Showering with Gifts

• Our weekend consisted of a sweet but brief visit from my paternal aunts, throwing a baby shower for a dear friend (more below), Family Movie night, a game night with another friend, church, and hosting our small group -- a little exhausting!
• This week has been very busy for me -- preparing and organizing for the month of November. However, I was honored to be a guest on the Root Cause Radio show this past Wednesday (I start ~9 mins) :)
• The other night, Micaiah prayed for Donald, Mickey Mouse, and Goofy ;)
• The kids and I battled small colds this week, which means more screen time than usual. At least we kept up with our schooling. Aolani is helping me do learning activities with Micaiah twice a week, and she really enjoys being the teacher ;)

Helping Daddy put together a shoe rack

Aolani did so well with this Tree Tops game, where she had to match the lower case letters with the upper case ones (materials: Sharpie, scissors, brown and green construction paper).

• Baby shower details: It was for a girlfriend in our small group. We have a small house, so we celebrated at another lady's home. The order of events: mingle/eat, games, gifts, and a prayer time. The ladies in our group (and a few others) brought the food (hors d'oeuvres, salad, treat, muffins, cake, fruit, cookies, tea). I collected money from our church body, bought her small registry, and gave her the rest of the money in cash. I also did a cloth diaper cake (with this topper), plain white onesies (3 different sizes) for the women to draw on at the shower, and printed off the mommy-to-be's prayer requests to roll up and put in booties in a basket. I prepared three games: Pin the Baby on the Mommy, Sloppy Diaper Relay, and Tinkle in the Pot (I was asked not to share pictures). It was very nice, fun, and special!
• Aolani went with me to the shower, but Micaiah stayed with Ricky. After nap time, they joined some guys for frisbee golf. I also got the Daddy a present, which Ricky gave him during this time :)

Aolani playing Pin the Baby on the Mommy :)

with the Mommy-to-be, Charis

• School verse: James 5:8 ~ Be patient and stand firm because the LORD's coming is near. [patience]
• Verse to memorize this week: James 1:17 ~ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Live to Give

A much, much-needed reminder for me about giving...

Six Reasons to Live More Simply—and Give More Generously

by Randy Alcorn

Someone has said, “Live simply that others may simply live.” Of course, there is no automatic relationship between my simple living and someone else being rescued from starvation or reached with the gospel. There is only a relationship if I, in fact, use the resources I have freed up to feed the hungry and reach the lost.

Read more...

Sweet (ness)

• Ricky's parents visited over the weekend, and we had a very pleasant time -- picnicking at a park in the mountains, visiting some friends at a nearby lake, going to a playground, going to church, movie night... And, we had gorgeous weather the whole time :)

Wearing her Nonna's dress (made by Aolani's paternal great-great-grandmother!)

A brief visit with Papa when he came by to pick up my mom for their annual weekend with friends in the mountains

A picnic

A baby or a person

A paper chain snake

• School verse: Colossians 3:13 ~ Forgive as the LORD forgave you. [forgiveness]
• Verse to memorize this week: 1 Peter 3:15 ~ Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Marriage Leads -- Part 2

After I wrote part 1, I thought about it some more and panning out to the bigger picture.

It seems that there are three more common responses that spouses, especially wives, can have in response to the sin of your spouse.

1. Divorce -- which is now the most common, unfortunately
2. What's next? -- maybe we need a dog, house, kid, new job, new city, new house, another kid, stuff, vacation, more, more, more... What else do we 'need'? Now what? What's next?
3. Bitterness -- whether you show your anger or keep it in, hurt is at the core. Most of us nurse our wounds (which plants the bitter seed) instead of automatically telling God about our pain and seeking forgiveness right away (which reaps peace).
4. To Christ -- let's go to the Perfect Companion!

I, personally, am working on forsaking the typical bitterness reaction and learning to go to Jesus first. I have read, and found to be true so far, that the longer you react negatively, the more automatic that response is going to be for you. This is why the longer people are married, the harder it is to change the cycle. I can see where the bitter road leads, and I do not want it! I want to change this response now before it gets harder (because there are days when it already feels too hard!). I want the forgiveness and thankfulness road that leads to peace and joy in my marriage! 

being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience ~ Colossians 1:11

Come, Holy Spirit!

{Part 2}

Scribbling

• My friend, Teresa, came back for the weekend to join us for some activities. We went to a national forest park with some friends of ours and enjoyed the time of year. We, also, had family movie night, church, and small group. A simple and pleasant weekend :)
• I have been preparing a baby shower for a local friend, and today Aolani was pretend wrapping some of her toys for the "baby bath" ;)

• School verse: Hebrews 13:17 ~ Obey your leaders [because] they keep watch over you. [obedience]
• Verse to memorize this week: Isaiah 41:10 ~ So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Our Enemy, The Flesh

"In every generation there seem to exist certain clichés used by members of the body of Christ. No doubt, on the top of the list for this generation are the words 'I'm under attack!' Every difficulty seems to be labeled 'spiritual warfare.' Without question we fight wars in the heavenlies; but before we can be sure it's spiritual warfare, we must be able to answer three questions negatively: (1) Am I living outside the will of God? (2) Do I have any unconfessed sin? (3) Is God simply working His completion in me? Far more often, our difficulties originate from one of these three realms." ~ Henry Blackaby

"My own flesh is twice the enemy to me that Satan is." ~ Beth Moore

From Home

• Normal week apart from having Teresa here (she's gone now though). We had our weekly movie night with the kids, pizza and ice cream ;)
• I wanted to share all the food items we are now making: yogurt, paneer (a soft cheese), condiments (mayo, mustard, ketchup), applesauce, rice milk, tomato soup, chicken stock, cream of celery soup, loaf-bread, muffins, tortillas, frozen pizzas, ice cream, a therapeutic ginger drink, spice blends, bread crumbs, pancake and waffle mixes, any dessert... whew but yay! I am hoping to try and add some other recipes, such as hummus, rutabaga chips, dips, and dried whey (kashk). We make every meal from scratch... this is so not to boast; it is just so fun and exciting to me to be doing all this -- like a dream!

Upclose of horse's face in the grass

with Button

• School verse: Ephesians 4:25 ~ Tell the truth to one another because you belong to each other. [honesty]
• Verse to memorize this week: 1 John 3:16 ~ This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 

One-Year on Symptometry {Anniversary}

I have some more notes/thoughts to share about Symptometry:

• I am in a place of healing. If I were to have taken prescription drugs for all of the symptoms that I have been cured of... well, that would have been over 20 meds! [And that's assuming just one drug per symptom.] But, I know full-well that drugs would not have cured anything but would have just alleviated the symptom. Not only are particulates safe, natural, and way cheaper, they actually remove the root cause of the symptom so it no longer occurs! Mind-blowing!
• I wholeheartedly believe coconut oil "ruined my life." I know, I know, that is the exact opposite of what EVERYONE says, and I sound like a loon. I, too, used to swear by coconut oil. About two years ago (summer '12), we started oil-pulling with coconut oil (in addition to using it in every way possible). And, lo and behold, my health deteriorated fast last year. Faster than ever before. I kept wondering what was going on with me! All these new symptoms and problems just kept popping up, even a miscarriage. So, don't believe the lie and just say no.
• I am on a 2-5 year tract to full healing. Yep, that's a long time. It has been a year since we began the diet part (11 months on particulates). Am I discouraged by the long wait? Well, first and foremost, if this is the path God has led us to walk on, then by all means, this is the path I want to be on. Second though, seriously, I have nowhere else to go. I have nothing else to do. Five years will pass no matter what. And in five years, I will either be healed or more degenerated. That's not really a tempting option to me!
• Why such a long time? Well, most people would be on a 3-6 month tract to healing. But, not I. Diseased genes are really tough to heal -- doable but hard (takes a long time and a lot of patience). Also, the nerves are the toughest part of the body to heal because they are so sensitive. So, not only do I have a disease, but it has to be a nerve disease! Actually, an incurable (translation = impossible), genetic (chromosomal diseases are "300 times deeper" than normal health problems) one at that (which means a long-term miracle versus the instantaneous kind)!
• Most of my healing over the past year has been internal, which is not surprising at all! I think most people want to see me just get up and start walking :) But, it makes complete sense that my healing must begin inside before working its way to the outside. Inside, out.
• People ask about the health of my Romanian friend, and, yes, she keeps improving :) We have gotten to visibly see her movements and strength returning over the past year (doing things she could not do when we first met), which is exciting! Just a few weeks ago, she started walking some with help -- YAY!
• My mom recently compiled a list of all her health improvements from just eating scientifically and now taking particulates for the past three months -- 15 improvements in total! It is neat for me to have seen her deal with these for years and years... and now no more! [Email me if you want to know more.] She told me, "I think of how I went year after year following Mercola, doing coconut oil everything, lots of raw food, whey protein, and many supplements, just hoping that I was on the right path and that my health issues would eventually improve. But that path never resulted in ANY improvements! Very frustrating! Orthopedic problems just got worse. Only after surgeries did wrists and knee get better. And then came Symptometry and I have been utterly amazed at my health improvements...I am a believer! And I thank God that He has brought Symptometry into our lives." 
• I have often thought about how after I'm healed, people will be skeptical when I tell them that God healed me according to His promise and plan. "I mean, hey, didn't Symptometry heal you?" Well, without His promise to me and other Spirit-nudgings, I certainly would not have followed His leading upon learning of Symptometry. [Do you know how often people have come up to me to tell me of this program or that new method to try and help me physically -- to no avail?] The particulates which remove blockages and repair damaged cells, are, like I said, all natural -- from nature. Meaning, God created all the "ingredients". And, I believe, God gives all knowledge! He is the Source for what goes in them and how to put them together. Why did God choose to reveal this to Dr. Nartey? Why doesn't God just heal me instantaneously and not leave any room for doubt as to who or what healed me? Why do I get to be the first person healed of Friedreich's Ataxia? There are too many questions that I do not know the answers to! I do know that He gets all the credit and deserves all glory!

All Aboard!

• The weekend was active and busy. My mom treated us to the NC Transportation Museum for the "Day Out with Thomas" touring event -- which the kids loved (slideshow below)! Then, we gathered with friends for a bonfire to welcome in Autumn. Ricky and the kids went to church while worn-out me slept 11 hours! And, just Aolani and I went to our small group meeting (which became a girl gathering anyway).  
• My mom left yesterday for 12 days (including a vacation :) ). And now, my friend Teresa is here for a week :)
• My brother and sister-in-law are expecting their third child, and we are sooo happy! She is 15 weeks so far; so, I think the due date is late March.
• Random: We just drizzled a little cheap canola oil on the door hinges to keep them from squeaking, and it worked wonderfully!
• Micaiah's mishaps: is doing so well with the potty (only three accidents in a month, excluding naps); however, he is wearing his undies during nap and may pee-pee in his crib once-a-week; has been throwing a lot of fits lately :(; has been talking in sentences for about six weeks, and it is still surprising and wonderful :)
• Aolani and schooling: I must say that it is going pretty well overall, and she is wanting to grow and learn and read and write... I try to do about 2-3 hours a day -- half days on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday (1.5-2 hours at once, activities included), and full days on Wednesday and Friday (3 hours total, 1.5 hours in the morning and afternoon). We do our devotional time -- prayer, verse/character, Bible story -- first (and we rehearse all memorized verses on Fridays). Then, we do our curriculum, which involves mostly read-alouds (stories) on cultures and science and there's a workbook that she so enjoys. We learn letters and make an appropriate craft with the letter (i.e., we are about to go make paper quilts as this week's letter is 'Q'), and we do art activities once or twice a week. I have a list of all of her special activities and she picks one most days, if time allows. We do a reading lesson three days a week, and then we do an IPAD Montessori learning app if she completes the lesson (which works as great motivation for her). The other two days we practice writing. We also work in watching books on DVD if toys are picked up before nap. Further, we'll do a little circle time in the evenings if it works out, as well as Daddy play/reading time. And, of course, plenty of playtime, pretend, dress-up, and outdoor play :)

Paper plate parrot and Proverbs 22:1 craft

• For school, we are memorizing one verse a week that accompany character traits. Some I already quote, but I added two new ones from that. Proverbs 4:20 ~ Pay attention, my child, to what I say. Listen carefully. [attentiveness] 2 Corinthians 9:7 ~ ...for God loves a cheerful giver. [generosity]
• Verse for me to memorize this week: Hebrews 7:25 ~ Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.