The DiMartino Chronicles

Sunday, February 12, 2017

I Hold The Power

It's almost been four years, and I still think about "The Immediate Hallelujah" -- rejoicing in suffering -- a lot... like daily.

Here's a little different focus on that same subject.

I had talked about how we should delight in suffering for Christ's sake. How that can mean suffering that is due to faith in Christ, but how it also means all suffering that produces His character in us. Both meanings are accurate when the Bible speaks of suffering for Christ's sake.

In light of that truth, it seems I hold the power. If I can but learn to respond to any suffering with joy and peace, then I can make any suffering be for Christ's sake (and reap all the eternal rewards for suffering for Christ's sake!)

We are all going to suffer at some point; it's impossible to live in our broken world and escape unscathed by pain. So, the question is: If I am going to suffer, how will I respond? In anger and bitterness to make my suffering pointless and in vain? Or, in joy and peace to turn my suffering into being for His sake and thus purposeful and beneficial? My response determines the outcome. It really does depend on me.

I have the reins. I can choose.

Monday, February 6, 2017

Snow, Service, Sleepovers, and Silliness

1st week of January: dinner with friends, got my hair chopped off (13 inches, eighth hair donation, gave it to Wigs for Kids), and celebrated our first snow this winter (6-9"). We went sledding on our street one day and at a friends' house the next day.
2nd week of January: a friend visited one night, chiropractor appointments, dinner guests, prayer walk (a friend joined us and picked place), and small group.
3rd week of January: Ricky worked out-of-county one day; we had a missionary over for lunch; and, I had the honor to plan and organize a surprise "service project" for some international friends of ours on my spiritual birthday (yay!) :)
4th week of January: art class started for the kids, visited our friends to hear the surprise story on their end, small group, and... we, as a family, had a sleepover at our friends' home -- the kids partied till late and we partied later -- slept a little, coffee, brunch, played with kids, talked, board games -- lots of leisure and a super memory ;)
Micaiah wanted my packing tape one day -- to tape closed Daddy's box of LOTR Legos to prevent temptation. Micaiah kept sneaking in the office to open the box and play with them even though he knew they were off-limits (for now). After repeated disobedience, he creatively and voluntarily came up with this idea! I was so impressed with my 5-yo taking preventative measures to resist forthcoming temptation ;)
Aolani occassionally will still talk Micaiah into playing kangaroo -- they jump around the house with stuffed animals hanging out of their pants ;) [They used to do it often.]

First snow of the year

At a friend's house with their big,white dog (Monty)

The ideal kitchen table arrangement ;)

Watching history, America's Presidential Inauguration

Our living room floor stays covered in Legos

our friends' kids

pretending to be Mommy and Daddy

in Daddy's clothes

always constructing something...

quoting verses, eating dinner, and feeding Sarah

Now watch it again pondering: does God want me to feel this way about Him?

School verses: Micaiah -- Proverbs 3:12, Matthew 5:8, Proverbs 20:3 ; Aolani -- Psalm 23:1-3

Verses I memorized: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Monday, January 23, 2017

The Names of Jesus

I don't remember where this is from, but I'm sure it's on the Internet. I just really felt like I should read through this again to inspire remembrance, praise, and adoration :) A banner for the peoples

A Nazarene

All

Alpha and Omega

Ancient of Days

Anointed One

Apostle and high priest

Author and perfecter of our faith

Author of life

Author of their salvation

Blessed and only Ruler

Branch of the Lord

Bread of God

Bread of life

Bridegroom

Chief cornerstone

Chief Shepherd

Chosen and precious cornerstone

Christ Jesus my Lord

Christ Jesus our hope

Christ of God

Consolation of Israel

Covenant for the people

Crown of splendor

Eternal life

Faithful and True

Faithful and true witness

First to rise from the dead

Firstborn from among the dead

Firstborn over all creation

Firstfruits of those that have fallen asleep

Fragrant offering and sacrifice to God

Friend of tax collectors and "sinners"

God of all the earth

God over all

God's Son

Great high priest

Great light

Great Shepherd of the sheep

Guarantee of a better covenant

He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world

He who searches hearts and minds

Head of every man

Head of the body, the church

Head of the church

Head over every power and authority

Heir of all things

Him who died and came to life again

Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins

His one and only son

Holy and Righteous One

Holy One of God

Holy servant Jesus

Hope of Israel

Horn of salvation

Image of the invisible God

Immanuel (God with us)

Indescribable gift

Jesus

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ our Lord

Jesus Christ our Savior

Jesus of Nazareth

Judge of the living and the dead

KING OF KINGS

King of the ages

Lamb of God

Light for revelation to the Gentiles

Light of life

Light of men

Light of the world

Living bread that came down from heaven

Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

Lord (Kurios)

Lord of glory

LORD OF LORDS

Lord of peace

Lord of the harvest

Lord of the Sabbath

Lord (Rabboni)

Man accredited by God

Man of sorrows

Master

Mediator of a new covenant

Merciful and faithful high priest

Messenger of the covenant

Messiah

Morning star

My friend

My intercessor

One who makes men holy

One who speaks to the Father in our defense

One who will arise to rule over the nations

Our glorious Lord Jesus Christ

Our God and Savior Jesus Christ

Our only Sovereign and Lord

Our Passover lamb

Our peace

Our righteousness, holiness, and redemption

Physician

Prince and Savior

Prince of Peace

Prince of princes

Prince of the hosts

Ransom for all men

Refiner and purifier

Resurrection and the life

Righteous judge

Righteous man

Righteous One

Rock eternal (rock of ages)

Ruler of God's creation

Ruler of the kings of the earth

Savior of the world

Second man

Shepherd and Overseer of your souls

Son of Man

Son of the Blessed One

Son of the living God

Son of the Most High God

Source of eternal salvation

Sure foundation

Teacher

The Amen

The atoning sacrifice for our sins

The Beginning and the End

The bright Morning Star

The exact representation of his being

The First and the Last

The gate (door)

The good shepherd

The Head

The last Adam

The life

The Living One

The living Stone

The Lord Our Righteousness

The man from heaven

The man Jesus Christ

The most holy

The One and Only

The only God our Savior

The radiance of God's glory

The rising of the sun (Dayspring)

The stone the builders rejected

The testimony given in its proper time

The true light

The true vine

The truth

The way

The Word (logos)

True bread from heaven

Wisdom from God

Witness to the peoples

Wonderful Counselor

Word of God

Word of life

Your life

Your salvation

Friday, January 20, 2017

Finding God and Farm Festivities

The week before Christmas: We enjoyed our Advent activities, Ricky went to the movies with some friends, and we enjoyed our first holiday at home! On Christmas Eve, we went on a prayer walk and delivered cookies which was a great door-opener! A friend joined us (fun), and he wants to join us each future time :) We also got to attend our church's Christmas Eve service for the first time. On Christmas morning, Ricky got up early to start making a big brunch for seven (we had three Marshallese teenage boys over). We ate, talked, and played with them until late afternoon. Then, we had our own little celebration! After having the birthday dessert (pumpkin-apple pie and coffee ice cream and ginger ale -- kids' picks) and talking about the gifts we got Him and singing carols, we went outside before it grew dark to find 10 gifts from God to give him thanksgiving. Afterwards, we did our first scavenger hunt. This was so much fun; we hope to make this a new tradition! We had six clues, and the theme was Finding God -- washing machine, Ricky's back pocket, inside his Bible, tucked into a star hanging, in their bunk beds, and taped on the mirror. [We can find God in work, Daddy, His Word, nature, dreams/rest, and you! There's more, those are just the ones we did.] We finished the evening off with pizza and a Christmas movie :) It was a great first Christmas-at-home doing what we wanted and look forward to more!
The week after Christmas: We got to visit a dear friend at her home for the first time in five years! Then, we cleaned and packed and headed down to my parents' new house on their farm -- DaySpring! It's beautiful, and my parents did a lot of work to suit me and my needs :) My brother and his family joined us after a couple days. There's a video below of a lot of the fun we had, so I won't list it here ;) Some additional notes: I finally played Agricola solo for the first time; my parents gifted us with a new Bible (Joni Eraekson Tada's Beyond Suffering Bible, NLT -- love it!) and a globe, etc; I got to start reading Ann Voskamp's The Broken Way, easily one of favorite books!; Ricky got to hit golf balls into the woods (his favorite thing to do there ;); and, we were the only two who stayed up to ring in the new year!

Helping Daddy make the birthday dessert for Jesus -- pumpkin-apple pie :)

Acting out the nativity story (w/ friends)

Ready for delivery!

A Marshallese family we met on our prayer walk gave us some of their bamboo decorations, including some flowers :)

Monday, January 16, 2017

Symptometry Update (after three years)

I'll be brief and to the point.

Year 1 -- Improvements!

Year 2 -- Stagnant

Year 3 -- Decline (Doctor constantly trying new plans to figure out why I stopped responding); I lost half my improvements, kept half. We still did not feel like God had released us from Symptometry, though.

Now -- Last month, Doctor realized my circulation has become so poor that the particulates cannot flow through my veins well enough to be beneficial. So, we began a new treatment plan to focus slowly on improving circulation and increasing blood flow. I began it right before the new year, and... long story short -- it's working! My right ankle that had turned out in May 2013 has finally (drastically) improved! I had three pressure sores on it and could not stand on it as it kept growing worse ever since, eventually leading to a loss of leg muscle. It did point to 2 o'clock (at it's worse) but now it's like half past 12 (not all perfect but wow!) I am now able to stand on my foot! I can practice walking a little now :) My right ankle/foot was my #1 concern, so I'm quite happy and praise God for hearing my cries and alleviating the pain!

This video was taken on 7/6/2014.

This picture is from 10 days ago.

I hope to update my health improvements chart this week.

We're note sure where this is going, but we're going with God!

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Bits and Pieces

I'll catch up on the first two weeks of December now, and I hope to go through New Year's next week. I aim to post a Symptometry update in between them.
The first full week of December: The kids so enjoyed no school and our Advent days! We had friends over for St. Nicholas Day; Grandma came for four days -- helped Ricky move out of our storage unit one day, made birthday cupcakes...; Grandpa and Uncle Robby came down; and, we all celebrated Micaiah's 5th birthday (more below)!
The next week: We had the Christmas movie marathon on his actual birthday and let him select our meals and pizza. We, also, got to hold a small birthday celebration for our friend, who turned 30 ;)
For birthday presents, we usually get our kids a book and a toy and renew their magazine subscription (Highlights/Ranger Rick).

I just love the way these turned out! Micaiah wrote his name on them all (with Kwik Stix), and both kids stamped (with acrylic paint) the lego border :)

Making and icing 70+ gingerbread cookies

Micaiah turned five, so we had a big (20+) party for him complete with boy-friends and presents. It was a LEGO-themed party to celebrate his transition from Duplos to Legos. He loved it, and he is now obsessed with legos! For gifts, he received Legos, books, and dress-up costume stuff :)

Friday, December 30, 2016

Resolutions for 2017

The intro is from my post three years ago on resolutions (just because it still accurately expresses my thoughts!):

"Let me start by saying that just hearing the phrase New Year's resolutions rubs me wrong. I think that one reason is because weight loss is the first thing to come to mind because it is so common. Also, no one actually keeps them or remembers them after a few months. So they seem pointless and not very profitable.

But... it is hard for me to let such an opportunity to pass me by. I relish times of purpose to be still and reflect. [I sound like a Mary -- haha, but I really am a Martha-doer struggling to find (designate) time to be still and reflect.]

If God does not forbid it, and it strengthens your love-relationship with Christ, then I want to take advantage! Not that I cannot make "resolutions" other times of the year, but I have to be somewhat forced to sit back and reflect or it just does not happen because life is constantly demanding! Since this new year's time is already designated for making resolutions, then I'm going to let it "force" me :)

I find that I frequently need to evaluate my life in all areas to keep it going in the direction I want it to (towards glorifying God, of course). I hate regret and don't want to be on my death-bed, looking back on my life, and thinking, "If only I had done something with that part of my life back when I had the chance before it spiraled out of control."

The best way to change anything is to alter my spiritual life and let God have more access to my heart so He can bring true and lasting change to myself..."

Last year's resolutions were just too numerous for me. I found myself not even trying sometimes because the sheer amount of change was daunting, So, I am only aiming for one this year... one life-altering, game-changing resolution:

Daily, routine devotional time -- The key difference will be the routine aspect. Right now, I read and do other stuff a little here and there throughout the day whenever I can spare a moment. However, I quote the Bible and memorize Scripture when I am in the tub soaking every night for 20 minutes. I treasure this time to go a little deeper pondering the Word and hearing from the Lord, but I want more of it. I stay grounded with my other reading during the day but it's not long enough to let my roots grow down deep because I have to keep moving! But I need to get back to routine now. I'd like to spend around an hour or so with God everyday, the sooner the better in the day. I hope to get up earlier so I know I will be going to bed earlier at night, so office and computer work will have to be cut down and back. I don't know what else will suffer, but we'll see. I'm prepared to relax on schooling or cooking or housework or whatever has to give to allow for this desperately needed chunk of time.

I'm excited! Happy resolving!

Friday, December 23, 2016

Merry CHRISTmas!

2016

Because of God’s tender mercy, the Dayspring from heaven is about to break upon us,

Luke 1:78

Crying out to Jesus, "Come Dayspring, come!"

Ricky, Aidan, Aolani (almost 7), and Micaiah (5) DiMartino

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Holy-days {Advent 2016}

[edited version of last year's 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. This will be the first year we will be home on Christmas Day! Here is what we have been doing so far this month:

Devotions: Advent is where we put most of our emphasis, because what is this holy-day about if we do not prepare our hearts waiting for the Christ-child to come? You can see our Advent wreath (carved out of wood, with 24 candle holes, and there's a movable donkey carrying Mary). We light the candle after moving the traveling one forward. This year, we are using a new book -- Rembrandt: The Christmas Story (it's not a daily devotional but something we can work through sporadically throughout the month).

Activities: Our days have been so topsy turvy this month -- lots of unexpecteds, thank goodness no school to teach this month! Sometime in the course of each day, we:

Read a daily Advent devotion from Advent Storybook (short with good insights!)
Aolani colors an ornament and hangs it on our Jesse Tree
Read together a Christmas book. I arranged and stacked all of the Christmas books we own according to our schedule. Then, I hid the stack and each day we get out the book on top.
This year we are doing an Advent 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 (i.e., we baked cupcakes for Micaiah the day before his big birthday party). However, when plans change and I need to switch activities with another day, I can and have, several times already, very easily (which is great)! We've missed some, but I hope to work those in and double up some this week. The list of this year's activities are below.
Schooling: I'm taking seven weeks off from schooling the kids (Thanksgiving week until after the new year), so we have more time for Advent stuff and traveling. The kids are loving this winter break!
Our Advent devotional in the evening with Daddy (depending)
Reading Christmas Around the World at bedtime (depending)

Decorate our home while listening to new Christmas album (Josh Garrels)
Make paper plate wreaths
Put together Christmas care package for missionaries
Watch new Christmas movie under blankets (The Promise)
Make a paper garland
Invite family friends over to celebrate St. Nicholas Day by reading his biography and watching the Veggie Tales about him
Make play-dough candy canes
Make clothespin reindeer
Make a birthday treat for Micaiah
Micaiah’s LEGO birthday party
Make paper snowflakes
Make snowflake window art
Make and decorate gingerbread cookies
Watch Christmas movie marathon
Pick out Jesus’ birthday gift
Interview each family member on record
Call grandparents and sing a Christmas carol
Play hide & seek in a tree lot
Make and give apple bread to our neighbors
Act out the nativity story
Make a pillow bed on living room floor and watch Christmas cartoons
Go on a Christmas light scavenger hunt
Make a birthday cake for Jesus
Go on a prayer walk and deliver cookies

Decorations: Most noticeably, we do not have a Christmas tree. We are not totally against them; we just choose (for several reasons) not to erect one at this time. We 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.

Treats: Our treats are sporadic this year again -- banana cupcakes, gingerbread cookies, pumpkin ale, apple bread, cake, ice cream, vanilla drinks, etc.

Presents: Last year we began to do it differently. Whereas we use to not exchange presents amongst just ourselves, we asked our extended families to work in "Christmas presents" with other events -- like new year's or increase birthday or summer or a new school year or a visit or other holidays. 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 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 New Year's gifts for ourselves as a family and some friends that are to encourage faith and witness (such as Voice of the Martyrs' prayer calendars) for 2017. [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 joy to you in your celebrations and preparation for the coming of the King!

Friday, December 9, 2016

Thankful When Soaring or Not

Four weeks ago: we got to attend a Wycliffe Associates banquet, go on our Autumn walk, host the second annual flag football game with our church and community, hold our first Poppin' Party*, and attend a birthday party for a baby boy from the Marshall Islands turning one (in their culture turning one is a big deal, and the baby gives us presents!). There were a lot of people and food, and choreographed dancing and singing :)
*The Poppin' Party is what we invented. I figured out that rolling on bubble wrap was very therapeutic for me, so maybe others in wheelchairs would too! We took a big roll of it to a nursing home (with another family). Set it up with music and balloons (which the kids sat on and popped). While some of the residents participated, most loved watching the kids go wild popping. My next dream is to take this joy to a children's ward at a hospital :)
Three weeks ago: we had some church friends over for dinner, went on a date to a Lecrae concert (our favorite rap artist), and I was sick in bed all day one day and had to beg a friend to come over the next day to help me pack the family because Ricky's grandma graciously flew us out to Arizona for a week! We wrapped up our 15th week of homeschool this week and are now enjoying a 7-week break; our school will resume January 9, 2017 ;) Also, my parents finally moved in to the house they were building on their farm -- so exciting! We can't wait to ring in the new year there!
Two weeks ago: Arizona! A wonderful trip; we were just so honored to be with there! Grandma even gave us her bedroom and slept on the couch (she's almost 90-yo) -- crazy! Ricky's mom was got there before us, so we got to spend a few days with her and Grandma before Ricky's dad and brother joined us. We got to go see the Grand Canyon (my first time) -- cold but worth it! Simply indescribable. Other events; swimming, park, home-cooked Thanksgiving, water-balloon fight, golf cart rides, miniature golf, saw Moana in theater, games... Oh, and a great "small-world" story: Ricky's mom's shuttle driver in Arizona happened to be the brother of dear friends in our church's small group!
Last week: We returned home late at night to a dead fridge/freezer and had to throw everything out (the smell was putrid). The repairman announced it was just turned off; Micaiah admitted to possibly doing that before we left on our trip... A costly child mistake... Then, we got to support our friends by attending their boys' baptism :) Also, we had a Marshallese family over for dinner, had our pastor for lunch, went to a dinner party, held Mission's Committee here, and was sick again one day with food poisoning :(
Kids' measurements: Aolani -- 46.5" tall & weighs 50lbs; Micaiah -- 43" tall & weighs 39lbs