the air waves hundreds of miles away across the Pacific.  There's just one thing.  Such gatherings can also make it hard to truly spend the time we would've really liked to spend with each individual/couple/family recalling great memories and what not.  But that's typically the way it is.  It doesn't matter how you cut that social puppy.  A big farewell gathering will always have that as the draw back.

The last two Sundays at church were such odd surreal moments.  I sat there in mushy sentimental [but lonely] moments reminding myself of how I once lamented that there would never be such a thing as last Sunday in Arizona.  But here it was.  Oh, how Jesus truly answers the prayer of a woman who's ached to be a missionary for over two decades...knowing full well that was his calling for my life.  So I sat there for two Sundays excited and wondering a few selfish thoughts.  The teenagers didn't verbalize much, if anything, of the last Sunday regret.  Maybe they kept it painfully to themselves.  Maybe they didn't.

There was more sentimental glee than sadness as the departing moments quickly approached.  While, for everyone else in the family it was the opposite.  All the things I had prayed for were about to come true.  My kids would learn a few things from another culture, their other heritage, another climate, the MK life and perspective, make new friends, appreciate God more, appreciate God's blessings on America more, become less selfish, gain a more servant like heart, become more multi-cultural sensitive...etc.  All the good things that come from being an MK.  Never ever having gone beyond American borders before they had no idea what they were in for.  Sure, that was part of their major apprehension.  What isn't for any kid new to overseas missions, right?  Soon, their lives would change and never be the same ever again....ever.

What an emotional chaotic and beautiful morning of last hugs and kisses.
It was so good to be loved so much.  Last moments in Prescott.  Last moments in Arizona.

Friends came the morning of with coffee from starbucks [for me!!! ^_^] other treats and hugs.  I can't remember who brought the donuts.  Naughty they were for doing so....but it was perfect for Mike, the Krispy Kreme addict.  Adorable Dori came with one daughter and passion to help me literally clear out the rest of our remains and get those 17 pieces of  allowed luggage closed.  Maleah spent the night withe Sierra and Nicole came to give Tori one last hug.  There were a good number of teenage boys to see Dylan and Tyler off.  Tyler's last tears were heavy after having started out the morning with a rush over to Marcus' house [a very dear friend he didn't get to see all summer] to say good-bye only to be told that Marcus was some distance away working.  Oh, wait pain to see your own teenage boy cry so hard.  Oh, such pain.  Probably the most hated moment for him...and the most hated moment for me. I still fight tears remembering those moments because he spent several hours walking back out, up and down our street crying his heart out.

Such a treat to have Charlie and Cathy come, hugs us fervently and Charlie help transport all our luggage...with a small mishap breakdown on the way to Phoenix.  What a dear couple to us.  I just wish we'd had more time to get to know them better before our flight out...more than a year.

What organized chaotic moments of physical, mental, psychological and emotional frenzy.  There's nothing like being caught up in those kind of moments and wondering what in the world just happened moments later.  Certain life moments just happen so fast the inner you feels ill equipped to keep up enough to truly soak it in right.  Maybe that's the way it is with every move and every geographical change for big families.

As the plane raced down the runway, everyone's hearts were taking a big dive.  So much ache.  So much apprehension and so much "I can't believe this is happening."  Their eyes said it all.  Their faces said it all.  Everyone but me. It felt like a last dash race to freedom.  Something that only I could understand.  For I have yet to meet another soul that ached for this as much, or more, as I.  Mike was just as excited but on a different level.  It was a good excitement as he recalled all the ways God ordained each and every step to this day and the new chapter fast approaching.  The moment the wheels lifted off Arizona soil, there was the heart skip that words could never justify.

Charlie got a smile and a fist bump from Maverick before leaving us at the Phoenix airport.
The hero that helped get all our luggage to the airport.
After all the times we drove to California, this was the first time we'd ever taken the kids out for a cruise through Hollywood.

 The following week in California was probably the best lay over the kids, Mike and I could have ever had.  Not only were they able to hang to all things American, but they were able to do so with one last day with our awesome friends: Pat and Heather Eddolls and company.  We first took care of the rest of the dual citizenships for Dylan, Maverick and Orlando.  Something perfectly necessary to be able to stay in the Philippines without the annual need to renew visas and flying out of country to do so.  On that day we enjoyed a little bit of LA culture as we drove through Korea town and hunted through a thick Filipino restaurant business community to find some great pinoy grub.  The kids were sentimental with their last week of swimming on the California beaches.  They savored the last Papa John's pies with every bite.  They texted their Arizona friends like only kids do in their last week on American soil.  I tried to simply relax knowing the next chapter would start out with so much to do [never realizing what organized frenzy was truly around the corner].

Sam posted on facebook that he was in Ocean Side, California with his relatives.  The boys seemed to pine for an opportunity when telling me about it, not realizing Ocean Side was the day's surprise.  After two hours driving down the coast, they were pretty jacked to see Sam, Josh and the rest of the familiar faces.  All day they enjoyed the pool and beach together.  In the evening we enjoyed some singing together.

Finally it was the biggest fly out day ever for the kids.  It was the long anticipated and new adventure.  While Mike took care of returning the rental van, I sweat through the counter line with the kids trying to reorganize the suitcases, reshifting the weight of each one and filling out the luggage tags.  Maybe she's been around for years.  I don't really care.  But the woman working the lines that day was a divine angel carrying my pieces of luggage back and forth to and from the scale letting me know where the weight was on each one so as none would go over the alotted amount while others well under.  By the time I was done, Mike had made it to us and he was able to finish all the counter check-in dealings.  There's truly nothing like sweating all that with six kids and one of them being only three months old.  He handled it all quite well.  By the time that was over and we had gotten to our gate there was no time to even think about texting Tom Walker [FA 80's alumni].  We'd develop kinda sorta an accountability type of texting relationship over the past year in which we shared Scriptural encouragement.  He'd caught the Jesus fire and was balancing work with seminary school.  I'd planned and promised to let him know when we were at the LAX so he'd know when to pray for traveling mercies.  So much for that.  It was nothing but pure rush until we finally had all the kids boarded and situated in their seats...and the baby was latched and nursing.

Tokyo was the first unlisted stop where we got a little walk about exercise while the plane got cleaned and reset the the rest of the leg to Singapore.  Singapore Airlines turned out to be a nice airline.  We'd heard good things about it and we were thrilled that they had the cheaper one way fair for all of us.  Singapore was the brutal layover where we had to wait for 12 hours.  The airport has a lot of free internet screen stands where you can get on for a limited time.  Of course we checked facebook pretty often.  Told everybody where we were.  Tyler's funny but serious line was "where are all the white people"...."I need some white people".  Something like that.

There's plenty to do at/from Singapore Airport: replenish on diapers, massage chairs,
stroll a baby, food, movies, city tours.....etc.

The home stretch to Manila was only a few hours.  We were all exhausted.  So ready to find a bed with comfy pillow and some Z-time.  It was the perfect entrance home despite that it was already dark.....just like the visit the year before. All because the MABUHAY sign was all lit up.  That always makes the perfect landing for this pinay.  Makes the heart thump with yummerlicious joy to be welcomed home.  Rainy season had already begun so the HAWT humidity was high.  " home Home HOME" was all these fingers could muster as the facebook post while we waited through the customs lines.  AT LAST is all the rest of the body could say in sinc with the pitter pattering heart.  Yes, indeedy.....at last.  Tori's first words to me in quiet afflicted breath, "I can't breath".  To this day we still josh with her and have a good laugh over it.  

Our Welcomers once outside the airport: Rolli, mommy Luz, Rynen, Ron and Joyce.  We all packed like sardines with our luggage and took the first curious ride to our temporary abode through the city, to Cainta and into Brookside.  Orlando was sleepy feverish but fortunately, nursing in the car is a big help.  Ron and Joyce treated us to some Yellow Cab pizza.  Sleepy as we were we chowed down and swilled.  The following morning Ron and Joyce came back with milk, American cereals, fruit and a few other breakfast items....oh, and STARBUCKS.  Looking back they most definitely went above and beyond to help make us feel at home from that first night through the rest of the year.  We did several outings in which we were more familiarized with places to shop for needs and wants.  They were awesome with the first Christmas too bringing a tree with decorations...and STARBUCKS again.  They are quite the treasure.  May alzhiemers NEVER remove the many memories of their generosity they carried out in so many ways.  God's angels come in different disguises.  

After the first night's rest American cereals, mango, papaya and starbucks help officially get the
tropical island living to a rather delectable start.

Last week, on his way home from work and looking for a jeepney, Mike texted of his significant moment:  suddenly he realized he feels like he belongs here.  It usually takes that long for any foreigner to be able to say that to themselves.  The year was well saturated with initiations of sorts: fender benders, traffic violations (both of which foreigners get majorly price gouged by the locals), slow filipino timed processes of sorts...etc.  If you can graciously weather through a myriad  of such adjustment initiations then you've earned the right to call the Philippines your home for sure.  

an eighth of the view that always takes my breath away

the evolved back view of Faith Academy.  The additions are nice and all, but I will always miss the 80's stage.

Tonight we dined at Romeo's overlooking the school and the city.  The girls' hightlight was not surprising.  Camp.  They came home with big  smiles that bounced off the walls with new found spunk.  They'd spent new memories with new friends and they just couldn't stop telling me all about it their first night back home.  Tyler said that the high school retreat is what got him all cuddled into the new school and island life like a bug in a rug having been able to spend quality time with new friends and they entertain themselves outside of the school setting.  But if my memory serves me correctly, he was also able to woo them further into his affections with his [what is now termed] dub step moves at talent night, last night of retreat.  Dylan couldn't pinpoint any specific time when he felt he had finally gelled into his new life chapter.  It was all pretty much a time caressed gradual transition from "I can't stand being away from my AZ friends" to "mom, I don't know how to act with my new friends without being dorky" to "okay.  this works.  it all works."  None-the-less, the kids are a bit more settled in this life chapter as a missionary family.

for some reason there are times it takes more than an arm and a leg cooperation to get Mav into a family photo

Here's to the ongoing work to help young Filipinos apply what they know and love about Jesus to their daily lifestyle choices and/of entertainment.  We pray for more radio frequencies where we can provide tens of millions more young people with family friendly  and  God-honoring Christian music lyrics.  American families have a radio buffet from which to pic.  Filipinos only have the plethora of the neutral to the not so neutral forms of entertainment which desensitizes them from applying Biblical principles to the things they watch and listen to.  To my people.......

don't throw away those potato peels!!

With his growling tummy, waiting for that turkey dinner, my sweetest Tyler came up with a great snack idea.  He asked if he could make potato skin chips.  This was a practically perfect idea that puts something else to yummy-licious use instead of tossing it into the trash. They were good....REAL good!

No special procedure.  Of course, it was a good thing the potatoes were thoroughly cleaned before peeling.  But with just a small pot of hot oil Tyler, Tori and Sierra took turns tending to this stove top delight.  

Thanksgiving-a-la-turkey

It was the first time I used the roaster
for a turkey since we would be using
the oven for several other dishes.
Works awesome!

For some reason, this year [as Thanksgiving approached], I was becoming more and more fond of Thanksgiving and less of  Christmas as we know it in America.

Thom Duarte posted, on Facebook, posted the Thanksgiving Proclamation from the Florida Library website (and I'm SO GLAD he did).....

Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Day Proclamation :

WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLICK THANSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:" 

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favours which He has been pleased to confer upon us. 

There's nothing like cooking that turkey everybody's been
anxiously waiting all morning [and into the afternoon] for...and
there's nothing like waiting for that turkey feast either.
Even Mav got into the excitement.

And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best. 

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New-York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine. 

(signed) G. Washington 

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Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing our great Redeemer's praise!  This is one day I would enjoy to have lasting more than one day in all it's delectable celebratory glory.  Oh, to sit [days longer] in appreciative silence...being still and knowing God as He truly is.  For He is why were are here with a purpose.

It was not until 1941 that Congress sanctified Thanksgiving....

Congress Establishes Thanksgiving

On September 28, 1789, just before leaving for recess, the first Federal Congress passed a resolution asking that the President of the United States recommend to the nation a day of thanksgiving. A few days later, President George Washington issued a proclamation naming Thursday, November 26, 1789 as a "Day of Publick Thanksgivin" - the first time Thanksgiving was celebrated under the new Constitution. Subsequent presidents issued Thanksgiving Proclamations, but the dates and even months of the celebrations varied. It wasn't until President Abraham Lincoln's 1863 Proclamation that Thanksgiving was regularly commemorated each year on the last Thursday of November.

In 1939, however, the last Thursday in November fell on the last day of the month. Concerned that the shortened Christmas shopping season might dampen the economic recovery, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a Presidential Proclamation moving Thanksgiving to the second to last Thursday of November. As a result of the proclamation, 32 states issued similar proclamations while 16 states refused to accept the change and proclaimed Thanksgiving to be the last Thursday in November. For two years two days were celebrated as Thanksgiving - the President and part of the nation celebrated it on the second to last Thursday in November, while the rest of the country celebrated it the following week.

To end the confusion, Congress decided to set a fixed-date for the holiday. On October 6, 1941, the House passed a joint resolution declaring the last Thursday in November to be the legal Thanksgiving Day. The Senate, however, amended the resolution establishing the holiday as the fourth Thursday, which would take into account those years when November has five Thursdays. The House agreed to the amendment, and President Roosevelt signed the resolution on December 26, 1941, thus establishing the fourth Thursday in November as the Federal Thanksgiving Day holiday.

************

I used apple cider to marinate the turkey this year.  Sweet and savory is definitely deletable!

It is with great sadness that historical revisionism has been such a common practice for decades.  Thus, less and less American elementary students are being taught the true Thanksgiving story and how it is perfectly tightly connected to our Christian roots.  Therefore....less and less Americans celebrate this beautifully historical day, in their hearts, as it was originally intended while feasting on that fattened turkey and all the fixings.  

The original Mayflower Compact is additional "evidence" of the Christian roots from which Thanksgiving was eventually brought about.  

In modern english: 

IN THE name of God, Amen.  We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland king, defender of the faith, etc., having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the Northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience.

In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape-Cod the 11 of November, in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James, of England, France, and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth. Anno Domine 1620.

*******

So, it is with great American Thanksgiving pride [humbly originated by William Bradford] Christian families should recite the original Mayflower Compact in humble remembrance and gratitude to the God of our fathers.

....and let it not be overshadowed by the tsunami of greed by the following day of "black friday" which is quickly becoming a holiday in itself [and at this point is covered by 24,000 news stories with Thanksgiving news stories at 31,000].   May we not forget the tens of millions of fellow Americans that will be deeply suffering this winter due to the continuing decline of our economy.


*******

Black Friday: A Festival Of Greed In The Midst Of A Sea Of Pain And Suffering

Cookie Cutter

Lola had brought with her, on the plane, her christmas cookie cutters. This was an anticipated activity involving Lola and grandkids....all nine of them. However, Silas' attention span was that of typical toddler which matched his height and age. Short.

Dylan and Tyler were amazingly interested and dove in with great anticipation. All sorts of sprinkles, chocolate morsels, colorful frosting and Maverick's naked involvement added much to the afternoon's creativity.

Tender Toddler Bones.

Poor Mav's wrist hurts like the dickens. In play, Dylan was sitting on it. Mav laughed until it finally hurt [they were in the office] so now it hurts just to move it. How pathetic to hear his little toddler cry, "ow, ow, ow..." To Dylan I gave a little education on the difference between the strength and density of his developed bones and that of Maverick's still tender under developed, not so dense and developed, bones. Was going to have him sleep in our bed with me last night but he wanted to be with "Sissy" [Tori]. He did well the entire night until they shifted and got up to get ready for school this morning. I overheard Dylan, this morning, passing on the scientific bone information to Tyler after Mavrick loudly wince by his touch on the couch. At this tender morning moment, he's relaxed on the couch watching one of the little dinosaur animated movies. Now that I have the kitchen picked up and cleaned today's one cooked meal menu I must come up with and put together before the afternoon arrives and gets divided by all the school pick up...which is ended with the shuttling of my husband home from work.

I LOVE YOU

The night before was a rather late one for the little Maverick. It was Lola's last night in our home and his two mothering older sisters would be spending that night on the bedroom floor with her [and him]. Emotional anxiety kept the girls squirming, wiggling, chitty chatty and giddy. Maverick paid the price by having to endure their commotion until the middle of the night. So, the following day his toddler body tried to make up for it with kitty naps here and there. The couch, the car seat, the floor...etc.

Dinner was late but Maverick had no interest in taco munching. Instead he settled for a few quiet moments on the leather couch with Daddy's ipod in hand. After my taco munching, my own night surrendering body was in the mood for cuddling. So, I cuddled with him for a little bit. He'd mastered the animal matching game. Such fascination to watch his little God-created brain harmoniously work with his little fingers at such an impressive speed. It wasn't long and my eyelids felt like led. So, after washing up I crawled into my comfy cozy bed and called Maverick. "What mom?"

"Come see mommy."

"Ok." onto the bed he climbed and under the covers. We cuddled we three [me, Maverick and the ipod]. The smell of his toddler cheeks were a cozy comfort. If I was to die in my sleep at that moment, I certainly would've died happy. He leaned over and puckered up his lips waiting for me to meet his affections half way. Just when I thought that delightful moment had been sealed with his tender toddler kiss I hear, "I wuv you mommy."

2 Dam Miles in 2 Hours

Completed in 1964, Glen Canyon Dam bridge is 1,560 ft (475.5 m) long and 700 feet (213 m) above the Colorado River. It is the 4th highest bridge in the U.S. Michael and I had the privilege of taking the impressive view back in November of 2002.

For years I'd heard about the infamous Hoover Dam. The Discovery channel has produced and aired plenty of documentary on the impressive feet of the project. For the time in which the dam was constructed, it most definitely is impressive.

December 27, 2009 [with my mother's influence] I talked my brother-in-law into taking a quick day trip to see the Hoover Dam and maybe Vegas since it's not that much further. He was reluctantly agreeable considering how he'd spent [more than] half the previous night dealing with 2 ralphing children [due to some nasty stomach bug] and his own johnny happy backside for the same reasons. All that to equal essentially no sleep. His psyche was in a rush to get back home before anymore of his kids got sick. I toyed with the logic difference of being sick on the way home or on the way to Hoover dam. Two different roads with most likely the same toilet hugging event[s] every couple miles. I pathetically argued that at least in the direction of Vegas, he'd get to see Hoover Dam....and Vegas.

It was a late morning start beginning with a quick stop at the radio station to get the necessary plastic access to money needed for the venture. There Austin released his last ralphing contribution onto the parking lot. That was followed by another trip to John for Jacob at Walmart. Unsurprisingly it contributed to his discouragement against a day trip. But we plunged on. No further stop was needed until we reached Seligman. Functioning bodies were appearing to slow down comfortably.

It has been since 2002 that I'd driven by Kingman so it wasn't all that familiar. In Alaska some towns serve as "junctions". Hence the names like Hanes Junction, Delta Junction....etc. Apparently, Kingman serves as Arizona's "junction" to US 68/93 that leads to the infamous Hoover Dam and Vegas. The road and ride was pleasantly smooth at a satisfying speed limit of 65 mph. I always drive up a couple notches so 70 mph was my admitted speed. Until we came to an abrupt shift down and traffic came to a halt. Never having ridden that strip I could only assume a slight traffic mishap ahead. But the curving road through the red/dark brown rocks gave little view to the curiously anxious eyes. The snailing speed was bearable until I realized the sun was starting to go down. Or so it appeared...but it was only 3 in the afternoon. Time was tickin' and so was my tolerance for the vehicular crawl. We started to verbally share our wonder of whether or not we'd get to see the dam in daylight.

Alas, there was the first pull off point at the first dam sign. There it was, down below, the hailed dam of all American dams. Size-mickly unimpressive compared to Glen Dam, Hoover lays only 1,244 ft. long . Impressive is the traffic that snails by at 5 mph down the winding road through the belly of the dam site. By the time we drove to the otherside the sun was down and the hoppedy tourists were still prouncing about in foreign excitement over the structure. So, this is what I had driven three hours for....a snailing 2 hour drive through a small tourist trapping dam.

On to Vegas! I wasn't about to go through all this time consuming trouble without checking out the Vegas Blvd in all it's glamourized sin city beauty.

Church Politics Up Close and Personal

When writing the Koinonia blog I wasn't anticipating a type up to a sequal so soon afterwards...as in days. There is much more to spill on a personally stinging note.....

If there's one thing that turns soul searchers from the evangelical church is legalism and church politics. Even worse is when the two are mixed. We have sat in numerous services where the teacher at the pulpit talks of woes on legalism in the church. One in particular that has been stored away in the 12th corner of memory is the very idea that the "right" thing for Christians to be practicing is church attendance Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings and Wednesday evenings. The blatant statement was made that for one to indulge in any less weekly attendance is wrong or a sin of some sort. Wow, really? Where does it say in Scripture that regular church attendance on specific days/times of the week are a required duty and proof of one's Christianity?

The blanket theory of keeping order in churches with a growing congregation can easily get out of control when far too much regulation is put in place. That can easily be defined when the regulation[s] are put in place to serve the staff's needs for convenience more than it is taking into account the emotional, psycholgical and spiritual state of each home represented by members of the congregation. Such things don't take into account all factors families are faced with on a daily basis that may be a source of struggle for many. No family should be put in any position to defend themselves and their struggles just to appease the "author" of [an] unnecessary regulation[s] in hopes to be categorized as "in need of exception"....thus be granted some level of grace, in order to be continue their quest for Spiritual encouragement and fellowship in love with the rest of the church.

The point of this particular blog is not to imply that chaos abound in the church to serve everyone that walks in the door. Instead, church leadership should never lose focus on the whole God-authored purpose of servanthood. Would we turn away children for being "tardy" if Jesus were standing next to the check-in desk? Seriously....would we? Do we really think He would turn away straglers 15 minutes into his teaching/dicipleship amongst other children? "Sorry, to let you in on this is disruptive to the rest of the kids that've been here for 15 minutes already". Would He really agree with the idea that mom, dad and the rest of the entire family "pay" the consequences for being late to church? Or would He actually say, "Come on over, I'm so glad you could make it today."

Victorian Shrinkage

It wasn't so funny at the time, but now that over half my day is over, I'm looking back and chuckling. The cacky pants that were bought, washed and dried for Victoria....welp, she took them out of the dryer and put them on this morning before we got up out of bed. So, I woke up to the lovely chime of, "mom, that pants you bought me shrunk and now you have to buy me some more." How many times she repeated that the sleepy brain of mine couldn't count but it was enough to cross my eyes. It really was too tight now. Mike tried to snap it shut for her and it hurt. fortunately, she had some shorts. Will have to hold for a couple days. Doubt there'll be any shocking early fall freeze this month. But how hilarious would that be? Well...maybe not so much.

Chuckle chuckle.......

Desert Sweat

Yesterday, on his day off we had a lot of running to do. The temperature rising morning was started out at the dental office where we had a consultation with my new dentist. Everything was put out on the table of my current dental condition/health and we did some mental strategizing and dreaming. I suppose I shouldn't have taken the Italian risk of assuming that the consultation would only really take 30 minutes. It took nearly an hour. It was becoming overwhelming by the quarter hour to get all the options out on the table with the varying price tags. My eyes were starting to cross. Oh, MY goodness! [tee hee hee :-) ]

We then trotsied over to the new Super Buffet in Prescott. [Mind you, every building on the agenda to walk in for the day was an incredible break from the heat due to the lack of A/C in our van]. The array of food was visually impressive because of the variety in comparison to the other two China Buffets in our tri-city area. But even more impressive the delightful difference in "fresh" texture and flavor of both the hot and cold food items. I have quickly developed a taste for pickled ginger slices with my California rolls. None of the meats were over cooked. Nice hot chicken with cold crispy lettuces and cucumbers were a welcome feast for the taste buds.

The next meeting was with our Vice President 30 minutes down the asphalt. We were surrounded by nearly over stimulating noise of the ball pits, slides, climbing tubes, vending machines...etc. of this kid magnet of a money sucking "place" next to the theatre. But because she was bringing her boys and their friends to hang out for a while, this was the chosen place for a "meeting" with her. We were once again [as always] remotivated for upcoming events of the month to which we will be bringing along licensed team members and guests. We re-strategized and tweaked a few methods that needed improvement [doesn't every business] to keep the game [of the competitive part of the business] on. It was good.

The day before was the open house for Tori and Sierra's new school. Lots of people traffic in the offices and through the class rooms as we got ourselves acquainted with new teachers and administration. So, yesterday we made a trip over there to pay for their uniforms [green shirts]. By the end of that errand, it was very clear that Tori [who'd been along for the day's errands] and I were getting incredibly tired and in dire need of a break from the relentless bright Arizona desert heat. So, we ran home to drop her off and I got a five minute break with a refreshing glass of cold filtered water. Then we were out the door again.

We had purchased two new cell phones and a family plan [two days prior]. Only, yesterday we found out the phone designated for my use to conduct business on wasn't compatible for my business needs. The corporate store is in PV and so we made our next stop there first. After waiting about 30 minutes to get help in this high trafficking location it was made known to us that we'd have to return my phone to the mall location where it was originally purchased. Couldn't just trade it in for the other one [and only one] capable of taking on signatures...etc. Because the day was in the high 90's and we had already spent a substantial amount of time in the heat magnet of our vehicle I pleaded to be allowed to stay in the A/C refreshing Prescott Valley store location, while the "night in shining armor" made the 20 minute drive up the road to the mall and make the return. While waiting, we txt the progress of the return and anything else I found to entertain myself with [which wasn't exactly a whole lot] as I meandered through the store and mind boggling phone choices. It'd been eons since the last experience of simply people watching. The high [peopel] traffic was just incredible. According to one of the associates, what I was witnessing was a "downtime". Strange. Made me think of all that hubbub as...welp, Christmas in....August....and whatever month it so happens you are in that high trafficking store.

I made a splurging request for something chocolatey...and COLD....and what I got after an hour of waiting was a nice refreshing chocolate shake. I suppose it wasn't ultimately as refreshing as what my over heated body needed because the lips, tongue and throat were still thirsty. After another 45 minutes....A las! The right business compatible phone was in hand. Kmart was the last stop to purchase some school required cacky pants to go with the girl's uniform shirts. We were home after 8pm and my energy losing body was snowballing down the hill. Yet, the only thing that kept me up for the next two hours was that insanely high tech touch phone. The eyes, fingers and mind just couldn't get over the newness and WOW factor.

After a short night of relaxing slumber, the alarm started going off at 5am this morning. Here we go. My life just started to get complicated. None of the kids are going to a school offering bus transportation. So, by choice [for their "social safety"] we would now be spending extra gas dollars to be their transportation this year. I hadn't taken the time the night before to pack up lunches and find the birth certificates [a pet pieve (sp?) of mine with schools-submitting birth certificats-only because I'm smart enough to know that it's used for government tracking more than it is just for school record keeping purposes] that had yet to be submitted to the administrative staff. My mind was racing through everything that needed to happen amongst showers and beautifying my face for the day. The stress level was jacked up as it became clear the girls still didn't have all their school supplies and that Tori didn't have one shoe in possession that fit. The temptation to thrust half the blame on the other bank account "manager" for my self induced stress...welp, that won. I was impressed with his gracious gentle response to my humanity. With my untimed frantic speed it was assuring to have ended with 30 minutes to spare before the hot asphalt and school doors called me out of my comfortable A/C cooled house. There was enough time to do some " chill-ackin' "....or so the new teen-invented saying goes.

We took the boys to their middle school after getting the girls "established" in their classroom for the morning with their limited supplies [for which I felt seriously ashamed]. I was grateful the boys don't start until next week. I could somewhat breathe today. We spent about an hour there touring the Parkview Middle school facility. The boys appeared to find the place above satisfactory. So did we, the proud parents of two handsome young...ins. Fortunately, tomorrow night there will be a school BBQ where I know the boys are looking forward to hooking up with friends and meeting new ones.

Walmart was the last early morning stop where we packed the school supply isle with other parents. It was nice, for a change, to be able to direct the boys in this and that direction for this and that school item to throw in the cart. Yet, that only took away 2/3 of my morning anxiety. I was looking foward to some relaxing hours at home before picking up the girls from their first day of school. Every part of me wanted to express my disappointment in Walmart's ever shrinking shoe supply with vulgarity. What were these people thinking??? Who's going to shop for shoes in a store that barely carrys any, anymore? ...and what they do carry is far below [in worth] the astronomical prices they demand....how pathetic. Just one [of a gazillion] price to pay for the Obama approved [and continuously stimulated] decline of our national economy.

The day is not over....and so obviously, neither is the week. My life has gotten more complicated. [did I already say that? :-) ] The largest ingredient for that is our choice to grow a business to keep us above future economic decline. But as success follows, the many [but small] sacrifices this family is having to make temporarily will be worth near future rewards.

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Caption: Antelope Canyon

Page, Arizona

Sedona Breeze

Unlike Prescott, and the Jackass flats [as I hear the old name is] of Prescott Valley, Cottonwood, Camp Verde it was green....green....green everywhere! Refreshing cool crisp air relaxes the psyche and the soul as it wisks against the skin. The sound of trickling water through rocks and over the Arizona [hot] feet is calming [and as mom said....to the savage beast] :-) The sound of children playing in the water is soothing to a mother's heart......

**More pictures on my Facebook**

I realize this picture makes me look like I've got something up my sleeve...but that's only because at the time I didn't feel comfortable smiling. Until all my dental appointments/procedures are done, that smile just is not going to show because it's not complete.

Starlit Bliss

It had been nearly two blissful weeks of only one child with the other four still in Iowa with their Lola and Tita. Although, we didn't get as much done as we would've liked, we had a very nice quiet two weeks. Maverick came out of his baby shell and started to verbalize so much more. Twice he was dropped off at a babysitters. Both times he enjoyed the social independence and getting to know other little people his size and age. He actually didn't want to leave when we picked him up. It was beautiful.

After another quiet dinner [the night before Dylan, Tyler, Victoria and Sierra came home] I was inspired by the clear starlit sky to go lay down on the trampoline. The cool crisp air was so refreshing to the sinuses as the slight breeze whisked against my skin and night hungry face. The inspiration to follow was to slumber on the trampoline.

Under the covering of a sleeping bag I lay and spent cozy moments under the millions and billions of stars [99.9% I couldn't see with my naked eye]. For once I was enjoying the starlit sky the way anyone and everyone should. Indulgence into such beauty is incredibly refreshing to the psyche and the soul. Memories of "Outdoor Ed" flooded my sentimental mind. That's the week the Faith Academy middle schoolers spend away from home, in many little groups seeing many sites. The one and only year I experienced was in my last year at Faith Academy in 86. Amidst the Philippine Revolution and several days out of school [from the republic hubbub of it all] we hadn't missed enough days to keep us from the annual week-long trip.

On Corrigador Island we all had the choice of sleeping in the old tunnel where General Douglas McArthur had his headquarters during WW II or sleeping out on the open ground and air under the stars. I was one middle schooler not intrigued enough to be dared into sleeping in a tunnel that housed bats. This spurred on the fond memories of other hearts I hold dearly [and tightly] next to mine from that time in my life. Some may remember as much of that week, some many not. I wish I could still remember every moment in that time. For if I could, I'd relive those moments in time under the stars for as many nights as I can the rest of my life.

Never had I gazed at the stars long enough [in the past] to enjoy the wander of numerous satellites. There were quite a few on this night. Just as fascinating were the shooting/falling stars that would "fly" by like the quick stroke of a pen that didn't leave a mark.

The memories were so numerous enhanced by the awe of the starlit space above that I fought so hard to keep my tropical eyes open. Had I the power, they would've never shut. I would've visually indulged through the night. At one point I did wake up again to a much breezier moment and my heart and psyche were re-intrigued. The moon had shifted out of site behind the mountain. If it were possible, I would've taken my tongue and licked up my living picture.

Night Riders-July 16

The night seemed to lay heavy on the eyelids as we started out from Prescott past 9pm [three hours beyond the intended departure]. The four oldest kids had themselves snuggled into their seats with pillows and blankets they had brought along from the house.

After his long day at work, Michael was the first to take on the challenge at the wheel. I sat in heavy anticipation, in the "co-captain seat", over the tooth accidentally pulled out hours earlier while flossing my teeth. How in Iowa's swinely aromatic country was I going to socialize with old friends and family without the complete smile that seemed to have vanished with the tooth? It was a mind contortioning situation I would have to handle one moment at a time.

Eventually, as day broke in the Utah sky, all passengers awoke to beautiful scenery. McDonald's was an inviting breakfast stop with the impressive backdrop of the red rocks jeweled with green trees right on the border of Colorado. I was once again reminded of the beauty God created on which to feast my salivating human eyes. The desert paradise that only travelers experience on the road [and privileged dwellers] put the theory of evolution back in the slimy trashpit of hell.

While taking the wheel for several hours into Colorado my tropical eyes just couldn't get over the beauty of green mountain landscapes adorned with lavish homes. Oh, who are we that God would privilege us with so much on which to feast our eyes? These were blissful moments I would've rather been riding and having my camera click several thousand times [while gleefully hanging out the window] as if to capture what only the naked eye can experience in connection with my pitter pattering soul after His awesomeness. Mike was thinking about the last mountain scene of "The Sound of Music". I was only longing to experience so much more.

We enjoyed the warm drive through the rest of Colorado, Denver and into Nebraska. Once we hit the prairie, the moisture in the air was heavy and sticky...but fortunately cool. The smell of swine and bovine were distinctly different but both stomach churning. We were in farm country now. The aromatic reminder would linger to the humble farm town of George, IA.