Resolutions for 2021

I just read last year’s post on my resolution for 2020. While it’s beautiful and wonderful and I’d love to reiterate that post, this year’s post is going to be a bit different. (However, I am happy to say that I mostly did keep my resolution for this past year, not perfectly but mostly.)

Because I have reached the end of my physical capabilities and my time is maxed out, I can only make resolutions that change things I already do and doesn’t require adding on more. 

I have a list of things I try to do everyday regarding my spiritual/devotional time with God. They aren’t really resolutions so much but more like guidelines or goals. I don’t freak out if I don’t complete them all each day. I just do what I can that day and start over the next day.

That being said. I am making two resolutions. 

First, I’m going to give up eating added sugar at home or at restaurants (not homemade desserts at other’s home that they made for me; that seems rude and unappreciative of their thought and work and kindness). This is a very boring and typical one, but I know it’ll keep spiraling out of control if I don’t reign it in now.

Second, I am going to try to speak truth (about myself, my family, situations). Based on what the Word of God says about it, not on what I see or feel. Because the unchanging Word (Jesus) is reality, NOT what I see. Satan is the master of illusion and appearances, causing the people of God to interpret the Word of God according to their experiences (sight and feeling) instead of taking His Word to mean exactly what it says and not backing off or making excuses or trying to reinterpret it to fit our experience. 

...for actively alive is the word of God, and energetic, and sharper than any two-edged sword, going through even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a sifter and analyzer of the reflections and conceptions of the heart.   ~Hebrews 4:12

Holy-days {Advent & Christmas 2020)

[edited version of the 2017 Advent post]

Simple. Focused. Intentional.

That is our motto for this time of year.

If you want bunches of ideas for celebrating Christmas, you should probably go to Pinterest. We are more about cutting out a lot of the hoopla -- going for special and memorable (yes) but simple. It is Jesus' birthday; so, we focus on Advent ("waiting with hope") and then throwing a birthday party for Jesus. Simple as that. Although, we also like to enjoy the 12 of Christmas (after Christmas Day) and Epiphany on January 6th. This was the fourth year we were home on Christmas Day! Here is what we did this month:

Devotions: We are usually more structured with this, but we traveled a lot and had company and other obstacles preventing routine, so I just set out three devotionals that we have used in years past to choose from. Ricky most often read from Christmas Around the World by Mary Lankford. I, also, gave the big kids storybooks to read during Advent (Ishtar’s Odyssey and Tabitha’s Travels).

Activities: Sometime in the course of each day, we:

• Read a Christmas book. I arranged and stacked all of the Christmas books we own according to our schedule (I usually get some new ones every year). Then, Aolani would get one out each day. The big kids typically would read them out loud. 
• Schooling: We were only able to complete two weeks of half days this month (equivalent of one week of school)!
• Our Advent devotional in the evening with Daddy (depending)
• This year we did an Advent Activities Calendar. I came up with 24 things to do, one for each day leading up to Jesus' birthday. I adjusted the calendar so that the daily activities suited our monthly plans. We missed some days, but ended up working them in and just doubling up on other days. The list of this year's activities are below. Sometimes I told them beforehand.

1. Play hide & seek in a tree lot
2. Decorate puppy tree 
3. Make popcorn garland 
4. Cooking Day 
5. Hot drinks & look at Christmas lights
6. Celebrate St. Nicholas Day by reading his biography and watching the Veggie Tales about him with friends 
7. Invite family over to watch Christmas Veggie Tales movies in jammies 
8. Make and decorate gingerbread cookies 
9. Paint pine cones and make centerpiece
10. Watch Christmas movie marathon
11. Make No-bakes 
12. Farewell party  
13. Make paper snowflakes 
14. Make a birthday treat for Micaiah 
15. Make Grandma’s Mix 
16. Make a pillow bed on living room floor and watch Christmas cartoons 
17. Make glitter globes
18. Listen to Focus on the Family’s radio drama Christmas Carol in the car 
19. Celebrate Micaiah’s birthday party and watch The Nativity Story movie under blankets 
20. Watch The Star movie and drink hot chocolate while playing games 
21. Pick out Jesus’s birthday gifts 
22. Make Puppy Chow and deliver coffee to neighbors 
23. Act out the nativity story with friends and deliver coffee to neighbors 
24. Make a birthday cake for Jesus 
25. Throw Jesus a birthday party!

Decorations: We got a Christmas tree this year (a cute 3-4 ft tree) and decorated it my 28 puppy ornament collection and a homemade paper star. We also have other items (ornaments, stockings, nativity sets...) on display and hanging around. We keep the Christmas music playing. Also, we simply hang the Christmas cards we receive on ribbon with clothespins. This year we decorated our house on the last day of November instead of the first day of December.

Treats: Our treats were almost daily this year -- popcorn and M&Ms, hot chocolate and chai tea, sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies, Grandma’s Mix, Puppy Chow, molten lava cake, coffee cake, raspberry mud cake, peppermint bark, all kinds of chocolates and other goodies...

Presents:  This was our sixth year of doing it differently. We want to teach our kids that just as they get presents on their birthday, Jesus gets the gifts on His birthday (see Matthew 25:45) -- just keeping it simple (and imitating St. Nicholas!). After I had collected like a dozen (charitable) gift catalogs over the past month or so, we spread them out, allotted each person an equal amount of money, and let them go! Yet, we do buy a few gifts for ourselves as a family and some friends that are to encourage faith and witness (such as Voice of the Martyrs' prayer calendars) in the upcoming year, which we give after Christmas Day normally (we are thinking about doing it on Epiphany this year). [Yes, our kids get gifts from us throughout the year as does Jesus, but we all know that birthdays are special for the birthday person ;)]

Christmas Day activities and traditions: This has quickly become my favorite day of the year! This year, we ended up cooking our big meal that morning before our guests arrived (breakfast casserole, cinnamon rolls and fruit salad). We pray much beforehand about who to invite -- poor, needy, lonely... This year, we got to share our celebration with our Filipino neighbors. After we ate brunch, watched Buck Denver Asks, Why Do We It Christmas? Then, we went outside to talk about gifts from God this past year to give him thanksgiving. Afterwards, we did our annual scavenger hunt. This was so much fun again! This year we had seven clues, and the theme was Newness  — new house, new town, new yard/trampoline, new baby, new job, new man (we are new creatures in Christ!) Then, we ate cake (Aolani had made a raspberry mud cake for Jesus’s birthday cake the night before), sang Happy Birthday, and shared with each other what we had individually selected for gifts to give Jesus (Aolani got to choose for baby Morgan). Our neighbors had to leave afterwards. We had leftover lasagna for dinner and played board games until the wee morning hours. It was a great fifth Christmas-at-home doing what we wanted and look forward to next year!

Hope you had CHRISTmas joy in your celebrations and preparation for the coming of the King!

(The week after Christmas Day, we continue to celebrate by watching LOTR and The Hobbit extended editions together as a family, looking at baby pictures, eating goodies, doing a jigsaw puzzle, and listening to Christmas music.)

Merry CHRISTmas!

2020

“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.”
John 1:4

Praying for you to have a deeper understanding of his full, overflowing, abundant life in you, even now!

Ricky, Aidan, Aolani (almost 11), Micaiah (9), Raphael (3), & Morgan (6 mo.)

October 2020

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• Activities during the month of October: Friends came over to help Ricky paint our front door and shutters a bright blue I selected (we feel like real homeowners now!) and we celebrated with a cookout); had family friends over for dinner; the E family (minus two) visit one weekend (yes, we fit 13 in our 3-bedroom house;) ) complete with games and visits to the neighbors; Teresa comes visit from Florida for a few nights (never long enough!); Ricky and I (and baby Morgan) drive to Dallas to attend a JGLM conference on healing and leave the three older kids with my parents (where they have a blast and take a mini vacation to Myrtle Beach); we celebrate Raphael’s third birthday at Dayspring; we have JAARS friends (fellow missionaries we trained with during Equip at Wycliffe’s headquarters in Orlando) over for a reunion party; and, a dear friend from the NC coast comes and visits for a day.
• At the very end of the month, I began to nurse only in the morning and supplement with formula r. It had become too stressful trying to have to keep finding donor milk to supplement since Morgan’s appetite increased in September and my supply didn’t. Plus, he was five months now. 
• I feel so bad not recording all the funny memories, but I’m reaching the end of my capabilities of managing it all with the time I have :(

• School verses: Aolani and Micaiah -- Psalm 8:7-9, Micah 6:8
• Verses I memorized: John 1:19-22

September 2020

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• Activities during the month of September: Besides our normal activities, Grandpa and DD visit for a couple days for the first time since Morgan was born; went to Dayspring for Labor Day weekend; went to a pool party with friends; my mom visited for a few days so Ricky and I could go to Morganton by ourselves for a day; took our Filipino neighbors to tour Morganton for a birthday treat and share at our home church; Aolani had several play dates with neighbors; went to church and lunch with friends; and, had neighbors over for dinner.

• School verses: Aolani and Micaiah -- Psalm 8:1-6
• Verses I memorized: John 1:15-18

Concerning Healing

I want to divulge a little more about our take on physical healing.

We believe that healing is for everyone. On this earth.

Now, when I used to hear that, I would automatically pin it as "prosperity gospel“ and shut my ears to it. “Been there. I know better. I can easily debunk that.”

After much studying and learning for over a year, we finally understand. 100% Scripture. It is not under any denomination or label: Charismatic, Pentecostal, Reformed, Calvinist, or Wesleyan... or some cult. Anyway, I can’t do it justice trying to explain it or answer the gobs of questions this raises (believe me, I had my share of objections). I am not trying to lead astray or persuade or be combative or get itching ears scratched. I really want to say more, but it would take books.

I simply wanted to state that although I am not walking yet, we are indeed more resolute and encouraged than ever before to press on. ("The violent take [the kingdom of heaven] by force.” Matthew 11:12.)

Why are you not walking if you believe this? The double-minded man cannot expect to receive anything from God (James 1:7-8). Double-mindedness comes from believing too much of the wrong stuff, and I have 20 years of wrong theology and traditions of man (Mark 7:13) to tear down. I think that double-mindedness is keeping me from receiving the healing that Jesus paid for and which is already done (1 Pet. 2:24). I have to believe that I have received (Mark 11:24), not just believe in God’s existence or ability. This is hard for me when I feel pain and see a wheelchair and other limitations. ("Now faith is being... certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:6.)

“When you’re walking, I will consider this.” I totally get it. That’s where I was earlier this year. However, “Blessed is he who has not yet seen and yet believes” (John 20:29).

On that note, here is an introductory video you can watch. I highly recommend that you watch the entire DHT series, 17 videos, by JGLM. Ask for more if you want.

I firmly believe that it has been the multitude of prayers for me and my healing from everybody over the last 19 years that has led me to this truth. I have tears as I write this because I am so incredibly thankful. Praise God!

“May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word.” Psalm 119:74

Yes, Sir!

I’ve heard twice now in the past month how people go to church mostly to feel good when instead we should be going to get our assignment, our marching orders...

Endurance Requires

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

In order to patiently endure, you need God’s power and might to do so. 

That’s why it’s so hard. Can’t do in my own strength. 

August 2020

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• Activities during the month of August: Besides our normal activities, my mom visits for a couple days; I see a neurologist about the pain in my left ankle; a prayer team comes over to pray with me; the kids attend a VBS in SC; Ricky meets a mentor for lunch; the Bible study with our Filipino neighbors restarts; Aolani and I go to a new dentist (we both have cavities we were told!); we do EOG testing for both big kids; Ricky joins a neighborhood fantasy football league; we go with friends to their church and meet other friends from Wilmington for lunch; we begin third (Micaiah) and fifth (Aolani) grades; we make a day-trip to visit my paternal grandparents in Greensboro and get to see my brother and parents also; Aolani gets a cavity taken care of; and, we go to our local Farmers Market (we like it!)
• Morgan turned three months and instantly became more interactive and giggled for the first time! Another happy and easy baby! However, I am feeding him with the breast and bottle (breastmilk), which is quite a bit more work than I am used to from nursing only.
• We (mostly Aolani) are “teaching” Raphael: letter-tracing, activities from Slow & Steady, arts and crafts projects, and helping the big kids with their chores :) 

• School verses: Aolani and Micaiah -- Psalm 100:4-5
• Verses I memorized: John 1:11-14

July 2020

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• Activities during the month of July: I have my final postpartum appointment; Aolani has her final tutoring session; my mom visits for a couple weeks to help us get caught up on sleep; Ricky leads a Bible study for our neighbor’s family in the Philippines; we attend a Fourth of July celebration next door; we begin our almost weekly prayer walks in our neighborhood; kids go to JAARS for a play date; finish our James Bible study and break for a month; friends come help assemble a big trampoline from the grandparents; share dinner with neighbors a few times; attend a birthday party for one of Micaiah’s friends; big kids begin taking Taekwondo lessons taught by a neighbor outside; Ricky meets up with a fellow Asburian for lunch; we meet with a friends for lunch on our way to Morganton to visit our close friends, see their new baby, and attend a birthday party they put on for their July kiddos; and, Ricky began our missionary work with the International Media Services department (from home) since we got to 100% of our recurring financial support pledged by the end of June!! It was a buzzer beater!>

• School verses: Aolani and Micaiah -- Romans 8:1, Psalm 100:1-3
• Verses I memorized: John 1:6-10

Armies by KB {video}

This song is the battle cry of our hearts right now:

June 2020

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• Activities during the month of June: We enjoy a 3-day visit from our dear friend Teresa, who currently lives in Florida; continue a Bible study with our Filipino neighbors; have two more prenatal appointments; Aolani still receives free tutoring; countless zoom meetings continue; a friend begins to come over monthly to help; spend a day with our neighbors at their house; Aolani spends the night with a friend in the area; Ricky’s mom visits us in our new home for a week and meets her fourth grandchild (toured our town, went to a cookout at our neighbors’, return to our old town for appointments and errands, and more outings); our good friend, Regis, comes for a weekend and we play 5-person Caverna; and, have a sweet couple over for dinner:) 

• School verses: Aolani and Micaiah -- Psalm 121:5-8
• Verses I memorized: John 1:1-5

May 2020

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• Activities during the month of May: We begin potty training Raphael, who does well until Morgan is born; continue a Bible study with our Filipino neighbors; have two more prenatal appointments; my parents visit to finish some final things to do getting the house settled before baby comes; take a meal to a woman who had COVID-19; I got to attend a virtual baby shower; Morgan debuted (a quick labor and delivery at home) on our anniversary 13th wedding anniversary, which happens to also be my dad’s birthday and my brother’s anniversary!; lots of postpartum appointments; meet with a lactation consultant to overcome reduced prolactin levels caused by the RLS drug I take; my mom arrived shortly after Morgan comes and stays for about two weeks; and, we have our first cookout at our Filipino neighbors’ house.

• School verses: Aolani and Micaiah -- Proverbs 18:9, Proverbs 16:24, Psalm 121:1-4
• Verses I memorized: I reviewed Psalm 103 for Morgan. 

Morgan’s Birth Story

In the days leading up to the labor and delivery, I had been having light contractions and lost several mucus plugs.

The night before the big event, the contractions were longer and harder than before,  and there were other signals for upcoming labor. So, I alerted the midwives, doulas and my mom. Then, I tried to go to bed early and get a little sleep in case it was "the night".

Sure enough, I woke us a little after midnight from strong contractions. I tried to go back to sleep, but the contractions would not let me. About an hour later at 1:30 a.m., I tried to wake Ricky up because the contractions weren’t going away, and I knew active labor had now begun.

He was able to get me up out of bed at 2 a.m. We went into the bathroom, got me ready and put me in the wheelchair. Then, Ricky got back in bed.  I began timing my contractions: 3-5 minutes apart, 1 minute long. So, I called everyone on my birth team. A half an hour later, Ricky got back up to feed me and give me electrolytes. This time he wouldn’t be going back to bed!

Soon after, both midwives and one doula trickled in. The contractions were picking up fast — in strength and length.

Around 4 o’clock that morning, I had to use the restroom. When Ricky tried to put me back in the wheelchair, my body would not have it, and I screamed. That scream woke Aolani. Transition had hit. I got Ricky to carry me straight to the bed. He laid me on my right side and then went to help the midwives set up the birthing pool while the doula sat beside me.

Aolani tried to stay in the bedroom, but she quickly lost interest and went into the living room. I had a few really hard contractions before feeling the urge to push.

I began yelling for Ricky to lift my leg. He appeared in the bathroom doorway holding a wrench and looking perplexed. Next thing you know, I was pushing Morgan out! After one or two pushes, I looked down, and he had slid out on my bed at 4:26 a.m.

One of the midwives rushed over and scooped him up and gave him to me. Aolani came in when she heard Morgan cry, and she even got to cut the umbilical cord about 10 minutes later. Once Morgan had a good latch and my placenta was delivered, then everything else went like clockwork.

We got to spend a good hour alone with the baby before the midwife examined him. During that time, the midwives cleaned up, and my mom arrived along with my second doula.

Morgan was wonderfully perfect with an Apgar score of 9 and weighing exactly 7 lbs and measuring 19.5 inches long. Morgan arrived on mine and Ricky‘s 13th wedding anniversary -- May 20th, 2020, which was 12 days before the due date, but the exact day for which we had been praying!

We were also blessed with a short labor, as I was only in active labor for three hours! And our other two sons slept through the whole thing! Haha! They woke up to find us with a little baby boy in our arms, as the midwives and doulas had already left. What a wonderful surprise :)

April 2020

• Activities during the month of April: Quarantine continues so we did a virtual home meeting on Facebook, have a lot of Zoom calls and meetings, and Aolani begins online tutoring :) We, also, took a five day trip to Dayspring to celebrate Ricky’s birthday with my parents.

• School verses: Aolani and Micaiah -- Psalm 16:3, Romans 6:23, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Isaiah 40:31
• Verses I memorized: I am reviewing Psalm 103 for this baby.

Called to be Cinderellas

(I mentally wrote this little post years ago — haha!)

I so loved the live action Cinderella. Growing up, Cinderella was (and is) my favorite Disney movie. She responded to the degradation, abuse and familial mistreatment with optimism, hope, grace, perseverance, love and kindness. She never lied or ran away or retaliated. She was perfect. (I think that’s why many don’t like her, preferring Belle and her humanity. Just like the Superman/Batman controversy.)

In the recent version, she’s discovered and released and tries on the slipper and all is well for the prince found her, but... there is still this feeling like the climax hasn’t happened yet. Weird. And then...

As the happy couple leave, the stepmother shows at the top of the staircase. All halt, the cheery music stops, you realize that you are holding your breath and the tension is palpable... and then Cinderella declares, “I forgive you." Wow. Now that was unexpected. Out of everything she could have said... the writers chose the Christlike forgiveness response for her?! And now you have your sense of closure, your climax.

At first, I was shocked that forgiveness was portrayed as strong and beautiful. Now, Cinderella really is the most Christlike princess.

March 2020

• Activities during the month of March besides a lot unpacking fun: My mom returned home to convalescence; Ricky updated at the DMV; went to Morganton one day to run errands, meet people for dinner and church elders; met with our new housecleaner, a sweet Hispanic lady who comes every other week; had a family that we trained with in Florida two years ago over for dinner; Ricky met with a retired judge for lunch; met with the doula for the birth; the big kids got to attend a homeschool P.E. group twice; had two more families over for dinners; my parents came two separate weekends to help with more unpacking projects; the midwives come to our home to meet and have our first prenatal appointment; meet with our backup doula; the social distancing and quarantine begins mid-month; since we gave away our television screen when we moved, our family pizza/movie night has become pizza/game night (which we have all enjoyed; and, Ricky has joined his department’s prayer and staff meetings via Zoom.
• Raphael’s romps: calls poop ‘boop’ and toots are’doodies’ ; is all boy (loves being loud, vehicles, gun sounds, balls, kicking, is rough and tough, bugs, food, outdoors, dirt...); and, is very organized and neat :)

• School verses: Aolani and Micaiah -- Psalm 24:3-10
• Verses I memorized: I am reviewing Psalm 103 for this baby.

February 2020

• Activities during the month of February besides a lot unpacking fun: We had many guy friends help us do some minor remodeling of our new house, packing, moving, unloading, assembling furniture, painting...; two, long IKEA visits; Ricky shared with a group of pastors; Ricky’s dad and brother came for a visit and brought lots of used furniture, etc; celebrated Aolani’s birthday in Morganton at our friends’ house with a spa party and several of her friends; visited three local churches before the quarantine; got to go see Ken Fish; and, we got to attend a FamilyLife marriage retreat for free (as Wycliffe missionaries) one weekend in Myrtle Beach while my mom babysat the kids here at our house!

• School verses for the new school year: Aolani and Micaiah -- 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Psalm 24:1-2
• Verses I memorized: I finished memorizing Psalm 103 for this baby.

January 2020

• Other activities besides the normal during the month of January: We let the kids have two sleepovers and several play dates; went on a coffee and game date; my mom joined us for half the month to help me start packing; Ricky had countless meetings; visited many friends to say our final goodbyes; had two appointments with doctors and found out that this baby is a boy(!); our home church had a commissioning service sending us out as missionaries (see video); had my 20th spiritual birthday; closed on our first house; gave away our tv screen to a family; got to share at a church; enjoyed a final small group (party for us!); drove to our new home to pray over it; and, held a gratitude party to honor, thank and say goodbye to everyone who has helped us do life in Morganton through stories, food and gifts (mini bags of coffee) :)
• For Lent, Ricky is rising at 6:30 every morning and I am trying to guard my speech so as to not speak death but life over myself.

• School verses for the new school year: Aolani and Micaiah -- James 1:5
• Verses I memorized: I am working on memorizing Psalm 103 for this baby.

“And his name shall be called...”

Boy #3:

MORGAN ISRAEL DIMARTINO 

Morgan: We initially thought of Morgan as we wanted to memorialize our time living in Morganton. Morgan is a Welsh name that used to be a boy name but has become unisex (we know two boys named Morgan and two girls named Morgan). It means “sea-chief” or “sea-defender.” We love that because God has really been moving our hearts for the sea peoples, like those in Melanesia, the Sentinel Islands, and elsewhere. Lastly, Micaiah really wanted another name to begin with ‘M’ since there are two ‘A’ names and two ‘R’ names in the family :)

Israel: All of our children’s middle names are from Aidan’s side of the family, to give them honor. Aidan’s brother is named Jacob, and God changed the Jacob-of-the-Bible's name to Israel after Jacob had spent the night wrestling with God (Genesis 32:22-28). Hence, Israel means “perseveres with/triumphant with God." Also, we wanted to keep the theme going by including a Hebrew name in each boy’s name.

DiMartino: "Di" is Italian for "of, from" and "Martino" is allegedly a mountain in Italy from whence the ancestors originate. "Martino" is derived from "Mars," the Roman god of war.

It’s our easiest kid name to pronounce ;)

So, our family consists of AAA for the girls and RMRM for the boys!

December 2019

• Other activities besides the normal during the month of December: We did some house hunting in Waxhaw; had friends over the evening of St. Nicholas Day; had my first OB appointment and ultrasound; celebrated Micaiah’s eighth birthday by rock climbing with a few friends and enjoying a little party at home with my parents here; had a sleepover with our close friends; went to our church’s first wedding; had a lady friend and her daughter over to celebrate Christmas together and stay overnight; went to the local Hmong church for a New Year’s Eve dinner party; the kids were sick much of the month; and, we watched all six extended editions of the LOTR and The Hobbit together as a family (Micaiah has been waiting for this for years!) over a couple weeks :)
• Raphael’s romps: He makes a really good machine gun noise; calls every dessert cookie; my favorite word that he says is milk; and, loves nerf guns/bullets/shooting/wars!

• School verses for the new school year: Aolani and Micaiah -- Revelation 3:20, Joshua 24:15, Matthew 6:9-13
• Verses I memorized: I am working on memorizing Psalm 103 for this baby.