Sunday, July 3, 2022

Healing Journey Update 1

Click here to see the entire timeline.   

6/24-7/9 Travel by car (trip) — Not much stretching or exercising or routine or quiet time when we travel but attempting to be more intentional about it! [I experienced progress this trip, compared to the one in April!]

6/26 Both of my ankles are bending up and down without my quad interfering and me having to hold my calf down to keep my knee bent about half the time (beginning to isolate muscles)

6/30 I have had no attacks in a month— YAY!! I have had pain every day, but I attack it right away, so the enemy doesn’t get in. The pain flees 5-30 minutes after I begin addressing it and refuse to tolerate it!

7/1 The kids and the four people we stayed with this past week all got a short-lived stomach bug (vomiting/diarrhea), but Ricky and I didn’t 

7/2 I used to need to warm up my calves and feet before bed every single night in order to fall asleep, but that has been necessary less and less over the past six months. And now, it’s only necessary about once every week or two! (Increased blood flow?!)

Monday, June 20, 2022

Timeline of Healing Journey

WARNING: Long read!

I will be posting updates as I can on the blog as well as adding them to the page on this blog (so the whole journey is recorded all together in one place).

[Pre-healing journey timeline (2016-19), not detailed like the one below] 

 July 2019-August 2021: Come to learn, receive and agree with the truth about healing and all of Scripture in its entirety (!!!); begin renewing my mind to the truth that I am already healed (just need to work out my salvation from my spirit into my flesh); all the while storing up questions (for two years!) [This is the mental assent of the Truth. Old Covenant mindset versus New Covenant mindset] 

September-October 2021: Gain mentor (who worked out her own healing) and begin asking my questions (who’s kind and patient enough to answer me and not give up on me); I begin to encounter several others who also chose (or are choosing) to work out their healing (1 Peter 2:24).

October 28: begin an “action plan” to enforce the healing I already have and Jesus already did and gave 

November-December 2021: The Enemy exponentially ramps up and intensifies the spiritual attacks (so we know that I must be on the right track to make him start lashing out like a trapped raccoon and trying to get me to give up) [Detailed list: family witnessed and can verify]  

January 2022: Progress begins! (I had reached a new physical low, after the last two months)

Transferred from the chair to the couch holding onto one hand 

This past fall and winter, while seasonal illnesses went through the family, things to which Aidan has been susceptible in the past, she showed strength. She was the least affected adult from covid. And in the last bad viral cough, the kids got it bad, I got it a little, but she didn’t get it at all—even while eating sugar. 

1/7 I turned over by myself twice during the night

Stopped taking Advil. 

1/11 Two advances- Voice texting has improved and my right foot is turning outward less 

1/12 I slept 6 hours straight last night! Sleeping well and waking much less often ever since. 

1/13 Naturally needing both of the drugs less often throughout the day. 

1/18-19 Kids got stomach bug and Ricky felt his body fighting it, but I never got it! (This has happened three times now! I use to get every sickness the kids got.) 

1/20 I did 50 sit-ups in the wheelchair before lunch today! 10 at night before bed (I couldn’t do any the night before.) 

1/21 53 sit-ups this morning 

1/22 55; This past week, I've halfed the daytime amount of one of the drugs I currently take, have been able to stay up later and don't need to drink coffee everyday (the Enemy is losing his hold)

1/23 I get in the recliner for over four hours without twitching (unheard of), no twitching or drugs all day or before bed, nerves in legs begin vibrating nonstop that evening but not twitching so I don’t take the drugs (I have been taking them on an as needed basis this month). My legs start twitching some after lying down but not violently like normal just like muscle memory, so I take half of the normal of drugs after a couple hours in order to fall asleep. (THE SPIRIT OF AFFLICTION HAS GONE!!!! After 4.5 years of horrible torture!)

1/24 60; took less of both prescription drugs last night; able to wiggle toes a bit on left foot; trying to figure out what is happening and friend confirms that the affliction is indeed gone and body is adjusting (received Word while in prayer for me this morning without any contact with me); legs still vibrating and shaky nerves like a drug addict going through withdrawals. I tell Ricky about this. 

1/25 70 sit-ups this morning; 2/3 of each drug last night and again tonight and none during the day 

1/26 I tell my mentor, older kids and mom about the spirit of affliction fleeing; and, develop game plan for moving forward 

1/27 74 sit-ups this morning; 2/3 of each drug last night and again tonight and none during the day 

1/28 81; 1/2 of each drug again tonight and none during the day 

1/29 82 crunches; 1/2 of each drug again tonight and none during the day; make “before" video and begin to publicize my healing journey to select individuals

1/30 1/3-1/2 of each drug again tonight and none during the day; research exercises for me to begin getting stronger so body can obey my commands 

1/31 Drugs are down to 1/5&1/3 of the original amounts, only take at night (might be able to wean body off faster but going down at a medium speed since nerves in legs still vibrate during the day); begin practicing some exercises 

2/1 Develop exercise plan 

2/3 Wake after two hours with restless legs and rise soon after to fight (new and separate attack to cause fear); flees and legs calm that afternoon and sleep that night; refused to take drug during the day and "silence" the Enemy when he must leave!; body is beginning to obey a few of my commands; right leg locks up less often; and, three toes on right foot move just a smidge! 

2/5-7 Attempt to go off drugs completely and sleeplessness and pain return (trying to wean too fast) 

 2/8-10 Slowly return to previous amount of drugs at night and none during the day; my core and arms are stronger from doing my current exercise plan twice a day; found a PT who does home visits and begin next week 

2/13 Make milestone calendar (goals of what I hope to accomplish for each month) 

2/14 PT assessment; falling over less often; spine is spinning more; knees try to lift a little on command (!); lifting up with arms and not twisting and falling over; right leg is lengthening some 

2/16 Voice text is improving (1/3 correct)

2/22 Spiritual attack this morning. Took five hours of combat before fleeing- left me physically weak and exhausted and achy. A week of discouragement and feeling like I have lost most improvements before now. 

*I know the enemy is feeding me lies that I’m not moving forward but getting worse in order to create fear and get me to give up. So, I press in and on, knowing that the way to advance in the natural is to first take ground in the spiritual. 

*I am being cautious about who I tell about my healing journey right now because I want to bless small beginnings and protect myself from doubts or hesitancies or wrong theology. 

2/24 Able to twist spine more; PT impressed with standing (with his help) and wants to reorder my goals. Sit on the edge of the bed by myself for two minutes! Stretching and exercising twice a day. 

2/28 Lifting knees higher on command; horizontal marching has improved in speed and strength (just after several days); my breasts are evening out (spine curving less?); only one small bowel accident the past month (usually 4-6x/month) 

*God has done the impossible (dealt with and removed the enemy). I fully believe that. So I put my faith into action and do the possible. (Hebrews 11:1, being sure and certain is taking action, NOT just waiting for God to do what He’s already done.)

*I have been living the I CAN'T and I DON'T lifestyle for over 20 years, so it's deep in me. That thinking has to be uprooted and go! My nerves have been degenerating a long time. Now, we wake them up (as Jesus did Lazarus) and turn the Titanic around, not quick or easy 

3/3 PT pleased with progress; feeling stronger overall (trying to watch every word I speak to avoid giving Satan any footholds and my body permission to not be in perfect health [align with God’s Word]) 

3/6 Haven’t had a long-lasting spiritual attack in two weeks (yay!); leg relaxes on my command better; Some PT stretches and exercises are improving (Thigh clapping has improved; Able to bend forearm at wrist now; Can do the hand sliding sit-ups much more easily; Fingertip touches are more accurate; Able to lift ring finger on left hand off of table; Able to slide thumbs towards index finger without bending) 

3/9 Handwriting is becoming more legible and I am able to sign my name again (it’s been about a year); handwriting progress in pictures

3/11 God has been giving and unveiling a vision for me, slowly over the last month. I think it'd be helpful to see it in pictures in addition to just writing it down with words. I have recruited a friend to draw it for me. So when the drawings are done, I’ll share both the pictures and the vision: HERE

3/14 Sat on bededge for 2&1/2 minutes (was 2) 

3/20 Sat on bededge for 3&1/3 minutes (was 2.5); held breath for 35s (compared to 30s just days ago!) 

3/22 Received an image-vision of me as a warrior wearing armor and forcefully advancing and moving forward behind my shield, extinguishing fiery darts (I am getting this one painted by my friend and will attach it when it’s done)

3/26 Able to bend left ankle up (could only point toes); unbuttoned my jean jacket; after falling over while sitting on toilet, able to push self off of the wall and restabilize 

3/28 Able to write small enough to fit words on one line! handwriting progress in pictures

3/30 Ricky and I both notice that my trunk is stronger and more stabilized when doing normal stuff 

3/31 Received an image-vision (this one was like a comic strip) is with only three scenes — 
  1. A beautiful, strong two-story house surrounded by a dead lawn (dirt and patches of yellow-brown grass) that was filled with some tents and a bunch of junk (it looked gross).
  2. Me sticking my head out of a second-story window facing the backyard and yelling. 
  3. Green grass begins growing and shooting out of the house and moving into the yard as I was shouting. 
Interpretation —
  1. The house is my spirit (built up by my faith on a firm foundation). The lawn is my body, which the enemy was illegally trespassing on and having a heyday in. 
  2. The yard was vacant, so I must have already done my duty as a child of God and arrested and evicted the enemy. Since I was not commanding the enemy, I must have been decreeing truth and speaking to the lawn, my body.
  3. New life was growing and moving out into my body! 
4/4 I was able to decrease one of the drugs I take (nerves in legs finally feel stronger!) 

4/5 A little depression came, but I combatted it with the Word/Truth, and it left after half an hour (versus half a day!) 

4/6 Held breath for 40s (was 35s) 

4/8-4/18 Travel by car (trip) — Not much stretching or exercising or routine or quiet time when we travel πŸ˜” (We drive somewhere new almost everyday!) I refused to increase the drug amounts despite experiencing much leg pain in car. Trunk stability improvement remained as I was less wobbly on different toilets. 

4/21 PT today said that I regressed some, but what I see or feel doesn’t matter as the Truth remains (that I am healed by His stripe!); Able to slow and control the hand sliding sit-ups much better!

4/24 Yesterday I felt really strong in every way, and then last night was tough (pain, leg locking up, soreness) with it continuing for a couple hours after rising (compared to 2/3/22). We fought and it fled, but it was different. Although I felt the pain (and pain SUCKS), I was able to disconnect myself from it. It didn’t lead to panic, but I could easily remain steadfast as I fought (like a pillar in the water— not moved by the wind or the waves, pain or current limitations). [“I don’t care what I see or feel, I AM HEALED. It’s my birthright, and I am in blood covenant with the King!”] Pins and needles right now. Expectancy is rushing through me, but not the waiting kind. I know that it takes faith and action together for healing both to come and to stay. (Hebrews 11:1, being sure and certain is taking action, NOT just waiting for God to do what He’s already done.) 

4/25 Able to lift knees just enough for them to get themselves off of the footstool (without me having to lift them up with my arms or slide/force them off) 

4/28 Held breath for 45s (was 40s); thigh-clapping speed has increased 

5/1 A 6-hr intense attack that continued for off and on for 13 more hours! One of the worst. Keep wondering when the enemy is going to give up. I know that he is just hanging on, trying to outlast me and hoping that I’ll give up first. (I am certain, determined, expectant and hopeful because my confidence is His faithfulness.) 

5/3 Kids begin fighting off a sinus infection and I don’t get sick (with anything anymore!) 

5/4 After traveling five days ago (bed at 3a) and the attack the next day, my body just now feels back to normal 

5/5 I begin to pray in tongues every spare moment (that I’m not needed or around non-family) to hone my listening skills and gain more insight 

5/6 Holy Spirit begins to reveal and expound and teach and help me a lot!! Although my physical body is showing minute visible changes, I realize that I am still experiencing much (spiritual) growth 

*70% of the healed lose their healing because they aren’t prepared to fight the enemy when he attacks again and don’t know how to keep the healing should it return. So, I am thankful that I am learning how to stand firm now and, thus, be able to retain my complete, physical healing. 

*I realize that I talk a lot about attacks and fighting and battles. I know I can rest in Him (and I do!) because He has already conquered and defeated the enemy! His Word is settled and it is done. Period. I’m simply enforcing this truth and my freedom here on earth. (Believers have the right and responsibility to bring and release the Kingdom of God on earth.) It is hard, but it is simple. 

5/7 Transfer to theater seat (versus remaining in the wheelchair for 3+ hours) for the first time in years 

5/8 Pushing self up in wheelchair to full extent of arms; When I lean forward, my legs can put themselves up on the footstool; Stabilizing trunk off of backrest has improved slightly; Punching accuracy has improved slightly 

5/9 Didn’t have to wake Ricky up for help the previous two nights and I didn’t wake up in a lot of pain; however, I did last night. But this is still noteworthy for me! 

5/14 6-hr exhausting attack 

5/15 Forcibly reduce secondary drug by 1/2 the amount 

5/16 Both ankles noticeably bend up and down on command (exciting!); necessary for walking 

5/17 Another long attack 

5/19 And yet another (so sore had to cancel PT today for the first time) 

5/21 Another 

5/22 Completely stop taking the muscle relaxant drug 

5/24 Another long attack (worn); tell two friends situation with drug and pain and attacks 

5/25 Get more muscle relaxant but don’t take it (I got it to use as needed, not wanting to take it on a regular basis) 

5/25-6/6 No more long-lasting attacks and no muscle relaxant! Only one drug now. 

*When physical pain first shows, I must deal with it right away and not tolerate it because if I do, then I am agreeing with it, which both allows it to continue and gives the Enemy a foothold to use the pain for his evil purposes. But if I attack it right when it comes (I have an attack pain plan), it stops. (“Also I see pain as one of the enemies wiles to try to get us out of the Spirit and into the flesh, his territory.” -Josie, a friend)

5/26 PT said progress continues (still doing exercise plan daily) 

5/29 Able to briefly hold self up by legs and ease down in wheelchair (legs getting stronger!) 

5/30 Zero sleep last night. Worst attack I’ve ever had (20 hours). I know it’s because I publicized no more attacks- typical enemy strategy. So hard to fight when tired in bed, which is when it began. I took 3x the muscle relaxant of what I used to take to no effect! 

5/31 Propped self up on elbows in bed once this morning (from lying on back position) 

*I am not trying to get healed; I already am healed. 
I am not trying to defeat the Enemy; he’s already defeated.
I am not trying to gain the victory; I already have the victory! 
I AM ENFORCING. 

*Like a policeman- he has all authority and every right to kick out enemies, stop illegal activity, and arrest criminals. But, he has take action (do something and use it!) for anything to happen. Having the authority doesn’t do any good unless he uses it. He must enforce!! 

6/4 Body is sore in the hip/ab/back/core area from the muscles growing there (this past week); able to look around on stair-lift chair while it moves and not fall over or be fearful of loosing balance and toppling (haven’t done that in several years!) 

6/6 I begin to take the previous amount of muscle relaxant again at night for several reasons— sleeping 4 hours each night was wearing, waking up in pain and rising to combat it to prevent the enemy from getting a foothold and attack me still took an hour every morning, but mainly because my vigor in fighting/enforcing was not as strong throughout the day (so I think that I will do it [wean off drug] again once my body gets a little stronger.) Of course there’s the temptation to feel defeated, but that’s a lie from the enemy because the Word tells me I am the victor! So, I take captive that lying thought and destroy it with Truth!

6/8 Make some adjustments/clarifications with PT regarding exercises and expectations concerning time 

6/9 My faith and confidence are soaring- yay!! Beginning to notice and reject the innumerable lies that the enemy feeds me all day long- phew! 

6/11 My legs can put themselves up on the footstool WITHOUT leaning forward (see 5/8), just gripping wheels in upright position

6/13 Haven’t had any bowel accidents in several months 

6/16 Able to peel my own bananas; beginning to consistently buckle the seatbelt in the wheelchair myself 

*I am learning why the Bible says so much about needing to persevere in the faith, persist in believing and doing the Word, not giving up, staying and standing strong, being confident and unwavering and immovable—having grit. The only way to lose is to quit!

**I did not know when to publicly share this. I thought that I would wait until the changes become noticeable or undeniable (just to avoid skepticism, doubts, questions, and… pressure! I don’t want to feel the pressure to perform and get results and get my focus off of Abba! And I currently don’t have any extra time to respond to emails, even if I wanted to reply). I opted to go ahead and divulge what has been happening with me, because I want others to glorify God with me for the advances and see this miracle unfold πŸ₯°πŸ‘πŸΌπŸ™ŒπŸΌ  (6/18/22)

Sunday, May 15, 2022

“Buildrior” Vision

“Buildrior” Vision

God has been giving and unveiling a vision, slowly since February. The vision began with God showing me that I was the “Buildrior” (builder/warrior) in Nehemiah 4:17, working to rebuild my temple walls with one hand while having to wield the Sword with the other, being ready to fight off enemy attacks at the same time. (My body being the temple of the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 6:19. The sword is the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, Ephesians 6:17 and Hebrews 4:12. You use the Sword by decreeing the Word of God, speaking it with force and great strength.)

Everything Holy Spirit gives is treasure in the temple (Ephesians 1:18). And the stones in the wall are New Testament directions. Keeping these numerous commands doesn’t get you salvation or the treasure, but builds your temple strong to protect you and the treasure from the enemy, the great liar and deceiver (John 8:44), who comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).

The legs symbolize the joy and strength of the LORD (Nehemiah 8:10, Isaiah 26:4), which upholds. The sandals represent action (1 Peter 5:9), without which faith is dead and void (James 2:17-26) and the Word of God has no effect (must be believed and acted on). The soles are the blood of Jesus, which tread on and overcome the enemy (Revelation 12:11).

I am clothed in hope (Romans 5:5). Therefore, the Buildrior is named Faith and is the embodiment of faith, because faith is putting hope into action (Hebrews 11:1).

The headband is Isaiah 50:7 and represents perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3, Philippians 4:7). 

My sash is a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7, Ephesians 6:10, 1 Corinthians 13:2), and the headband stands for  perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3, Philippians 4:7). 

In the building hand, there is a trowel. The trowel is my voice, and knowledge is the handle (you have to both know God and how to use your voice to be beneficially effective.) Beside me, is a bucket of mortar, which represents my words. (My thoughts are the main ingredient comprising the mortar, Philippians 4:8.) The words I speak can either build the wall strong, making it impenetrable, or weaken the wall, causing the stones to become loose, unstable, and likely crumble out, giving the enemy a foothold to scale the wall and get into the temple (John 10:10). The bucket itself is symbolic of grace, which should surround every word spoken (Colossians 4:6)

Around my waist is a tool belt, which is revelation (Ephesians 1:17-18) — necessary for using spiritual tools and weapons.

There are two weapons — the sword of the Spirit (detailed above) and a bag of stones with a slingshot. The weapons must be used by Faith (the Buildrior) to be purposely effective. The stones are the names of Jesus, declarations about who God is (His nature/character, His promises, and what He has done), affirmations about who I am, and commands-- all being hurled at enemy when spoken with power and authority (the slingshot, which takes practice).

There are tools, along with the weapons, in the tool belt:
    •    Tongues (Jude 20-21)
    •    Praise (Psalm 22:3, 2 Chronicles 20:22)
    •    Prayer (Ephesians 6:14)

Thursday, April 7, 2022

Family Mosaics

I realize that it looks like I just gave up on posting about the family every month, but I haven’t! After the six-week road-trip last summer, Ricky got me a new iMac. Since I only know Windows and minuscule extra time, the learning curve has been daunting and thus put off! So. I have finally finished going through 2021 pictures. Once I learn iMovie, I’ll recap June through December last year and hopefully recap January through April/May/June (?) of this year after that. Hopefully, the Mosaic posts will return to a monthly basis like the Ponderings :)

Sunday, April 3, 2022

2005 Demonic Attack


I realized recently that I never documented the demonic attack from Thanksgiving 2005 (this was the only one until 2017). While I DO NOT intend to instill ANY fear or make our Enemy out as worthy of ANY fear (Luke 12:4-5), l am mentioning this experience because I have heard many times over that this kind of attack tends to be a common tactic. 

This occurred when I was home for Thanksgiving break during my third year of college (before I was married). It must have been a couple days before Thanksgiving because I remember announcing during the daytime that I was going to be in charge of doing the Thanksgiving activity and what it was (don’t remember now, but I’m sure it involved praising and thanking God!) 

While I was sleeping, I had a dream that turned into a nightmare. I don’t think it’s important, but I’ll record what I remember of it for posterity. I was playing softball and then went “home" to play the organ/piano. 

As I was playing, I began to blow up like a blueberry and then I heard cackling. I stopped playing the organ, but the music and evil laughter continued as I was blowing up. I could no longer breathe. So, I decided to wake up. 

Upon waking, the wicked cackling and choking carried over and continued. I couldn’t move. My eyes were darting around in the pitch black. My mind was racing. I wanted to call out to Jesus to come help me, but I couldn’t talk. I remember thinking repeatedly that it wasn’t a fair fight because I couldn’t even get the name of Jesus out! I may have felt a little panic, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it. 

I closed my eyes so I could muster every ounce of energy I had and squeezed out an audible Jesus!*

Immediately, the choking ended and the intense darkness fled. I gasped and could again see the streetlight shining through my bedroom window like normal. 

After regaining my breath, I yelled for my mom. I wanted to tell her what happened, have her pray over me, and stay with me until I fell back asleep.

The end. 

I don’t remember how I felt afterwards, but it doesn’t matter. (Feelings are untrustworthy and should never determine your actions or words!) 

*The point of this retelling is the power of Jesus’s name! (It’s not simply the word jesus or being a Christian that does the trick. It’s knowing the power and authority that is in the name of Jesus. Not a mental assent but an immovable surety!!)

Sunday, February 20, 2022

Enforcing Victory


I am not trying to get healed; I already am healed. 
I am not trying to defeat the Enemy; he’s already defeated. 
I am not trying to gain the victory over the Enemy; I already have the victory!
I AM ENFORCING. 

(Like Super Bowl champ Cooper Kupp said… we can play from victory instead of for victory!)

Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Resolutions for 2022

Just like last year, I am making two similar resolutions — one regarding diet and the other spiritual, but it’s impacting every area of my person. 

1) Intermittent fasting (eating between 
1-7pm), one meal a day plus snacks, little to no sugar, and limit coffee and wheat (within reason).

2) I have timers set for every hour to remind me to declare Scripture. I have been doing this since Thanksgiving, and it’s incredible how it really does alter your world and help renew the mind! I’m also repeating affirmations with the older kids every three days. 

Sunday, January 2, 2022

Holy-days {Advent & Christmas 2021)


[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", although now we are waiting for His second coming) 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 year—

Devotionals: We were not able to do one together as a family this time, but Aolani did the Truth in the Tinsel devotional/activity for toddlers with Raphael. We just set out all our other devotional books for the kids to look at whenever. 

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 took the month off!
  • The Truth in the Tinsel devotional/activity for toddlers 
  • 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 always end up altering or switching some days as plans change. The list of this year's activities are below. 
  1. Decorate our home and puppy tree while listening to new Christmas album
  2. The Chosen Christmas show with Mimi
  3. Little Guatemala coffee cart with friends and neighbors 
  4. Dance to Christmas music
  5. Watch Home Alone 1&2 with hot chocolate
  6. Celebrate St. Nicholas Day by making fudge, reading his biography, and watching the Veggie Tales about him with family friends
  7. Make a pillow bed on floor and watch Christmas cartoons 
  8. Make snowflake window art
  9. Make pipe-cleaner poinsettias 
  10. Watch Christmas movie marathon and share popcorn
  11. Board game marathon
  12. Puzzle
  13. Make and decorate gingerbread houses with Mimi
  14. Make a birthday meal for Micaiah 
  15. Pick out and wrap Jesus’ birthday gifts
  16. Fancy dress tea and luncheon with friends 
  17. Plan and prep for birthday party
  18. Micaiah’s birthday party with friends and cupcakes  
  19. Watch The Star at Mimi’s
  20. Act out the nativity story with friends 
  21. Make Puppy Chow
  22. Watch The Nativity Story movie under blankets
  23. Family Christmas dinner party
  24. Make breakfast casserole for Christmas Day brunch 
  25. Throw Jesus a birthday party! 
Hung in our kitchen 

Decorations: We chopped down our own little Christmas tree this year (from a neighbor’s yard) and decorated it with my 29 puppy ornament collection and a homemade paper star. We also have other items (ornaments, stockings, nativity sets...) on display and hanging around. We so enjoyed hanging icicle lights from the ceiling of our hallway! We keep the Christmas music playing. Also, we simply hang the Christmas cards we receive on ribbon with clothespins. 




Our homemade Jesse tree ornaments 


Church City (two villages from Ricky’s grandma and two from our neighbors)

Treats: Our treats were almost daily this year -- popcorn and M&Ms, hot chocolate and chai tea, sugar cookies, gingerbread houses, cupcakes, Puppy Chow, mini cheesecakes, mint chocolate mousse, peppermint bark, all kinds of chocolates and other goodies...

Presents: 
 This was our seventh 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 in the upcoming year, which we are going to do on Epiphany (January 6th 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 the night before and  that morning before our guests arrived (breakfast casserole, cinnamon rolls, applesauce and banana bakes). We pray much beforehand about who to invite -- poor, needy, lonely... This year, we got to share our celebration with our adopted grandma Mimi. After we ate brunch, and we 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 all napped and then did our annual scavenger hunt. This was so much fun again! This year we had nine clues, and the theme was Spiritual Weapons (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) — Scripture (Hebrews 4:12), Faith (1 Timothy 6:12), Praying in tongues (Jude 20-21), Praise (Psalm 22:3, 2 Chronicles 20:22), Joy (Nehemiah 8:10), Prayer (Ephesians 6:16), Words (Proverbs 18:21), Action (1 Peter 5:9), and the Blood of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:11). Then, we ate the gingerbread house that Aolani had made,sang Happy Birthday, and shared with each other what we had individually selected for gifts to give Jesus (we had written down our selections on paper and put them in tins under our little tree; Aolani got to choose for baby Morgan). Ricky and the three older kids went to the airport to pick up Ricky’s mom (who came to visit for a week) while Mimi helped me put Morgan to bed before leaving herself. It was a great sixth 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!

Thursday, December 23, 2021

Merry CHRISTmas!

2021

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”
Ephesians 1:3

Praying for you to grasp the richness and fullness we have now in and through Jesus Christ,
Ricky, Aidan, Aolani (almost 12), Micaiah (10), Raphael (4), & Morgan (18 mo.)

Thursday, December 9, 2021

Tossing Acorns


We celebrated Thanksgiving with my side of the family. For the big meal, I put an acorn at everyone’s place. Here’s what I wrote about it:

There’s an acorn at everyone’s placemat. The acorn is supposed to represent a bad thought, whether it’s come from you or Satan dropped it into your mind. I heard recently how the easiest time to resist the devil and take the thought captive is when it first falls or pops up. You can just go pick the acorn up and toss it out. But if you leave it for even a little while and there affore, shoots will pop out and try to root down. And the longer you leave it, the deeper the roots go and the bigger the tree. Making it harder it harder to uproot and tear down. So, we can give thanks that God gives us the wisdom and ability and strength to pick up these acorns and throw them away! 

If you want, you can share an acorn (negative thought or fear) that you want to identify and resist, in addition to something from this past year that you are thankful for and why.

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Current update

We had a miscarriage about two weeks ago with #5. I had just entered the second trimester.

    • Although this was our second miscarriage, it was a different experience (and seemingly a bit more traumatic). 
 • The body was intact, and Ricky thinks he saw the male organ forming. So we named him Hezekiah Luther. Hezekiah means “Yahweh strengthens me” or “Yahweh is my strength.” Luther is from Aidan’s grandpa who passed away earlier this year.
• We buried him at Aidan’s parents' farm.  
 • We are well, even though we had our share of grief and tears. Thankful to be comforted by the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). 
 • God is good. He is light and in him there is no darkness, not even a little bit (1 John 1:5). Satan is the one who comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). 
• We will see little Hezekiah again, along with his sibling who we miscarried eight years ago.
 • God is the master of redemption, turning bad into good and that which was meant for evil into great blessing. 
 • Our resolve to advance the kingdom of God has only gotten stronger. 

[And I have not yet given up on our family mosaic posts! I’m just really behind! ;]

Monday, September 27, 2021

Watching Words


We all know that words have powerful: to create, to craft, to exorcise, to devour, to build…

Anyway, so I have been learning that I don’t want to speak what I see or feel (what carnal people call reality). But I want to speak the Word of God (or at least what I want to see happen since I don’t want to give consent or permission to my flesh to continue it’s way) since I know that is reality. 

While I have changed the way I say many things (knowing that will eventually change my way of thinking), I still act dumbfounded and grapple for words when I’m asked the most simple and basic questions: How are you? How are you doing? How are you feeling?

So, here are some of my premeditated and constructed answers: 
I am blessed. 
I am grateful. 
By His stripes, I’m healed. 
I am pressing in. 
I am full of praise. 
My body is a work in progress.
Amen for TRUTH!