Tribal Life With The Aquino Clan

Chocolate Chip Cookies -egg, grain, soy, dairy, gluten free

2010-01-22T16:02:00.000-08:00

Raisin Pecan Cookies - gluten, egg, mostly everything free

2 1/2 c blanched almond flour
1/4t salt
1/4t baking soda
1/2c grapeseed oil
1/2c agave
1T vanilla extract
1c pecan pieces
1c raisins
OR
1c choc chips

1. Mix dry ingredients in medium bowl
2. Mix wet ingredients in smaller bowl
3. Mix wet into dry
4. put 1 inch balls onto parchment paper lined baking sheets
5. flatten cookie with palm
4. bake at 350 7-10 minutes

Moving Time

2009-11-02T14:36:00.001-08:00

Last week I lost my hope and was in a crisis of faith. We so often treat God like a genie and he is always faithful and gives us what we need. I really believed he'd work miracles and make things work, but he wasn't, that I could see. I've never been in such a dark place spiritually as I was last week and last month even, but, God kept whispering through his people and in that still small voice that he had this one. I lost the ability to even hear him last week. Salvation is the gift, other than that, I can not hope for more. I was stripped of all other understanding.

He set divine appointments, running into a dear friend in the Costco parking lot, where she prayed for me, that was about a month ago. He continued blessing me one little thing at a time to show me he was still there, but I was buying the lies of the enemy, that God cared only about my salvation, other than that, he wasn't involved in my life. I can see now God wanted me to see Him when he revealed his plan, because it is not a plan I would have chosen without putting up a big stink, feeling angry and on and on. I had to go down a path to see where I belonged without God, and I can recognize his fingerprints in the plan he revealed and is bringing us on now. I now embrace and am excited for our new simpler life. I will shed extra belongings I don't need, I embrace a lower stress lifestyle, and he's giving me a bigger kitchen, with my lifestyle that's pretty huge!

My friend Amy was sharing about Jesus and his eternal perspective, how that was at the forefront of his speech and mind, and yet, for our benefit, because we are so limited and need to see help now where we are at, he blesses us, heals us, restores us. Still for the purpose of our eternal salvation, and for that of those around us. Thank you God!

Utimate Barter

2009-09-27T16:25:00.000-07:00

While sitting under the shade waiting for the tow truck to arrive and let me back into my car this afternoon, I rested my head in my hands spent a quiet moment to listen and be available to hear God. The idea came almost instantly as I quieted my spirit. Thinking about services people pay for, massage, nutrition counseling, training of any kind. So many people are struggling financially right now, and so many are working to better their life but cannot afford to do all they wish they could for their families or themselves.

The idea of having chickens who lay eggs every day is so appealing to me. We've had a garden overflowing with abundance this summer and gave away delicious, pesticide free food. The kids wanted to sell it. We had so much at times we could have been a vendor at the farmers market! Selling things is not my strong suit. Not motivated to ask people for their money. I'd rather give it away. Do I think it's worth good money, sure!

Everyone has something or can do something someone else needs. Would you clean my house for fresh organic eggs? For fresh garden produce? Avocados? Grain free muffins? Nut bars? grain free crackers? Creamy nut dressings? Photo's taken at your party? Your digital photo's cleaned up and put to music on slideshow?

Assign the current market value to your good or service, we get together with our goods and exchange away. To keep overhead from being a nightmare, everyone negotiates their own trades, including the 3 way trades for now.

Something to think about ay. We all need more than $ can provide, and can provide things to each other like sewing, meal prep, waxing. Pretty limitless really!

Keep posted for more info.

God is so good! I've been praying, begging asking, "What comes next? We can't make this work as is anymore". My heart swells with gratitude and hope for what is unfolding in our lives. My prayer is that my life would be a faith building testimony, building others up around our family, not because of how good we are, cause we aren't, but because of God's grace and love and power. That He be glorified in and through us.

Modified Elimination Diet

2009-07-06T21:06:00.000-07:00

What is this Modified Elimination Diet referred to you ask? Similar to other allergy elimination diets it adds gluten. There may be more differences than that, but I haven't done the standard one.

I still follow the elimination diet, with my gut, there was too much damage to go back to foods. Also found that there were foods on the allowed list my body didn't tolerate like tomatos, then became sensative to foods I leaned more heavily on than normal. Create your own list, listen to your body. Each person metabolizes things differently.

My list is a living list, it changes. Enjoyed coconut products so much, various forms, that I no longer can enjoy them:( Learning as I go. Some foods I can have occasionally, like avocados. Have them too many days in a row, then I become sensitive to them. I am loosely following a rotation diet for some items, giving my body 3+ days between eating them. Recently heard SAM-e may help metabolize sulphur better and allow garlic and onions back into my life. Sure would love that! Will advise if I try it.

When I went gluten free, the only spice I used overused was garlic. Having read that many spices contain gluten and aren't labeled.

Where to start. I have a sheet laid out by food groups with Allowed and Avoid columns. That won't work here. If this makes your head spin, mine does too! Photographing and journaling about the foods we do eat is therapeutic and fun. I get recipes online usually. Ideas, places to step off from. Most every recipe I encounter needs to be modified some how. Check out my photos on face book for comments and recipes.

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ALLOWED(means we can eat it):

Chicken, Turkey, Lamb, fish, unprocessed cold cuts/sausage,

-All veggies (preferably fresh), all beans (except soy)

-All Fruits (except for citrus and strawberries)

-Cold pressed unrefined oils, olive oil, coconut oil, clarified butter(ghee), flax, sesame, pumpkin seeds, nut butters, almonds, macadamia, pecans, salt, pepper and spices.

-Milk substitutes such as rice and nut milks, coconut milk(no additives)

-Water, caffeine-free herbal teas(non-citrus)

-Breads/cereal/pasta - Any made of rice, quinoa, amaranth, millet, potato flour, tapioca starch, buckwheat, gluten free flour based products, tapioca bread, gluten free bread, gluten free waffles, rice pasta

-Sweeteners - Stevia, agave nectar, fruit sweetened.

AVOID (means no eating)

-Beef, shellfish, tofu, tempeh, soy protein isolate(found in protein drinks and food bars)

-Creamed vegetables or vegetables with sauces and soy products, corn

-Citrus, strawberries, dried fruit containing sulfur preservatives

-Margarine, shortening, butter, refined oils, all types of vinegar,( includes most condiments and salad dressings), soy sauce

- All Dairy products from any animal -Milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, yogurt, cream, non-dairy creamer, soy milk

- Milk, coffee, decaf coffee, tea, citrus, alcohol, soda pop

- sugar, chocolate, honey, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, maple syrup

-All corn products, including corn starch

-ALL PRODUCTS MADE WITH GLUTEN - products made with wheat, oats, spelt, kamut, rye, barley

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Statistics

2009-06-24T14:41:00.000-07:00

Gluten intolerance is a spectrum disorder, rather than Celiacs Disease or nothing (The Gluten Effect). Celiac disease is a typical complex inflammatory disorder(Nature Reviews. Immunology Vol. 2, Sept. 2002, 647-55). This means anything that gets inflamed, intestinal lining, joints...

As Dr Rick of HealthNow often says, a symptom means your body has malfunctioned; pain, and discomfort are common, NOT normal. Healthy bodies adapt to life's stressors feeling free of pain and filled with energy.

70% of our immune cells are in our intestines! This means, healthy gut, healthy body. Unhealthy gut, unhealthy body.(The Gluten Effect, Drs. Vikki and Richard Peterson D.C., C.C.N)
50% of IBS sufferers have gluten intolerance(The Gluten Effect, Drs. Vikki and Richard Peterson D.C., C.C.N)

10% more autoimmune diseases in celiacs than rest of the US population(CMLS, Cell. Mol Life Sci. 62 (2005) 791-799
High levels of anxiety were common in the untreated celiac patinets 11/15 (73%) (AM J Med, March 1, 2004, 312-7)
Depression was more common in untreated celiac patients 10/15 (67%) (AM J Med, March 1, 2004, 312-7)

In 132 participants all clinically diagnosed with ADHD, after at least 6 months of a gluten-free diet, all patients or their parents reported a significant improvement in their behavior and functioning compared to the immediate period before diagnosis and dietetic treatment. (Journal of Attention Disorders, March 2006, 1-5)
Mortality Risks for cardiovascular diseases was 60% increased in CD (ARCH INTERN MED/VOL. 163, JULY 14, 2003

Read The Gluten Effect if you like statistics and medical documentation, obviously I do. A heavily documented book with medical research from both the United States and Europe. Written in plain English and divided into sections so you read what applies to you.

Our bodies are regenerative by nature. Thanks God! Just as a scraped knee clots, scabs, scars and lightens over time, or keloids for many darker skinned folks like my hubby. So our insides work much the same way. If you used a lotion and got a rash, you'd see it right away and probably stop using that lotion, but, when we eat something our body doesn't react well with, we don't see the rash. We often ignore the signals our bodies give us, cover them up, antacids(I ate them constantly), Advil, or stronger. Diabetes, heart disease, auto-immune disorders, cancers, you name it, that's where our bodies go when they've been taxed beyond what they can handle.

Some of us are the canaries of society. My story is classic, in retro spect. When I was 23 I had a grand mal seizure, the next year I gained 60 pounds(explanation in future post)! Years of candida, didn't realize it at the time. When I was 26 or 27 I became lactose intolerant. The tips of the villi in the small intestine have the enzymes sucrase and lactase, for handling sugars and lactose. In my late 20's early 30's I began to have intolerance to fruits. Melons made my throat itch, ripe bananas and walnuts made my mouth itch. Tomatoes were suspect, but I didn't listen, I could tolerate the side effect from them. Another seizure when pregnant in 1999. Been on medication ever since:( Seizures started to be petite partials, the small ones while conscious. The more seizures you have, leads to more seizures. Gluten intolerance can be responsible for seizures. My seizures have been hormone related, and my hormones have been totally off. It's a miracle that I have 3 healthy boys!

Having a tumor really makes you look at priorities and life differently. Thinking of my children growing up without me, disturbing to say the least. I had a rare auto-immune disease, Castlemans. "Autoimmune disorders occur 10 times more commonly in Celiac Disease than in the general population."(CMLS, Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 62 (2005) 791-799)

My dad had diabetes, lupus(autoimmune disease), arthritis, kidney failure(diabetes complication), dialisis, then early death, 67. To my horror, I was headed down the same path, even though I ate whole grains, drank water, ate fruits and veggies, sprinkled my foods with ground flax seeds,well, along with my unhealthy indulgences. It wasn't until 4 months after my 3 year old son had health problems and was taken off gluten, that I finally went gluten free myself.

After my thorocotomy(open chest surgery from under the arm), I experienced a painful and lengthy recovery. Again, in retrospect I can see it was due to my inflammation being out of control. Once I went gluten free, some areas of pain from the surgery, I thought, turned out to be my intestinal pain. The proximity caused the confusion. Did I have stomach aches for years and not know it? No. I had stabbing abdominal pains that began after my surgery, trauma to the body. Trauma's are often triggers for advancing gluten intolerance and ultimately celiacs disease. While I stopped my gluten consumption before I hit critical mass, many people begin to suffer symptoms as they age and like me with my joint inflammation, accept this as the process of aging. It used to hurt to take a deep breath, after my surgery, up until recently, since going gluten free.

Going gluten free is not the end all be all, but it is a significant source of strain and stress on the body for some. While we cannot control all the stresses in our lives, we most certainly can control what goes into our bodies. Making a temporary diet change with the modified elimination diet is a great way to get started. Often people find a food sensitivity they didn't know about, which aleviates many symptoms. 1 week, it's worth trying. At the end of a week you begin reintroducing one food at a time, waiting 2 days back off of it, then, if no symptoms, add it back to your diet. This is not a 'diet', I've got to loose weight, I must not eat this or else. You may lose weight as you get off things your body doesn't do well with, especially gluten, but the focus is on being healthy.

This has been an intensely spiritual journey for me. Obeying God, his still small voice. I've heard the definition of stress=the difference between your values and how you actually live. My diet may be restricted for a time, but, the freedom I have from obeying my addiction is so amazing. Still in the beginning of this journey myself, many years of damage being healed, inside and out. The 100 point reduction in cholesterol, the increase in my thyroid function, some weight loss. It takes 6months to 2 years to heal your body after years of abuse. Pretty amazing huh?

Better Than A Thousand Words

2009-06-21T17:43:00.000-07:00

Mesquite Flour/Meal made from the pods of the mesquite tree. Below is the muffin experiment. Cutting tapioca, adding mesquite. Pudding like texture in the middle. Never quite cooked, but with almond extract, my kids thought it was a repeat! Dark almost chocolate taste.

Gluten and Your Health

2009-06-19T14:39:00.000-07:00

Since becoming gluten free in February my cholesterol has dropped over 100 points! My Thyroid T4 test has raised 2 points, after 4 years of being at 9 (the scale is 9-24). How can this be?

What is gluten? A protein found in wheat, barley and rye, (more comprehensive list). Gliadin is the substance in gluten that induces inflammation in individuals who are sensitive to it. Gluten sensitivity is a food trigger auto-immune/anti-body response, not a food allergy. IGG vs. IGE(histamine trigger)

Possible symptoms and conditions of gluten sensitivity

• Craving for wheat or inability to stop eating wheat
• Allergies, asthma
• Sinus congestion, post-nasal drip
• Joint and muscle aches
• Diarrhea and/or constipation
• Gas, bloating, abdominal pain
• Psoriasis, eczema or unexplained rash
• Depression, anxiety or mood-swings
• Hyperactivity
• Neurological disorders
• Unexplained chronic fatigue
• Frequent canker sores
• Iron-deficiency anemia
• Osteoporosis, dental enamel defects
• Short stature
• Ear-aches
• Headaches
• Gallbladder dysfunction/stones
• Kidney stones
• Cerebral and cerebellar atrophy (affects coordination)
• Delayed puberty
• Early menopause
• Febrile seizures
• Intestinal cancers
• Obesity
• Pica
• Single generalized seizures

(The above list is a partial list compiled from Dangerous Grains by James Braly, M.D., and Ron Hoggan, M.A. and The Gluten Effect, by Drs. Vikki & Richard Petersen, D.C., C.C.N.)

What happens in your intestines when you’re gluten sensitive and eating gluten?

Healthy Villi with proper absorbtion
There are microscopic finger-like villi along the walls of your intestines. The purpose of the villi is to absorb the food you’ve eaten and make it available to your body to use. The villi, the site of first contact, become red and inflamed from the attack of auto-immune cells, sent out to attack the gluten molecule, when the gluten sensitive person eats gluten. Unhealthy Villi have totally atrophied, wasted
The tips of the villi produce many enzymes including lactase (used to digest lactose), sucrose (used to digest sugars), and EFA (to process essential fatty acids). Starting with the tips of the villi, they begin to atrophy, disappear, leaving you lactose intolerant, dealing badly with sugars (hypoglycemia, yeast infections), and with dry skin.

70% of the human bodies immune cells are located in the small intestine. Wow! No wonder it affects the overall health and immune system of your entire body. 1% of the American population has Celiacs Disease, which is high, but, 40% of the American population is gluten intolerant. (The Gluten Effect by Drs. Vikki and Richard Peterson D.C., C.C.N.)

Cross reactivity/Cell mimicry happens because the gluten antibody looks similar to say a Thyroid cell. The gluten antibody then begins to attack the thyroid, causing hypo thyroid or Hashimoto’s. The thyroid then gets thyroid antibodies created; now the thyroid has no chance. The good news; when you stop eating gluten, the process does cease and desist. If you haven’t gone hypo thyroid yet, your numbers can creep back to normal as your body heals. My free T4 (thyroid test) has been sitting on the lowest number in the normal range, 9, for several years. The normal range is 9-24. After 4 months of a gluten free diet my T4 has risen to 11! My mom and grandmother both had hypothyroid. Once you go hypothyroid, at this point in science, you are on medication for the rest of your life.

Cell mimicry can happen to any system in your body. Gluten/gliadin antibodies are all over the gluten sensitive body, wreaking havoc in the system that is your weakest link. This is one of the reasons gluten intolerance is hard to diagnose when more typical symptoms do not present.

Adrenal Exhaustion

The adrenal system is responsible for handling all stresses on the body. Car accident, job, marriage, food sensitivities, gluten sensitivity are all processed the same way by the adrenals. Stress hits, Cortisol (stress hormone) is released. When stress is ongoing, so is the release of cortisol. Along with calming down your system after release of adrenaline, it can give symptoms of anxiety or lack of well being, as well as redistributing fat throughout the body, slowing down the metabolism. This often results in more fat deposits in the belly.

See the relationship between adrenaline and cortisol.

The hormones produced by the adrenal glands (DHEA, pregnenelone and cortisol) are important for many normal functions in the body. When the adrenals are exhausted due to stress, many seemingly unrelated symptoms can arise because the adrenal hormones are not produced at proper levels. The following is a list of some of the major effects that occur in the body with adrenal exhaustion. A person with adrenal exhaustion may have symptoms in one or more of these areas.

Fatigue
Immune System Weakness
Low Blood Sugar
Sugar cravings
Weight gain
Thyroid problems
Depression/ Mood swings
Hormone imbalance

(The Gluten Effect, by Drs. Vikki & Richard Petersen, D.C., C.C.N.)

Grain Free Muffins

2009-05-24T19:34:00.000-07:00

Recipe:

Dry Ingredients:
1 1/2 c coconut flour
1c tapioca flour
1/2 c almond meal/flour
1/2 t salt
2t Xanthum Gum (guar gum or gelatin ok too)
2t Baking Soda
4t Baking Powder
1/2 c sunflower seeds any nut ok (optional)
2/3c spectrum shortening

Wet Ingredients:
2c wet fruit (mashed bananas, applesauce, defrosted frozen berries, stewed prunes/raisins)
1c flax egg replacer (equal to 4 eggs)
3/4 c honey

1. Combine all dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix well.
2. Add shortning to dry ingredients cutting with a fork until shortening is well distributed.)
3. Mix wet ingredients together
4. Combine wet and dry ingredients. Fold together (makes lighter)
5. Consistancy - should stick to your hands, wetter and lighter than cookie dough, like wet, sticky bread dough.
6. Roll into balls, These muffins hold the shape they are set down as, no growing/changing.

Bake approx 25 mins, at 350 until toothpick comes out clean.

If you need to stir in more liquid once all ingredients are incorporated, good ideas are:
-Coconut milk, nut milk, mineral water

Variations- Change any of the flour combination's and keep the chemistry the same (baking soda, powder, xanthum gum, salt, shortening/butter/marg/coconut oil)
-poppy seed add 1T poppy seeds +/- and 1T almond extract (add to taste)
-add any kind of nut
-raisins, cinnamon
Basic grain free muffins. Tastes like a whole grain muffin.

Stewed Prunes in above muffin

Hives

2009-05-17T19:35:00.000-07:00

Heard of hives before, never actually saw them in person. It was on my list of suspects for the polka-dotted kid, but I was really hoping for chicken pox. Bummer.

Received my call back from the pediatrician after 5p, regular doc wasn't in, but as I was trying to describe the rash, and that it had mysteriously faded, the bright idea hit me. The doc did indeed have access to the internet. Posted these pictures you see below for a diagnosis! Gotta love technology.

When you are very hot, our temps here have been 99*, and you have a sudden temperature drop and become cold, getting into a hose filled backyard pool, you can develop hives.

Malachi is a bit gun shy about going back in the pool, but I'm sure eventually he'll go in again.

2009-05-15T16:56:00.000-07:00

U-Turn

2009-04-30T16:17:00.000-07:00

There have been a few situations in my life that were my responsibility to get out of, but yet, try as I might, I always ended up back stuck. My marriage was one, my weight another. My experience is so intensely spiritual, physical and emotional. None can be separated from the other.

Making healthy choices with food has always been important to me, not that I always made healthy choices. There was stress every time we had drive through, whenever I shared 'junk food' with my kids. What I call junk food casts a wide net compared to the average populace. The kids were mostly fed healthfully, although my treat eating spilled over into indulgences I shared with them.

The stress I felt over the poor food choices weighed on me and I handled it with more indulgences to my taste buds, to the point where I often ate like a child, denying myself nothing, after the kids where in bed, or when I was alone. My body was paying the price. My cholesterol was high, over 300, however, my good cholesterol was also high, over 60. I was a slave to the party in my mouth. Hopeless. Against the values I hold, yet I couldn't stop.

I prayed God would save me from myself, that he'd fix me. He didn't. He did speak in that still, small voice, and I usually ignored him in the arena of food. In February of this year, at my Bible study, the theme was repentance, using the analogy of U-turns. I had been doing partial U-turns in my repentance for the way I was eating. So sorry, so disgusted by my behavior, I was saddened and sorry for the results of my behavior, but I'd continue. I didn't turn my back on the way I had been eating, because I just couldn't. After the Bible study, I told God, I want to turn my back on the way I've been eating, but I can't. Please help me.

Sounds hokey, but it was the next week I went on this elimination diet that was supposed to last 7 days before adding back foods, then growing the diet back to include the things that had been cut out. Every food that we tried to add back in, I had a reaction to! There are so many foods that I am sensitive to. My reactions included joint pain, extreme fatigue, inability to get up in the morning, stabbing pains in my abdomen. My eating has changed drastically since then. I miss mindlessly eating Oreos and seasonal candies, but really, they never satisfied.

This was just the prelude to what I learned about my body, the adrenal system, and food allergies/sensitivities. The adrenal system is the source for hormone production that handles stress. The body cannot discern internal/externals stressors, it reacts the same for both. When you are in an argument, car accident, or are eating foods you are sensitive to, your adrenals put out cortisol. Sometimes your other hormones have to take a back seat in order for your body to handle the amount of stress your adrenals are under. The regulatory hormones of DHEA, Pregnenalone, progesterone, your thyroid, they all take the hits so the adrenals can give the 'fight-or-flight' response you need for survival. However, once your adrenals have been called upon too long, they get exhausted. They are walnut shaped gland above your kidneys. They shrivel up to little peas and don't put out much anymore. Throughout this process your thyroid tries to keep up, some peoples thyroid slows, to match the adrenals (they dance together), once your adrenals shut down your thyroid may go so low it's considered hypothyroid. The bad news is once you go hypothyroid, it doesn't come back, but the good news, your adrenals can be brought back. Over time of healthy eating and exercise, not eating foods you have sensitivities to. I'm doing clinical nutrition to try to bring back my adrenals faster than they would otherwise come back.

The adrenal test is a saliva test, the thyroid is a blood test, the gluten sensitivity test is a blood test. That's just FYI, not that you need to run out and get them. I am going to a clinic that has free seminars each month on different health related topics. I learned more info than I could share in an email from there, and a book the directors of the clinic wrote: The Gluten Effect. It has chapters on other health things besides gluten sensitivity, but the primary purpose of the book is to inform about gluten sensitivity.

My journey with food has been wrought with difficulty. I was a slave to it, and now, the way I have to feed us is very challenging, requiring energy and attentiveness, however, I have a freedom I haven't known in a very long time. This has been intensely spiritual as well as physical. I cannot tell my story without sharing the spiritual component, or it wouldn't be true. I receive relief from the arthritic joints about a week after being clean from whichever food causes that problem. Citrus is a big one, vinegar. The moodiness, clears after 2 or so days of being clean of the problem food like corn. The challenge I had with yelling, wow, how it can be related to foods, seemingly 'healthy' foods. Wow! Once my intestines heal, I should be able to add back some or all of the foods I cannot eat now. Time and healing. I wasn't crazy! I thought I was beyond hopeless in some of these areas, and by avoiding some foods, I have such freedom!

This manuscript sure is growing! How many cups of coffee just to get to this point?! While I was typing this, my boys were on the trampoline in the backyard, where I sent them in hopes of peace to think and write. Malachi was making a beeline like a bat out of hell(that dramatic, it warrants that description!) towards the house. His nose was bleeding, some went into his mouth and he sputtered it out all over the place. Trying to keep the carpet clean and comfort him were nearly equal priorities! Caleb ran off to get some tissue to hold over the nose. Caleb had, on Malachi's request, thrown a broom(full sized) over the net onto the trampoline. Of course it hit Malachi on the nose and his 2 front loose teeth. Couldn't have hit the target better if he had aimed. AH, life. This stress, I can deal with:)

Whoa is We

2009-04-22T12:05:00.000-07:00

The truth of where I live.... seems there is always something that is emergent, demanding my attention, keeping me from being on top of things. Cleaning, discipline, homeschooling have been taking a backseat to health. Silas and I both had parasites, went on a strong round of antibiotics to kill these buggers. Silas had a hard time with tummy aches, I had ringing in my ears, general exhaustion, hard to wake up in the morning....

Thankfully we finished, looking forward to the promise of no more tummy aches for Silas, and more energy for me. After only a day or 2 of probiotics, which also seem to give Silas tummy aches, Silas got a fever that lasted from Friday until Monday night.

Concern is exhausting. How can I help this little guy with these tummy aches? He had fevers ranging from 100 with Tylenol to 103 and change when it wore off. He had coughing which kept him from sleeping, vomiting with nausea, and was totally lethargic. I usually give ginger ale or 7up for vomiting, but, it all has corn syrup in it, which would likely open a whole different pot of worms and tummy aches. So we opted for fresh coconut water(the electrolyte balance is well matched to human body. In wars people have been given transfusions of coconut water, it's that good of a match.)

My kids don't get lethargic when sick. Just slow down, so this was also concerning. Finally, his breathing after coughing fits looked too labored and retracted, so we went to the ER at 2a on Monday morning(aka Sunday night).

It was of course a long night. They did see us pretty quickly for an ER, checked his oxygen saturation, it was 95, so I felt much better. They gave him a proper dose of Tylenol suppository, 250 mg vs the 190mg I was giving per the box. FYI, 15mg per pound is proper dosing for acetaminophen. After that, we waited. A woman gave birth in the parking lot. That was exciting to see the husband running through the ER wild eyed with poop on his pants. At that point, I think the baby's head was out.

Silas got an X-Ray, showed some bronchitis, they gave us a whole paper with prescriptions. The doc said we should do the anti-biotics just in case. I didn't feel heard by the doc, or willing to give anti-biotics, "Just in case", so didn't start the antibiotics right away. Went to our pediatrician the next morning anyway. She had a cool test she did in the office. She put a swab up his nose then put in a vial with liquid, then put a test strip in and we waited for 1 or 2 lines, like a pregnancy test. 1 line = not influenza = bacterial = antibiotics. Before rushing off to ask for this cool test from your pediatrician, we were told she is a something with the CDC, so she has these test strips, but everyone else has to send to the lab. Lucky us.

Anti-biotics. Silas is having terrible stomach pains from them. He was already having such pain. Now when he has either anti-biotic or probiotic(at different times), he has terrible stomach pains. My heart breaks when this happens. So hard to see him suffering, there is nothing I can do to help:(

I just want him to feel better. The big boys are fighting too much. I don't tolerate fighting, but it's exhausting to put the kibosh on it. Just want a respit. Today is not as hot as yesterday, that is good. I kicked the kids out for 1 hour, 2 or more hours ago. They keep coming back in for different reasons. The hour starts over. They've probably been outside for 15 minutes by now!

As I'm laying out a diatribe of whoa's, Caleb had a bloody nose 5x yesterday! The heat! Oh, yes, and Lawrence started having a gout attack this weekend as well, then Monday thought he was feeling better, so didn't call his doctor for meds?! Well Monday night he was in excruciating pain, didn't get meds until Tuesday, and it will take more days before he achieves true relief! I'm pretty sure there is a stress component to his gout attacks. Sure he ate lamb quite a few times over the last month, but seems every gout attack has been adding fuel to a fiery family situation. Hmmm. Life. We're in the growth part of James chapter 1.

Dinnertime Action

2009-02-26T13:06:00.000-08:00

Blood streaming down his face, Silas screamed his way into the kitchen, the kind of scream that actually means something more serious. Grabbing 2 washcloths, I grabbed his head, aiming for the general area I thought the wound might be and held on. The screaming now changes to "I have to pee!" We begin towards the bathroom, too late. He is now more upset about the wet pants than anything else. I negotiate the pants off, while locating and examining the wound. It is rather small, no stitches required, thank you Lord! It stopped bleeding profusely almost immediately with the pressure. Caleb ran and got new underwear, Malachi put them on while Silas sat in my lap and I kept some pressure on. The Tribal Clan in action!

Paregrine Falcon

2009-02-23T10:28:00.000-08:00

During the rain today, a paragrine falcon took a rest in a branch above the trampoline.

I was feeling very sleepy, wishing I could crawl into bed, which I can't do for many reasons, one of which is 2 linoleum guys are here installing new flooring in the bathroom. I looked out the kitchen window, and what a treat to see a falcon.

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/animals/images/primary/peregrine-falcon.jpg

The link above shows a much better picture of the peregrine falcon. What a treat!

Food

2009-02-22T23:03:00.000-08:00

Chips by Lawrence. Russet and red potatoes dusted with a Gluten Free flower blend(GF Mama) then fried in Coconut oil.

Rice stick noodles with chicken and veggies Coated chicken breast with GF(gluten free) flour mixture
browned chicken in about 1/4 c coconut oil
after almost cooked through, added tons of minced garlic (then add some more)
added mushrooms, onions, shredded cabbage, carrots, and peas.
Salted the chicken while it cooked
Boiled water and added rice stick noodles. Keep an eye on them they cook quickly.
Rinsed the noodles with cold water then added them to the meat and veggies. Stir together and sprinkled fish sauce for salt and flavoring(careful not to add to much, it is potent stuff!)
poured some olive oil over the entire mixture (off heat) and mixed together.

That's all. It was quite flavorful. Would be better with other sauces, but everything has soy, citric acid, vinegar, sugar. Those are but a few of the things we are not eating on this elimination diet. Eating gluten free is looking much easier now after having so many other restrictions.

Rice Mush

2009-02-21T22:25:00.000-08:00

On this elimination diet, there are more foods to avoid than I will bore you with, however, aside from rice, not any grains (quinoa is in the chard family and not a grain, thanks Stacy for the trivia!) As I am in the very steep learning curve of this eating style, I am spending way too much time thinking about food, preparing food, food, food, food,food.....

I added too much water to short grain rice and it came out very sticky, almost gooey. I added cashew milk, and ground flax seeds, and voila a hearty, comforting breakfast cereal! As oats are off the menu for a while, and when they do come back, they are way too expensive to eat for breakfast every day, I feel so blessed and taken care of by this simple meal. I feel more loved by God from discovering this easy food, than I have in a long time by many bigger miracles, go figure. Food is so hard right now, this is one easy creamy food. There are no sauces, adds that I have come across yet for this diet for cooking. So many things I make are enhanced by vinegar and soy products (both are temporary unless we have a reaction when we reintroduce).

The Elimination Diet........dun dun dun

2009-02-20T00:44:00.000-08:00

Wow, I've got a lot on my plate right now. We're nearing the end of the bathroom shower re-do, praise God for that! Removing the mold, healthier, and much nicer looking too, solid surface, I really detest cleaning tiles.

The hot water has turned tepid. All showers and baths are luke-warm. Why? Probably the water heater, I hope it doesn't blow before the problem is fixed. Warm, not hot water happened yesterday, and today, a little leak has sprung under the kitchen sink! It's raining, it's pouring.

And the looming challenge, the kids and I are starting an elimination diet tomorrow. This is challenging! We have been progressing toward being a gluten free home, less stressful that way. I thought the elimination diet wouldn't be toooo difficult. It's short term, but we rely on eggs as fast food. Corn, tortillas, chips, popcorn, corn meal mush..... I need to whine before I have to buck up and be the mom. Sugar, maple syrup, gluten, dairy, peanut butter, vinegar, beef, pork, shellfish. I know we can do this, it just feels overwhelming right now.

Also baseball practice is starting next week, so my schedule is going from tight to jam packed. The benefits we will reap will be worth the sacrifice, but sacrifice is what it is, sacrifice.

I must add that I'm in a fabulous food coop, however, we get what we get. It is the surplus, expired things, misc. from Trader Joe's and other local places. Lots of produce, dairy, often marinated meat(usually has gluten). God knows what we need and has continued to be faithful to care for us, so I will share how he takes care of us over the next few weeks.

This diet is 7-10 days before we start adding back foods. Add 1 food, wait 3 days before adding the next. This will be an experience I will appreciate and look back at fondly after it's finished I'm sure, looking at the work aspect from this side of it is like waiting for a shot.

On the upside, Malachi is beginning to read short sentences after a year of speech therepy and working on phonics and blending. We hadn't actually began to read words yet, when he started doing a workbook, 'Explode the Code'. He has in 1 1/2 weeks gotten through 3/4ths of the book! He is so excited about being able to do this book. I am too. Caleb is reading early readers, and while not such an eager reader or writer, is moving at his own pace. His reading has moments of smoothness, where it is not halted and sounded out. As a home school mom, this is a big deal. The tangible evidence visible to the outside world.

2009-02-05T16:49:00.002-08:00

Gluten exposure is a lot like cigarette exposure. Your first cigarette you may get a headache, cough, feel nauseated. But if you continue to smoke, these symptoms will be circumvented by your body, even though the damage to your body is really still happening. So it is with gluten exposures. Most of us have grown up eating gluten, so we don’t really know what life feels like without it. We ache because we’re getting older, we assume. When your body is free from gluten contamination, it reacts more strongly when you re-introduce or are inadvertently exposed (if your gluten sensitive or celiac only).

Silas has sure been a case in point. I had him tested for the celiac anti body because of a prolonged tummy ache, 1 ½ months. Noticed it was after toast and sandwiches. Now, when he has a reaction……WHOA! Misery! For all. Last Friday night’s episode was like watching someone in the transition stage of childbirth, seriously intense, and nothing I could do to help but be there.
According to current research, most MD’s not up on this, 1 out of 100 people have Celiacs Disease! 40 out of 100 are gluten sensitive. WHAT!!!! Sleep problems, arthritis, behavior challenges or any number of issues that could go away by removing gluten from your diet.

What is the difference between Celiacs and gluten sensitivity? Celiacs Disease is an auto-immune disease, gluten sensitivity can present in many ways similar to celiacs disease, but to my current understanding is not necessarily destroying your intestinal lining. Gluten sensitivity can be causing a wide range of symptoms, joint pain, seizures, depression, too numerous to name here! Inflammation though is big. Inflammation can cause many problems.

The good news about the havoc gluten can reign on a body, is the treatment is simple, no, I didn't say easy. Eliminate gluten. Wow! Gluten is in so many places, goes by so many names it takes much more front-end education than you'd expect. Soy sauce, Ricola cough drops, rice crispies to name a few unlikely places to find gluten. I got my BA in gluten detection in September, now I’m working on my doctorate! It really makes a difference for Silas.

I had already come to the conclusion for our home, cooking separately, keeping gluten in the home, and dealing with possible contaminations, causes more work and STRESS than going gluten free. I say this while still consuming, and serving gluten. My reason, your body must react to gluten for the test to be accurate. So with every bite of gluten, I see the end of my affair quickening.

The stereotypical Celiac, according to old information (which our medical system still uses): pale skin, Nordic descent, very thin, often red hair. Some very thin, melanin challenged person is probably popping into some of your minds. They tend to eat way more food than seems right for such a skinny person. It’s probably chalked up to a great metabolism. Well, this is old information. While this is one type of Celiac, there are others out there. Overweight, obese people, bad nutrient absorption, lack of satiation, compels the body to seek out the nutrients, but these people don’t have a problem with calorie absorption. Hmmmm.

At Silas' appointment yesterday, we found out, if a child has celiacs, in this guys experience, there is one or both parents with celiacs or gluten sensitivity as well.

As we move along this path we’re on, I’ll keep you posted.

Cigarettes and Gluten?

2009-02-05T16:49:00.000-08:00

Gluten exposure is a lot like cigarette exposure. Your first cigarette you may get a headache, cough, feel nauseated. But if you continue to smoke, these symptoms will be circumvented by your body, even though the damage to your body is really still happening. So it is with gluten exposures. Most of us have grown up eating gluten, so we don’t really know what life feels like without it. We ache because we’re getting older, we assume. When your body is free from gluten contamination, it reacts more strongly when you re-introduce or are inadvertently exposed (if your gluten sensitive or celiac only).

Silas has sure been a case in point. I had him tested for the celiac anti body because of a prolonged tummy ache, 1 ½ months. Noticed it was after toast and sandwiches. Now, when he has a reaction……WHOA! Misery! For all. Last Friday night’s episode was like watching someone in the transition stage of childbirth, seriously intense, and nothing I could do to help but be there.

According to current research, most MD’s not up on this, 1 out of 100 people have Celiacs Disease! 40 out of 100 are gluten sensitive. WHAT!!!! Sleep problems, arthritis, behavior challenges or any number of issues that could go away by removing gluten from your diet.

What is the difference between Celiacs and gluten sensitivity? Celiacs Disease is an auto-immune disease, gluten sensitivity can present in many ways similar to celiacs disease, but to my current understanding is not necessarily destroying your intestinal lining. Gluten sensitivity can be causing a wide range of symptoms, joint pain, seizures, depression, too numerous to name here! Inflammation though is big. Inflammation can cause many problems.

The good news about the havoc gluten can reign on a body, is the treatment is simple, no, I didn't say easy. Eliminate gluten. Wow! Gluten is in so many places, goes by so many names it takes much more front-end education than you'd expect. Soy sauce, Ricola cough drops, rice crispies to name a few unlikely places to find gluten. I got my BA in gluten detection in September, now I’m working on my doctorate! It really makes a difference for Silas.

I had already come to the conclusion for our home, cooking separately, keeping gluten in the home, and dealing with possible contaminations, causes more work and STRESS than going gluten free. I say this while still consuming, and serving gluten. My reason, your body must react to gluten for the test to be accurate. So with every bite of gluten, I see the end of my affair quickening.

The stereotypical Celiac, according to old information (which our medical system still uses): pale skin, Nordic descent, very thin, often red hair. Some very thin, melanin challenged person is probably popping into some of your minds. They tend to eat way more food than seems right for such a skinny person. It’s probably chalked up to a great metabolism. Well, this is old information. While this is one type of Celiac, there are others out there. Overweight, obese people, bad nutrient absorption, lack of satiation, compels the body to seek out the nutrients, but these people don’t have a problem with calorie absorption. Hmmmm.

At Silas' appointment yesterday, we found out, if a child has celiacs, in this guys experience, there is one or both parents with celiacs or gluten sensitivity as well.

As we move along this path we’re on, I’ll keep you posted.

Bikes and Hair

2009-01-25T17:14:00.000-08:00

Used to be able to reorder the pictures. Fun pics, but days mixed together.

Trampoline Hockey

Shaken, not stirred.
Patch of blue sky over Mission Peak.
Not telling.
Man down! Man down!

Oy vey. What a headache all this playings giving me!

Racing by.

Roses

2009-01-02T01:24:00.001-08:00

Today while I was sweating, cutting, pruning, and otherwise whipping 10 of the 20+ rosebushes in my yard into shape I had a keen sense of how they don't belong to me. Renting this house, working in the yard is so different from owning a home. I am working hard this season, to reap a reward in a future season, or even a year or two out, while knowing,as a renter, I may not be here for the reward.

It has given me an idea of what stewardship means. Everything we have, we don't own, God does. As a homeowner it is easier to forget we are stewards, managers for God. Things change so quickly, we get a false sense of security in our things.

Here's to hoping I'll see some beautiful roses.

Gluten Free

2008-12-19T13:03:00.000-08:00

No longer freaking out. That's better ay. I'm not a professional, that's for sure, but finding options. I tend to be pretty lazy, so I've opted to use products that were made in the factory shared by wheat, or on the same equipment. Well, Silas looks a bit like 3rd world starving child today. Very large, distended belly. Guess that prayer for help to stop being so lazy is taking effect.

Last night, before feeding Silas some sausages, on his prompting, "Ok me eat these?" I verified the ingredients online. More later on online. Turns out the first ingredient of the sausages was of all things, Wheat Gluten!! As I said, not a professional. Coming along studiously though.

I came accross a cool blog with lots of gluten free tips. http://glutenfreesarah.blogspot.com Interesting ingredients, Xanthum Gum??? I haven't been much of a chef with gluten, so looks like my skills are about to be upgraded all around.

I am so grateful that the internet is what it is! This makes my job so much easier. I would have had to make so many phone calls. I don't enjoy the phone as it is, that would be pretty intimidating! Thank you Lord for the conveniences of modern life:)

Silas Update

2008-12-05T00:08:00.000-08:00

To not leave you hanging on the Silas update.... After talking to his pediatrician finally a few days ago, we have just done the entry level test. Next, another test, from there we figure more things out. So he may or may not have Celiacs.

We have eliminated wheat/gluten from his diet and he's feeling much better. He did sneak a smidgen of gluten pasta and complained in the evening of a tummy ache. So, simple solution, keep him off of gluten for now, and pray for a miracle that he is blessed to be able to handle wheat again down the line. In any case, this is not life-threatening , so I thank God for the blessings.

Tonight I went to a Tea with a home school group I'm in. I sat with some girlfriends, of which 2 are gluten free for different reasons. God has placed me with great support. I'll keep you posted as we find out the next step.

Prayer Requests

2008-11-23T12:57:00.000-08:00

Satan has come to kill, steal and destroy. But Christ came that we might have life abundantly. I choose the life abundantly myself.

Generational destruction has been visited on me and my child. Silas has tested positive for antibodies which may mean he has celiac disease. It means some dietary lifestyle changes for our family, removing wheat, barley, and rye. It means an intestinal biopsy for Silas, blood tests every 6 months, if he has it. And least of all, but still annoying, blood tests for everyone in our family.

Prayer requests:

1. Salvation for my sons. Caleb 8 / Malachi 6 / Silas 3
2. Excellent medical team/care
3. Insurance coverage where I want to go (specialists in Palo Alto, involve herbs as well as medicine)
4. Healing of intestinal lining, Celia, and no more tummy aches or bloating
5. Protection from exposure to wheat barley and rye
6. A faith my sons own themselves, their seeing Gods hand of provision, protection, power, love and His glory in and through this situation
7. Peace of mind and spirit for me and the family

I believe in the power of prayer and I covet your prayers. All things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to his purposes. What Satan means for evil I(God) will use for good.

Thank you for your prayers and care. I do not take it lightly when you pray for us. God has continued to shower us with his grace and blessings. Satan has continued to do what he can to steal kill and destroy, but the joy of the Lord is supreme and transcendent! Thank you Lord for your peace and provision.

Generational destruction, to what am I referring? My dad had many ailments, among them was Lupus, an autoimmune disease. I had Castlemans Disease(CD), in remission, very rare, so not well researched, but also an autoimmune disease. Many of the symptoms of Celiacs are similar to these other 2 diseases. How curious though, that 3 generations would have autoimmune diseases.

We are under a new covenant, yet still the laws and consequences have not been negated. We live in a fallen world, a world that is decaying. A world where Satan is real. In Nehemiah, referring to King Uzziah, and many of the kings following King David, there was reference to the blessings that follow to 1000 generations to King Uzziah, if I remember correctly, because he tore down the idols from the high places, where the kings before him had left them in place. Even Solomon had left them, or built them rather for his foreign wives.

Musings of a mind looking for answers.

10 Facts About Celiac Disease

2008-11-22T22:10:00.000-08:00

After reading number 2, I have a deep sense of appreciation for finding this so soon. Having no history, that I knew of with Celiacs disease. My dad had a plethora of ailments, along with ongoing stomach aches. Wish I could have him tested now. Insulin dependant diabetes, lupis, rheumatoid arthritis. my family has had all of these common associations with Celiac sufferers. Along with being the child of a redhead, and an Asian(one of each!), Silas may have the genetic disposition. Time and testing will tell.

Description:
Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People who have Celiac Disease cannot tolerate a protein called gluten that is found in wheat, rye, and barley. Research has shown that timely diagnosis of Celiac Disease is essential to treating or preventing its complications10 Facts about Celiac Disease

1. Celiac disease is common: affecting an average of 1/133 Americans and up to 1/22 for those associated with risk factors.

2. The average duration of symptoms for celiac patients before they are correctly diagnosed is 11 years.

3. Celiac disease is twice as common as Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis and cystic fibrosis combined.

4. Approximately 50% of adult patients present with atypical symptoms.

5. Celiac disease is often misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome or lactose intolerance and up to 1/3rd of celiac disease patients have been previously diagnosed with IBS.

6. Celiac disease meets the criteria for the World Health Organization for justifying general screening.

7. Physicians may use more widely known but less accurate serological testing that can result in missed diagnosis.

8. Up to 21% of intestinal biopsies, necessary for confirmation of celiac disease, are rejected by insurance companies, claiming that the cost of the testing isn’t justified by the symptoms. Makes me wonder if we have a hope for not having celiacs? I'll keep you posted. All we have done is test positive with the gliadin antibody so far. IgG and IgA.

9. Celiac disease has a 95 percent genetic predisposition.

10. Celiac disease is associated with or can lead to a number of other disorders including infertility, premature births, reduced bone density (both osteopenia and osteoporosis), neurological disorders*I have epilepsy, malignancies such as adenocarcinoma, non-Hodgkins lymphoma*Castlemand Disease can turn into Lymphoma, and others, and a host of autoimmune disorders such as insulin dependent diabetes*My dad , thyroid disease*My mom, her mom, me- borderline , Sjogren’s syndrome, Addison’s disease, Psoriasis*My Dad, brother,sister, paterna grandfather, maternal aunt, autoimmune liver disease, and cardiomyopathy.(This blurb is from the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness website. See address below.)

http://www.celiaccentral.org/

Celiacs Disease

2008-11-22T12:50:00.000-08:00

Silas may have Celiacs disease. I'm still reeling from what I've found out. I had a suspicion, enough to get the blood work done. Had all of the kids allergy tested for the basics, and only Silas checked for Celiacs. He's had an ongoing tummy ache for a while. I thought I ran down the source, and it was a hidden dairy, but now.....

He has tested positive for the gliadin antibody. Normal range for IGA 11-17, he's 16. Normal range for IGG, 11-17 also, he's 24. I called a friend of mine who has Celiacs, she said it sounds like he's positive. Why am I guessing you ask? I had the Allergist fax me the test results last week, didn't have time to look at it well until today. NO ONE CALLED to tell me he tested positive! How ridiculous is that! Dr's are just people. Just wish they would have looked at the results to notice life changing information should be shared with the patient/parents. OK, that's done, I've got enough to be emotional about without taking that on.

It's Saturday, so I'll have to wait till Monday to call our regular pediatrician. What I wish I'd done is asked the allergists office to send the results immediately to the Ped so she'd have them. Then she would have called if anything was not normal. Future note.

God. Where is he in this. I know 2 people with Celiacs. This is a specific blood test I had to request. The fact it came to my mind to test when I really thought there was a dairy issue. This is really a miracle to find this when he's so healthy, no real big obvious issues. I was watching to see what he was eating before he had a tummy ache for that 1-2 months. Sandwiches, toast. But then I also cut a source of dairy out and he got better.

I was told today that my friend thought she was allergic to dairy but once she cut out gluten, she was able to have dairy again. My hope for Silas is he can enjoy dairy one day. But for now, we have to change some eating habits in the family.

We're all going to get tested when we get back from Oregon. I'm thinking someone else may have it too...... We shall see.

Please keep us in your prayers. Prayers for Gods glory to be revealed through this. For all of the kids and Lawrence and I to be vigilant of gluten. God will reveal how to pray. I'm a bit numb still to know what to ask for.

I am grateful that I nursed a long time. Gluten in the intestines breaks the celia and causes leaky gut, which is when food leaks out of the small intestine. The body then sees it as an enemy and fights it, thus making the person feel a terrible tummy ache.

"Sometimes you have to look for God" thoughts from Caleb

2008-11-21T12:53:00.000-08:00

A couple weeks ago we watched The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything at church. While it was a fun movie, no big overt messages about God. Today Caleb was telling me about the movie. He said that sometimes you have to look for God in things. He got that when you don't think you can do something, you just have to try, and God sends you help which sometimes doesn't look like good help, but it is just what you need.

The crazy Cheetos bit, where the Cheetos have mouths and are chasing that gourd, he gives up and is ready to be eaten by the Cheetos when according to Caleb, God sent a crab to help him try. And sometimes if you just try, you can do more than you knew you could.

Wisdom from my deep thinker. I'm so impressed by his thought process! I love when he shares his insights. They come at the most random times. This is the preciousness of homeschooling, the gems that come when they would be at school.

Happy Birthday Malachi * 6 *

2008-11-16T21:08:00.000-08:00

Malachi's favorite 'animal' of the Day.

Christine from Sulphur Creek shared information about Gopher Snakes, Tarantulas, and Chinchillas.

Silas meets the gopher snake.

Malachi has a private moment with his new friend.

Malachi feeds the chinchilla a raisin. This is as close as he comes folks, protected by a 2 year old:)

Silas gets a turn high fiving a tarantula.

Caleb's turn.

Malachi's first meeting with Spidy.

Chilean Rosy Tarantula or something like that.

A brag on Malachi, on his special day. He wanted to be sure I saw Caleb's creation and took a picture of it. So thoughtful of others.

Family Heritage

2008-11-15T22:41:00.000-08:00

I was going through my dad's pictures and I came across an album. This album went back into the late 1800's. Started with a few pictures of my dad's adopted dad. Newborn, 1 year, and around 8 years old, plus others. There were cool pictures in 1911 or so with some other kids, period dress, obviously. I wanted to grab on to this feeling of heritage, having this legacy, this piece of history..... the darkness of what I know about this man clouded the desire to lose myself in this grasp at preserving legacy. The more I thought about it, the sadder I was to realize this was not my family, (my dad was adopted and the adopted father was evil). After pouring through this album, thinking, I don't know if he really was evil.... I came to the last professional photo, opened it like a gift, and found my Grandpa Straubs family(My moms dad with his brothers and sisters and parents). It was as if God was saying, "This is your heritage, you have a tangible piece of legacy here."

Fiddling wih Facebook

2008-10-31T02:34:00.001-07:00

I told you this was a bit of an obsession. Why not link a cool thing my sister did with my blog and figuring out how things work with Facebook. Elizabeth volunteered on a retreat for a weekend to serve food in the cafeteria. How cool is that. I'd go, in another life, maybe I'll let my kids get a little older.

I've been uploading pictures of the kids to facebook, taking away from the time we usually spend together, the pictures I usually upload for you, but it is much faster and easier there!

Ok, I'll make an effort to never mention facebook again here:-D

Facebook | Photos of Elizabeth Boyd

2008-10-31T02:34:00.000-07:00

Facebook | Photos of Elizabeth Boyd

FaceBook

2008-10-28T18:01:00.000-07:00

Apparently many people are already addicted to Facebook. I signed up to grab a few pictures of my sister to put on my blog. Well after a month, I never looked at it again, but now, it is a bit of an obsession. If I do forget about it, emails come in saying......so and so added you as friend on facebook. SO you have to go and check it out.... I've 'seen' people I haven't talked with in years. The time doesn't seem too long for me, but when you see the kids! Yikes! I feel like I'm one of those cheek pinching aunts astonished at how old these kids have gotten. Some of these kids have graduated from High School! Seriously, how can I be old enough for this?!?

The Origin of Halloween According to Internet Research

2008-10-24T21:12:00.000-07:00

Below are some things I pulled off websites when reseaching Halloween and its origins. Sorry, I didn't save the sources, but if you're really interested, google using some of the words and I'm sure you'll come up with plenty. The different fonts denote coming from different websites. Just some interesting things to think about as we come upon Halloween.

The origin of Halloween dates back 2000 years ago to the Celtic celebration of the dead. A Celtic festival was held on November 1, the first day of the Celtic New Year, honoring the Samhain, the Lord of the Dead. Celtic ritual believed that the souls of the dead returned on the evening before November 1. The celebration included burning sacrifices and costumes. These early events began as both a celebration of the harvest and an honoring of dead ancestors.
Halloween spread throughout Europe in the seventh century. It began with "All Hallows Eve", the "Night of the Dead". It is immediately followed by "All Souls Day", a christian holy day. [By christian here they refer to Catholicism - note by Heidi]
The first lighted fruit was really carved out of gourds and turnips. European custom also included carving scary faces into the gourds and placing embers inside to light them. This was believed to ward of evil spirits, especially spirits who roamed the streets and countryside during All Hallows Eve.
The Irish brought the tradition of carving turnips and even potatoes with them to America. They quickly discovered that pumpkins were bigger and easier to carve.
Did you know?!? Americans spend over $14 billion on costumes, decorations, party supplies and other Halloween paraphernalia!!
Bobbing for Apples is a tradition widely popular a few decades ago. It dates back to ancient roman times in honor of the Roman goddess of fruits and apples.

Halloween or All Hallows Eve, originated from the Pagan Holiday Samhain (pronounced sow-wen). Its name means summers end. This spirit connotation originated as the ancient Celtic druids paid tribute with gifts and food (and sometimes it was rumored sacrifices) to the spirit world to insure that next year’s crop would be bountiful. It was a time for communicating with the dead and receiving wisdom from past ancestors to insure prosperity.
When the Christians set about to convert the pagans, some adaptation of these spiritual rituals had to be made to keep the Pagans in the Church. Therefore, November 1st became “All Saints Day” to honor all those in heaven and October 31st was tacked on as “All Hallows Eve” or Halloween, the night when all the dead are remembered.
The Jack O’ Lantern was adapted from the old British practice of carving out turnips or other vegetables to make lanterns. Pumpkin carving remains one of the main attractions at any Halloween gathering.
Since the revival of the Pagan religion, many are again choosing to celebrate Samhain in a more traditional sense with reverence for those passed on, although many pagans enjoy modern day fun as well. And Catholics still celebrate November 1st as “All Saints Day”.

As European immigrants came to America, they brought their varied Halloween customs with them. Because of the rigid Protestant belief systems that characterized early New England, celebration of Halloween in colonial times was extremely limited there. It was much more common in Maryland and the southern colonies. As the beliefs and customs of different European ethnic groups, as well as the American Indians, meshed, a distinctly American version of Halloween began to emerge. The first celebrations included "play parties," public events held to celebrate the harvest, where neighbors would share stories of the dead, tell each other's fortunes, dance, and sing. Colonial Halloween festivities also featured the telling of ghost stories and mischief-making of all kinds. By the middle of the nineteenth century, annual autumn festivities were common, but Halloween was not yet celebrated everywhere in the country.

In the second half of the nineteenth century, America was flooded with new immigrants. These new immigrants, especially the millions of Irish fleeing Ireland's potato famine of 1846, helped to popularize the celebration of Halloween nationally. Taking from Irish and English traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today's "trick-or-treat" tradition. Young women believed that, on Halloween, they could divine the name or appearance of their future husband by doing tricks with yarn, apple parings, or mirrors.
In the late 1800s, there was a move in America to mold Halloween into a holiday more about community and neighborly get-togethers, than about ghosts, pranks, and witchcraft. At the turn of the century, Halloween parties for both children and adults became the most common way to celebrate the day. Parties focused on games, foods of the season, and festive costumes. Parents were encouraged by newspapers and community leaders to take anything "frightening" or "grotesque" out of Halloween celebrations. Because of their efforts, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones by the beginning of the twentieth century.
By the 1920s and 1930s, Halloween had become a secular, but community-centered holiday, with parades and town-wide parties as the featured entertainment. Despite the best efforts of many schools and communities, vandalism began to plague Halloween celebrations in many communities during this time. By the 1950s, town leaders had successfully limited vandalism and Halloween had evolved into a holiday directed mainly at the young. Due to the high numbers of young children during the fifties baby boom, parties moved from town civic centers into the classroom or home, where they could be more easily accommodated. Between 1920 and 1950, the centuries-old practice of trick-or-treating was also revived. Trick-or-treating was a relatively inexpensive way for an entire community to share the Halloween celebration. In theory, families could also prevent tricks being played on them by providing the neighborhood children with small treats. A new American tradition was born, and it has continued to grow. Today, Americans spend an estimated $6.9 billion annually on Halloween, making it the country's second largest commercial holiday.

The American tradition of "trick-or-treating" probably dates back to the early All Souls' Day parades in England. During the festivities, poor citizens would beg for food and families would give them pastries called "soul cakes" in return for their promise to pray for the family's dead relatives. The distribution of soul cakes was encouraged by the church as a way to replace the ancient practice of leaving food and wine for roaming spirits. The practice, which was referred to as "going a-souling" was eventually taken up by children who would visit the houses in their neighborhood and be given ale, food, and money.

The tradition of dressing in costume for Halloween has both European and Celtic roots. Hundreds of years ago, winter was an uncertain and frightening time. Food supplies often ran low and, for the many people afraid of the dark, the short days of winter were full of constant worry. On Halloween, when it was believed that ghosts came back to the earthly world, people thought that they would encounter ghosts if they left their homes. To avoid being recognized by these ghosts, people would wear masks when they left their homes after dark so that the ghosts would mistake them for fellow spirits. On Halloween, to keep ghosts away from their houses, people would place bowls of food outside their homes to appease the ghosts and prevent them from attempting to enter.

Chimps that Massage

2008-10-19T00:11:00.001-07:00

We went to the zoo yesterday, and I wish I'd taken a picture of the Chimpanzee area.

It looked a lot like this:

Silas was hanging around me, waiting for his nightly tummy massage. He's been having tummy aches in the evenings ( I found the source of the dairy). He's been clean for 2 days:) While Silas was waiting, he was carrying around a container of coconut oil, since it's a solid, I was cool with that. I was putting up pictures in the bare hallway, and he began giving my shins a massage. He stuck with it, then later, had me lay down and gave me a 1/2 hour massage! It felt good too!

He said he was massaging like Malachi who has given Silas a belly massage before. Gotta give credit where credits due! Yes, I'm braggin' on my babies:)

oops

2008-10-16T23:31:00.001-07:00

I am so careful to never send those email stories, warnings.... and other misc. non-personal emails, and I just did one of those things on accident! I've been fiddling with facebook and my friend just told me about a cool feature where you can have facebook go through your emails and tell you which people you've ever emailed or gotten email from, are in facebook. I thought I'd send one to Lawrence, funny.... I unchecked all the other emails......aparently not!@#@$@#% Didn't notice the bar on the side. My confirmation email stopped my breath. SORRY!!!

I had contract employees we haven't used in years that I sent this out to. Ok, that's all that can be done. Hope it goes to junk mail!!

The Sky is Falling!

2008-10-15T23:50:00.000-07:00

Some of you avocado lovers out there may be distressed to know, the fruit is falling off the tree now, unripe with bird bite marks. Being inexperienced with avo's this fresh, I'm wondering if they fall off, if they can be ripened? So far no luck. They actually rattle when you shake them, at least one did.... Is there a special trick ripening these ones, magic perhaps?

Oh well, I don't like avocado's myself any way. There is so much fruit in the trees, just maybe some will be spared and last to harvest time, whenever that may be. These are smooth skinned, not Hoss.

I signed up for a facebook account, so I could copy some pictures of my sister for my blog, when she was thinking of going to the DR Congo. This thing has a life of it's own. I find myself drawn to it through emails. So-in-so added you as a friend on Facebook.

I joined my high school network. Bringing back memories. For me, mostly socially awkward ones. I was so overwhelmed with life at home then, I couldn't handle more than one friend at a time. I remember most of the names but most of my memories of them are from classes. I see group prom pictures, no wonder they enjoyed high school, they hung out together. I tell you, high school has very few fond memories for me. I feel a sadness for the lost girl I was then.

I felt the most comfortable in my choir class, that was mixed grades, freshmen to seniors. My choir teacher came to my wedding 15 years ago. I've heard her health declined, dementia. I didn't hear after that.

Isn't it interesting the power your childhood has. I have grown, had children of my own, and yet, I can feel the feelings I felt then when I think of high school.

Did you know, I had no idea I was an extrovert until I was in high school. I know, some of you are checking to see you're reading the right blog:) Maybe that's why I have a big presence now. I worked hard to be invisible in high school, probably life before that too.

Thank God for his grace! It is often said, with little thought I think, Oh, to be younger again. I would never go back. I'll take the physical changes, the grays, and whatever else comes. The teens and 20's were fraught with so much emotional challenge. The thirties came with a sense of self, being comfortable with who I am, and appreciating my uniqueness. Sounds like a psyc book. For me, it just gets better. 50's are the new 30's, so I'm still a spring chicken!

homeschool extras today

2008-10-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

I'm so behind on laundry it has started growing things!

Caleb using his homemade bow and arrow.

The mother of all yards, host to the mother of all weeds, host to the AquinoClan

2008-10-11T14:01:00.001-07:00

The ice dispenser that started it all! Thank you kids for jamming ripped paper, blueberries, and whatever else you see in there. The consequence for those 2 boys who filled the ice dispenser was to weed 15 weeds. Caleb got on a roll and weeded from 10:30a- 7:30p with snack breaks. That kid is so determined. He got Malachi and me to join in and weed, not nearly the same amount of hours though!

Jumping squirl in mid air (Caleb took the picture) To see you probably have to double click.

Malachi is holding a paper wasp nest. One of the treasures unearthed in the weeding.

Before

After

Doing some washing. Walking the cardboard path through the weeds.

Caleb getting started on turning the dirt for his garden.

Today's Photo Journal

2008-10-10T00:37:00.000-07:00

Picking up the trampoline

2008-10-09T23:26:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we bought a trampoline off of craigslist. Great blessing. The woman who sold it to us is a master gardener, so you're seeing her garden around the trampoline, unfortunately not ours. But more interesting to us, an Entomologist! She gave us her insect collection, unfortunately, most was ruined by mites, but we have some cool specimens and great containers, lesson plans ( she's done some teaching). We are equiped to pin and enjoy insects for years to come with what we received. In this collection is a rino beetle. A bit worse for the wear, but in tact enough to get the picture. The kids are very impressed with that one!

Test run. Yup, it jumps alright.

Mckeiver JR here! He actually undid some screws!

A planner abroad returns home

2008-10-01T10:36:00.000-07:00

Due to my virus, or my 22,012,893,814 viruses I seem to have on my computer, I have not added my sisters very cool blog to my list yet, but here is a link. http://aplannerabroad.blogspot.com/

Very fun to peruse, pictures, stories. She has made it back home safe and sound, PRAISE GOD for this. Sounds like she had a great time, did some great work, met some neat people, and of course came home with a local dress.

I must have overcommitted my life. I keep no-showing parts of my life. I have things planned every day right now, on top of homeschooling. Things that are set times, not show up if, or when it works. I was so consumed with not forgetting a Thursday obligation, I thought it was Thursday and didn’t drop my kids off at BSF with my mom! Oops. My planning calendar starts today, guess it will be more required than not. Our home is more fun, provides more activities for the kids, there was no “what are we doing today” to get me looking at the calendar. Just working on writing, reading, won’t bore you, school. We no-showed for speech last Thursday.

The house is upside down, hasn’t been put together yet. That will give more peace in my mind once we get to that. Not quite sure when this will work out. Looking for a new dentist, all our dentist appointments are due now, how cool to be able to look locally, change. A bit hard for me.

Just got an email that I can take a look at a trampoline. Hope it works out!

competative gardening

2008-09-27T19:35:00.000-07:00

We seem to have a computer virus or glitch which keeps me from being able to post, along with other annoying things.

Superwoman came back for a visit last Monday night when I painted, worked, painted, painted until 1:30am or later with Superman, back at the Hayward house, while the kids slept at Grammies.
She came out again when Superboy, aka Caleb, inspired us all to pull weeds on the side yard. Let me tell you, this really warrants pictures, because this is not a side-yard like we had in Hayward, and these are not weeds like we had in Hayward. Some weeds were as tall as Silas! This is now the site of Caleb and Malachi’s new garden. These are the mother of all weeds, and the side yard is 3-4X the size of my old yard. Caleb is a very determined person!

Have you ever heard of competitive gardening? Well Caleb has engaged in this sport. He is competing against me, Silas and Papa, to see who has the best garden. Not to be talked out of this venture, I am a competitor, whether I participate or not! Malachi asked Caleb to be in on his garden. Caleb shared 10 minutes of rules with him before extending the offer to allow Malachi help toil with him. He doesn’t want any lazy bones on his team.

Wanted: One Superwoman

2008-09-22T10:05:00.000-07:00

Where did the Superwoman go who could push through any project, any time? I seem to have lost my superpowers.
Silas had a barky cough 2 nights ago, and was totally miserable. He’s looking better now. I’ve got the adult version of his cold, throat hurts, feel cruddy. It went to my lungs this time. Never have been susceptible in my lungs before, well, except for that open chest surgery. Please pray the others stay healthy!
Especially pray for Lawrence. He’s been putting so much time into the Hayward house, he’s really going to need to rest, and I don’t think that’s in his plans. His superpowers appear to be in effect still, long day, pushing, pushing. Pray for overall health for him, heart stay healthy, lungs, arteries, whatever God puts on your heart.

Hail from a new port

2008-09-10T00:12:00.001-07:00

We've done it! Silas has turned three and our boxes are piling up in Fremont. Come check out the new place!

Plenty of fixing left to do, painting, drywall repair in the garage, misc stuff. Also need to move my king bed, and piano, any helpers willing to join us this weekend, email, call or come over!

Really Moving This Time (I hope)

2008-08-27T23:05:00.000-07:00

Hold on to your seat folks! The Aquino's are about to move to Fremont.

We're off to the Mission San Jose hills area. Mission Blvd Exit off of 680/ Warren exit off of 880. We've moved every 10-12 months for the first four years of our marriage before our current house that we've been in for 11 years now!

Back to the new house. We are on a month-to-month lease, so who knows what this means for us. We are gaining a bedroom and a family room. And did I mention 13,000 sf of unadulterated yard, ready for holes, forts, composting, and general kid stuff. The best part is it can't be ruined, it's pretty rough looking, so likely can only get better with some TLC.

I'm thinking 'Going Tribal', open house on Friday afternoons, jump on the trampoline(looking for one), dig a hole, climb a tree or two.

I laugh because the kitchen is a smaller than our soon to be old one. Humility, and blessing. They go hand in hand. I've been on this kick about Americans wanting so much more than we need, and wanting a bigger everything. Well, I am a typical American, in process of heart change. Trying to figure out where material needs and blessings and blessing others all fits in my life.

All right, I'll sign off now and post pictures later. We will be getting the key Saturday, Aug 30th. Lord willing. I've said things and been wrong too many times. For those just tuning in, this is a rental house, and we are renting our house out.

We are renting our Hayward house to our next door neighbors. Great guys, 6 dogs. I know, I know. They are planning on staying till 2012, and we've lived next to them for 5 years, even house-sat for them, and their house was cleaner than ours. That's enough out of you. Stop laughing! The dogs do sound like a pound when they get barking, as little dogs do. No situation is perfect, however, good tenants, with proven track record. I'll bet on them. Why would our neighbors move next door to our house? Their landlord is the sister to one guy, too much drama to go into, but they want out. Guess we'll be painting different colors on the duplex huh?(we own one side they own the other)

Backyard Camping

2008-08-26T12:27:00.000-07:00

The night started with a dog-pile on Mama to watch the closing ceremony for the Olympics. I have never watched the Olympics so much as I did this year. Caleb and Malachi really enjoyed them, he and Malachi would root for the US, and loudly, unless they were lame, then they'd root for the best competitor. Silas would do jumps and imitate the moves he saw. Diving was an interesting one to imitate!

Yesterday they created the Vault(gymnastics) in the backyard, which turned into camping.Going to bed. Eating dinner, camping style, hot dogs/sausages wrapped in a corn tortilla. When camping use what you have...

Lawrence: Can I have a bite Silas.

Silas: No this mine Papa.

Making fun or a funny, can't remember which.

3boys in a tent, 2 for the whole night! And they say if you let the kids sleep in your bed they'll stay forever. Here's some proof to the contrary.

Being Right

2008-08-26T10:05:00.000-07:00

What is the purpose of being 'Right'? The hope/fantasy in marriage often is to change someones behavior. As long as you insist on being right, you are too pre-occupied with changing the other person. Yes, you may be right, you probably are right, the other person is probably disrespecting you, not doing what you 'know' is best for the kids, but so what. How does this serve you to insist on being right? Knowing how your husband will do or not do what you wish he would, plan around it. Expect it and stop withering his bones (proverbs). Just a thought for the day, forged from 7 years of being right, therefore 7 years of pain and broken friendship where there could have been more peace.

On to other news. We've just turned in our latest and greatest application for a house to rent in Mission San Jose hills. The house is on a 13,000 square foot lot. The yard is in a very natural state, at best:). however it serves our purposes in raising boys. The house is 10 minutes from church, and a bit more from many/most of our current Fremont friend's, but..... we can see the potential blessings of this yard/house with hosting get together as well as day to day life. The dining room is carpeted, ARGH, but you can never get all the things in one house you wish for. It has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, living room and dining room. It does have an avocado tree, so come harvest time, please come over and take them away! There are many great tree's to climb and provide shade.

The kicker, the bonus, God always has one you know..... when I turned in the application, the landlord said the owners were devastated on the condition of the house after the last renters, they tore down the deck, as well as many other fixes in the house (22k worth of them), and are planning on replacing the deck at some point as well as re-landscaping. I have no idea what this means for us, but that place really needs a deck!

I am cautiously optimistic. The last house I knew was a sure thing, well, we're not there now are we! God has his best plan for us, and I want nothing less. We've been praying he slam the doors clearly to where we don't need to be, and he has been faithful in doing that. Resting in Him....I haven't completely got that down yet, but I'm sure there will be plenty more opportunities to work on it.

OK, I know pictures are easier to get through then reading. The kids went camping in our backyard last night. Caleb and Malachi stayed there all night! Lawrence, bless him, slept on the living room floor to be close enough to hear and be available. Silas got scared and came inside and slept inside the tunnel in the living room till about 12m. We ate camp food last night. BBQ'd Hot dogs, microwaved smores, (but we ate them outside!). Took pictures so they can remember this later! I'll download and post, hopefully:)

I'm So Proud of My Little Sister

2008-08-12T12:42:00.002-07:00

The excerpt from an email from my sister Elizabeth. She has her masters in City Planning from Penn University. She works in Sacramento doing??? planning stuff.

"The short version... I have an opportunity to volunteer as a planner with a group designing a new village community for widows and orphans in the Congo. The trip is from September 19th to September 29th... so soon! It costs $4,100. I'm wondering if folks would be interested in supporting me to go over and volunteer as the group planner. Any contribution is tax-deductible."

http://elikiavillage.wordpress.com/about/ *for more info on this project

If you want to donate you can by credit card or check to following:

Credit Cards: You can use your credit card on-line on EMI's website. Write in the comments that your donation is for project #10005 - DR Congo (Elikia) - Elizabeth Boyd. https://emisecure.org/donate.html

Or you can mail a check to EMI, 130 East Kiowa Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. Include a separate note with your donation that it is for project #10005 - DR Congo (Elikia) - Elizabeth Boyd.Elizabeth has always been one to dress in the local fashion. She spent several months 2 different times in India working with the mapmaking company TeleAtlas, before getting her masters.

Some funnies

2008-08-11T23:02:00.000-07:00

The Return Of The Mysterious Bump

2008-08-11T15:08:00.000-07:00

The mysterious bump has returned, however, it has moved locations. It has even changed kids! The most recent appearance is on Silas' left eyelid. Lawrence and I thought his eye would be swollen shut by this morning, but the bump disappeared as mysteriously as it had come. These kids are sensitive to mosquito bites. So we chalk it up to some random mosquito or bug bite.

Caleb is turning 8 tomorrow!! I remember being 8. We had a party for him on Saturday and took no pictures. How sad is that. I do have to say, it was a fun and mellow party, so low stress, but no pictures.

Lawrence and I have been reading Revolution in World Missions by K.P. Yohannan. This book has been taking us to the next level in what God is putting on our hearts. Truly a life-changing book. If you want a copy, either get one, http://www.gfa.org/ (gospel for Asia) or ask me, I will give you mine. If I share mine with you, I can get another one for free, fabulous way of spreading this information.

Food for thought: What are the non essentials we have in our lives? What are the basics we need to live, sure, in the society we're in. Post a comment with your thoughts on this. We certainly lead complex financial lives.

Computer, Internet access, hardware and software associated with using a computer
house, electricity, water, garbage
microwave, oven, fridge, dishwasher
phone service- do we really need 2 lines home and cell? perhaps, We just ordered Magic Jack, I'll let you know if it's as good as advertised. 39.95 plus s/h and 20 a year
car/gas/insurance/maintenance
life insurance / 401k / future planning
food- groceries (we have typically spent a lot eating out, a luxury, NOT necessity)
Digital camera
I'm sure there's more but this is what I came up with on the fly

I'm interested in hearing your comments on the necessities. Where can we cut to give more generously to those who have nothing. I'm not talking about guilt here. Take it as you will though. In the new Testament, the wealthy believers in Christ sold their properties and provided for those who had nothing. Did they sell their homes they were living in? I haven't studied specifics here, but I think they sold their extra properties.

Those of us who are Christians, we have brothers and sisters not eating daily. It is so far removed from our reality, we can ignore it, until this moment, not realize it, or any number of reasons not deal with it. Went through the drive through and spend roughly 13 dollars on myself and family. According to K.P., founder of Gospel for Asia, $30 can feed and provide living needs of a local missionary for a month. The concept of local missionaries is new for me too. But think of it. A western missionary from anywhere in the US going to anywhere in the undeveloped world is not going to live like the natives. Sure, there will be concessions, they will feel they are lowering their standard of living in extreme ways, and likely they are, but our standards are just so much higher, therefore costlier. To support a western missionary couple or family abroad comes with such a high overhead. To add to the daily living costs, they must go through cultural training, probably basic language training. And after all these costs, they are still foreigners bringing a foreign religion. There are Christians excited to share the gospel of hope through Jesus Christ to their countrymen in many of the 3rd world nations already.

Some excerpts from Revolution in World Missions: "Many native missionaries and their families experience days without food - not because they are fasting voluntarily but because they have no money to buy rice. This occurs especially when they start new work in villages where there are no Christians."..........."Many North American Christians live isolated from reality - not only from the needs of the poor overseas, but even from the poor in their own cities..........I have found that believers are ready to get involved in almost any activity that looks spiritual but allows them to escape their responsibility to the Gospel...........Often when I spoke at a church, the people would appear moved as I told of the suffering and needs of the native evangelists. They usually took an offering and presented me with a check for what seemed like a great amount of money. then with their usual hospitality, they invited me to eat with the leaders following the meeting. To my horror, the food and 'fellowship; frequently cost m ore than the money they had just given to missions. And I was amazed to find that American families routinely eat enough meat at one meal to feed an Asian family for a week. No one ever seemed to notice this but me, and slowly I realized they just had not heard the meaning of my message. They were simply incapable of understanding the enormous needs overseas."

OK, I think that is enough to blow any ones mind. I confess, I'm the American he's referring to. It has been easy to be touched when seeing a presentation of the needs of any impoverished group of people. Easier to forget after doing what it takes to alleviate the sense of responsibility. I cannot live in ignorance any longer.

I grew up with a sense of not having what others had. A sense of being less than, based on having less than. Disenfranchised. If you have running water in your home, heat in the winter, flush toilets, drinkable water from the faucet, you are blessed. Don't believe otherwise. Electricity on demand. That is wealth. A hospital a phone call away, and they'll pick you up! I've been blessed with that ride a couple of times.

Lest you think I am advocating throwing out all our conveniences and living as if in a third world, I am not. Rather, exposing you to this truth, bringing it to the forefront. Our brothers and sisters deserve our prayers and thoughts and our money, if you can share it. Many of us are enslaved to our employers because we have created a lifestyle which confines our lives. We are enslaved to creditors. Freedom is not where some live. But to aspire to free ourselves by re-thinking the essentials in live. Be dramatic in cut backs to get out of slavery. We are ensured freedom by our Constitution, and yet, most Americans have chosen the bonds of slavery. Something to think about.

If our freedoms were ever taken away, I wouldn't want to look back at the wealth I had at my fingertips and regret the way I squandered it. Rather, I would have it be my servant, working for me, for people, for blessing, not just serving myself, and ultimately causing my own enslavement.

Living in Fremont by September

2008-08-01T11:51:00.000-07:00

The time has come. Our family has wanted to move to Fremont for several reasons. Cutting Lawrence's commute, being closer to church, closer to buddies. Moving presents opportunity. The house we have now has been a blessing from God. We are satisfied here, however, have both felt the desire to move to Fremont, and so far the lights are green. We have renters planning on staying at least until 2012. We've decided for now to rent a home.

Opportunity. We have a small yard. With a Charlotte Mason education, a natural style of learning, kids should spend time outside, exploring nature. Easier done with a larger yard. Can it be done without a yard at all, sure, just more work on my part. Really, with boys, they should be living outside irregardless. Trampoline, sandbox, trees, composting, climbing trees, play structure, blessings for lifestyle. We found a modest house in a fabulous neighborhood, tree lined street, and it has a HUGE yard. There are fruit trees, lawns and the landlord pays the water bill, oh yeah, and they provide a gardener!

The house is smaller than our current house, ironic since I wanted to upgrade square footage and yard, but this is short term. And did I mention the yard is HUGE? The bathroom has a serious case of 60's pink tile explosion, the landlord doesn't want us to paint, which is a way to modernise crazy tile color schemes, but there is a freedom in this. My kids don't have to tread lightly in this house, it comes with smudges, not dirty, but smudged. I see the cringing in some of you, but with 3 boys and a short term rental, it can be quite exhausting making our house ready to rent, then prepping a new house, and then fixing it back up in a short time to move again, and the cycle continues. Freedom and provision. God knows what we need when we need it.

When we were homeless (I use the term loosely) 5 years ago, we stayed at 4-5 places. The way I was raised, you leave a place better than when you found it, especially when hospitality has been extended. So scrubbing, cleaning, from one place to the next, quite exhausting.

I still haven't given up on Dennis Court either. This leaves the door open for possibilities, yet gets us into Fremont, so we can take advantage of having great longer term tenants ourselves. We could live here 6 months, a year, or who knows.

Backpacks for $2.99!!!

2008-08-01T00:18:00.000-07:00

I haven't seen it, but have heard that "Office Depot is selling backpacks for $2.99 each and have Lot's of school supplies ranging from .01 to $2" The sale lasts until Saturday 2 August. I haven't made my big campaign yet, but for those of you who are planning on buying school supplies for your kids or Wontok Children, BULK UP NOW.

Back to Wontok Children. Lawrence really wants to supply the kids in Papua New Guinea where the need is more dire. Shipping is more costly, but if this is where God calls us to bless, then, the bags and supplies will get there. The kids in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are destitute. We need to look into the cost of school tuition. The street kids, usually AIDS orphans (more about that in a moment), don't have the uniform and shoes to be allowed in school. Buy the supplies anyway, because we will either supply a School in Philippines again, or find a good place in PNG.

The orphan situation in PNG is bleak at best. The AIDS epidemic is not just in Africa, but spreading throughout the world in epidemic proportion.

In PNG traditionally people live in villages. They rely on the Wontok system, the Wontok way of life. If you are from the same village, you are a Wontok (One talk) in that village. If you need food, shelter, help, the village has your back so to say. If a child is orphaned in a village, they will be taken care of, yes, yes.........it takes a village. (These sayings do come from somewhere!) When people leave their village, move to the city in search of opportunity, they often find unemployment, violent crime, similar to any inner city really. AIDS. When people die of AIDS in the city, away from the Wontok system, their children have no one to look out for them. There is a stigma on these children. This is a relatively recent epidemic of AIDS orphans, street children. PNG doesn't have many orphanages. No state ones, the last time I researched.

This gets to the real heart of Wontok Children. Our hearts are inclining toward PNG's lost children. Ultimately, we'd love to provide a home, boarding school style education. God is just beginning to open our eyes. Who knows where this will lead.

Wontok Children - School Supplies

2008-07-28T00:40:00.000-07:00

Wontok Children Summer 2008 Supply List
We will be delivering supplies both with and without backpacks this season. Cases of supplies welcome.

1. Crayons
2. Pens
3. Pencils
4. Spiral Notebooks
5. Glue Sticks
6. Scissors
7. Pencil Sharpeners
8. Soft Toothbrushes
9. Dental Floss
10. Washcloths
11. Stickers
12. Small toys (no liquid or chemical filled toys) Think longevity, able to get dirty and still be usable
ie: small balls, matchbox cars, marbles,

Backpacks

Shipping
$80 (cash donations will go to shipping costs unless otherwise requested)

Children’s bibles
(There are many ‘creative’ children’s bible’s, listed are biblically accurate, great children’s bible story books)

1. Egermeier's Bible Story Book - by Elsie E. Egermeier
2. The Child's Story Bible – by Catherine Voss
3. Children's Illustrated Bible - by Selina Hastings
4. The Picture Bible – by Iva Hoth

Questions? Suggestions?

Leave a comment in the blog.

Who is this for? Children in Mapandan, Pangasinan Province in the Philippines

Rapha House

2008-07-20T22:43:00.000-07:00

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

"Rapha House is committed to rescuing young girls who are victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and prostitution by providing them with a safe home where they can heal and receive an education, which will allow them to make good choices for their futures." http://www.freedomforgirls.com/

Yesterday I was sharing with my mom how I've long been drawn to learning about the plight of women in prostitution, forced and otherwise. Lately, slave trading, exploitation of especially children, has been in my heart, to what end, I don't know, but God always has a purpose in bringing things to our attention. Turns out, the preacher from the church I grew up in, Kerry Decker, has been sending her emails about a non profit he's involved with, working with victims of exploitation and human trafficking. He has an incredible blog, terrible, heart wrenching, and incredibly moving.

Read it, pray. We are so blessed and protected. To whom much is given, much is required. What is it God might have for you? What kind of a world do you want to live in?

If you have ever wondered how a good God can allow such evil, read his blog entry on Sunday, May 11, 2008, The Type of God He is. http://freedomforgirls.blogspot.com/

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” --Edmund Burke

Unbelievable generosity. Check out his blog entry Sunday, May 6, 2007. Kerry Decker was in Africa, where he is/was working with AIDS orphans. He shared about the girls in Cambodia, and what they have been through. The outpouring of love and care, and selfless generosity by these impoverished orphans. Wow! As Kerry says, "Most people I know give out of their surplus. But that night, I witnessed people giving out of their poverty."

I agree, it is too awesome, too much to save the world, but how about this, the next coffee or fast food you were going to do, or actually do, match a donation to Rapha House. Just help where you can. Skip it if you can't afford both. To give go to: https://www.donation-net.net/transaction/transaction1.cfm?dn=1132&source=8&CFID=5507048&CFTOKEN=53938029

Real Estate and God

2008-07-17T14:46:00.000-07:00

Reporting on the house in Fremont we bid on months ago........

A few weeks ago, we were told the bank didn't like any of 7 the offers, so put the house back on the market. No bites... The bank seems to be working through several offers quite a bit higher than ours, and one by one they are backing out. Now, the only offer above ours is only 10k higher! Now, the real miracles.....Our home value has dropped 220k! We will not be able to sell and pay commission from the sale. Miracles would have to abound here. If this house is for us, we'll get just the right miracles, and not before we need them.

Lawrence and I have decided to go ahead and pull our credit reports, work on our credit to make it as high as possible. We'd been avoiding this to not make our credit go lower, you get a small hit with each time you check your credit. The lenders are getting so strict, great credit is not enough anymore. Just doing our part..... It's so hard not to get excited. Seeing the 'strong' offers falling away. The Realtor said the property is very possibly going to foreclose, in that event, it may take a year. Never know the plans God has for us. All I do know about His plans is this: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". Jeremiah 29:11

Gardening

2008-07-15T18:07:00.001-07:00

Inspired by Paula, photos of some of our flowers.This sunflower came to us from God. Planted itself. As the stalk kept growing, it became nicknamed 'The Beanstalk". We can look out our bedroom window, 2nd floor, and see it!

Sunflower larvae.

'And now you know..... the rest of the story'.

Mysterious bump

2008-07-15T06:56:00.000-07:00

Malachi cooking pancakes!! The audience.
Yesterday was the first day of VBS for Malachi and Caleb. They had fun, and Malachi brought something extra home, a mysterious bump on his temple. He doesn't remember being hit, falling, bumping it.... If a brother pokes him wrong at home, there are blood curdling yells, and cries going and going, and going.... When an injury happens to his legs, he has been know to come down the stairs not using his legs. He actually looks like a paraplegic when he does this. He has even climbed up onto the couch to sit with me, all without using his legs. This can go on for 1/2 hour!

Back to the issue at hand. He has the largest egg on the side of his head . No bruising that I can see, no puncture marks from a bug. I'm trying to remain cool as a cucumber, but, I am slathering arnica gel on it, hoping it will just go away. It has changed since yesterday. It was hard, now it covers more area, but is soft and squishy. The doctor, yes, you experienced moms, I called the doc, said to watch it and if I still don't like it by Thursday she'll take a look at it then.

The ham is happy even now as he sees himself. "Me, Malachi, me, Malachi.....".

The bump as it looks this morning. Dispersed, covering more area, less red. The shining is the arnica.

Fun Fun Fun

2008-07-10T22:48:00.001-07:00

La piece de resistance.

May I present the completed work bench in it's new home. Already has some interesting paraphernalia on it. The straight lines you see are where Lawrence drew so the kids could nail to their hearts content, and they did, as you can see below. Malachi straightening that nail. Caleb watching Papa in the shed. My friend Amber has a diaper business. What is unusual, is you can purchase pre-cut, pre-washed fabric and sew yourself and save a bundle over most diapers out there and have great all in one diapers. She's spoiled me by giving me prototypes and misc along the way. One of the features I like, among many, they are so adjustable, allowing you to skip sizes. I'm so thrilled to have these diapers! Here's the link to check it out. http://www.diaperkit.com/ This is what the 'kit' looks like. I never made the plunge and bought a whole luxurious set, until now! We've been using, Indian unbleached, I know, I just started talking a foreign language. Bottom line, I don't sew, Lawrence was going to the Philippines, so we had him bring the kits with him and find a seamstress there. They weren't ready when he left, so his Auntie Berna graciously brought them back with her. We just got them today, and needless to say, we're all excited about them, just look at the Aquino men folk. Lawrence is wearing 3 I think. Silas enjoying his new diapers!

Lawrence, leading the fun. He is so able to not take himself too seriously. I love that about him.
While the following was taking place, Silas was in Spotland. What's the deal with that Spot? And on to the wall climbing....... Glad I painted this hallway!

How about this way?

Ninja Jr here. Missing is the door-jam photo. If you look at the series, you'll notice he's climbed down the hallway. This is truly the 'Jumping Spider'.

Kickin' back And done!

Labeling, Grammie Style

2008-07-10T20:36:00.000-07:00

In the quest for a cleaner home, consolidating... I've come to the realization, with a tiny kitchen, assigning colors for cups, giving little people ownership of said cup, will seriously cut down on our dish load. So mom, you were onto a good idea there. Hope this gives you that sense of credit and appreciation due you. In my defense, I must add: "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man (in my case, a woman), I put childish ways behind me." 1 Corinthians 13:11

I may have made mention of her seemingly neurotic need to label and color code us a time or twenty growing up. Well, I didn't know anyone else who did it, and so thoroughly too! Classic childhood reasoning.

I have remained unimpressed in spite my children's awe of Grammies wielding of The Engraver, permanently marking their toothbrushes, the requests for labeling from the kids themselves. Resistance is futile. I have been assimilated! I had to slowly arrive here, seeing loads of cups going through the washing cycle, and never having enough. Not at the engraver level, but color coding, labeling your Tupperware when you bring it to church....

It bears mentioning that I was returned once by an adult using my bracelet, the evidence of my uncoolness. My first day of kindergarten I went home with a new friend, Veronica. Call first? No one ever told me to call if I stopped at a friends house to play.

On a side note, leave comments, don't be shy. I enjoy hearing from you guys. I hear occasionally, not usually in print, but love to know someone is reading my ramblings.

Pictures from Lawrence's trip to the Philippines.

2008-07-06T22:54:00.000-07:00

Get ready for lots of posing, but I want you to see the family, the beauty of the greenery, the different world, and all without having to experience the humidity and heat. Yeah, I know, some like it hot... I can't relate. Family conference room.
In front of conference room.

I'd rather take a meeting here too.
Lawrence, Sherwin and Mom, Cecilia.
In the family conference room, sharing cheese(since only 2 of you got that.... say cheeeese). Lawrence stayed with Jake and his wife while in Manila(far left two). More posing.

Did you notice the change?

Dining Hall at Sherwin's facility. All the conference rooms were in use,
so they got the dining room.Fruit stand, bet you wish you could grab a pineapple.
If Jack fell off this one he'd definitely break his crown.

The lot where Lawrence grew up the first 6-7 years.

House is gone, the bush has moved in. Another roadside fruit stand. Next picture is their home. No matter how long your commute is, how little you think you have, your home is bigger than this. Think of that and be greatful. Really, take a moment and really think about it. Why did God give you America, and to others so little. Until now, you may not have thought you had much, but you do. What are you going to do with it? From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48

Lawrence and mom and cousins in Manila at a restaurant Cecilia went to in the past.
Lawrence and his mom with the Aunties, and Kuya in Philippines. 1/2 of them live in Hayward!

Jake, Lawrence and Cecilia.

Lawrence standing in front of?? A store....What, you couldn't guess?

2008-07-06T22:33:00.000-07:00

Did you know 15 years after our wedding celebration, both my flower girl and ring bearer are adults? Last night I realized I wasn't as young as I think I am, though still young enough. I fully embrace where I'm at, while being surprised at some of these revelations. I watched a show on TV. Not too old a show, I thought! 1999. One of the actors, obviously a teenager, is someone I recognized from modern TV, the guy from Numbers. Wow! He was just a kid a few years ago!

Digital photography has become normal in the last 15 years. If you're still using film, your one of a few, in my world I don't know anyone. The Internet is fast and you can research anything in only a few moments, maybe not thoroughly, but still, I don't think we even had a computer 15 years ago, although Lawrence was a techie guy back then. He created Rbase databases for a couple of companies. One even told him that's how he was catapulted into the $$$ he made in the next 10 years following.

3 kids later, 3 surgeries. C-section, apendectomy(Lawrence), and open chest. That sounds like old people sharing battle wounds! I guess this is how they get that way, one year at a time:)

Just thinking, sharing my mind with you.

The Work Bench

2008-07-03T16:15:00.000-07:00

The way the construction project started. Caleb pulled old boards from the garage and pulled Papa into his project by the next evening.
Snoozing Silas
Idy has been writing about buko and how Delicious, fabulous, good for you, as she's off in the Philippines for 3 months enjoying fresh buko. Sarah told me I could actually get it locally, so off I went, and we drank coconut water and ate the meat!Coconut King.

Caleb, cushion surfing.

The proud safety glass wearing Aquino Team Boy.

Malachi drilling a hole or 2.

Silas and Papa drilling.

Caleb getting the drilling started. He's making a work bench so he can get on with being the fix-it man. He said he wants to have piles of wood and work things so he could make things any time he wants when he's an adult. The pack rat gene is strong with this one.

Aquino Men Safety glasses required.

Red Potato/e

2008-07-03T15:36:00.000-07:00

There are so many things to share, but the most remarkable to this moment is Silas got stung by a bee. We stopped at the store on the way home to buy a red potato. Once home, I grated it and put it on Silas's toe where he'd been stung. I wrapped it in saran wrap and we called him the king as he got to eat toast on the love seat.

Amazingly, he asked to have the potato removed and says it doesn't hurt. He got stung at 2p and it is 4p now, and he's happy as a clam. I'm going to try this on mosquito bites for Caleb. He swells up and has huge lumps from them.

[WARNING TO THE SQUEAMISH, SKIP THIS PARAGRAPH]
OK, I have to tell you, while I was writing the 1st sentence, Caleb got hit in the nose by a bee stung boy. He had such a gusher. I hollered up "Go to the bathroom...." When I got up there, 30 seconds later, it already looked like a slasher movie. As the stream dripped over his mouth, he blew it like he'd just came up from underwater....Yuck! We got a few good drops for the microscope, our science for today, actually, the second science lesson today. While he's looking at the microscope, he lets the paper slip off his nose and WHOA Nellie, the longest coagulation you've ever seen! We took pictures of his masterpiece, he wanted it to go onto the blog, but for those less squeamish than I, I refrained. You're welcome.

15 Year Anniversary.......Again

2008-06-26T14:40:00.000-07:00

Today is 15 years since our wedding celebration. We got married in a small ceremony in my townhouse in Castro Valley, then in June, we had the white dress, big celebration. Lawrence should be coming home early and we'll go do something as a family. I'm thinking Garin Park. Family walk, biking, baseball??? Something as a family. Feels like it's been a long time since we've been together as a family doing something with just us. I think it is just what we need.

Yesterday also marks my 1 year since open chest surgery anniversary. My body has done so well over this last 6 months. I've been working out since January, which has really helped my muscles work together in unity, you probably take this for granted! Some of my muscles have forgotten they used to be one, and act like separate muscles still, but not extra painful, so I'm guessing it's ok. I do have nerve tenderness and numb areas, but can't complain. Overall, I feel very strong and healthy. I do think I have a thyroid problem, I have many of the classic symptoms. Hypo. My mom and her mom had it, so I've been tracking over the years.

I've been feeling a sense of oppression this last week. Please pray for me. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12

I've been behaving poorly, not the devil made me do it, yet there is an element of oppression I felt, especially over the weekend. Being tired, emotionally tired, I walked right into poor choices, which make life harder on everyone. I'm onto the deceiver now, and am choosing to not feed the anger and dwell on bad feelings in my mind. If you think hard, you may understand what I am talking about here. We all have choices to dwell and feed, or to move on. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

We've been doing a service camp this week at the church my dad's memorial was at. We picked up trash at San Leandro Creek, wrote letters to service guys, learned about special needs people and did a craft which will be included in a basket, and today played bingo and sang songs at a care home. Tomorrow will be interesting. We will be going to Target to spend $20 per family on a child for angel tree. I'd like to brag my kids are really thinking about others and putting others first, but alas, this is just a step in the right direction.

Today, after singing at the care home, it reminded me of when my grandparents would bring me to a nursing home and would sing hymns. It surprises me how willing the residents were to sing with gusto. We have a long way to go in putting others first, and thinking of others needs, human nature and the American way sure don't help.

One of the favorite parts of this week for the kids is the air hockey game, so again, learning to serve is going to be an ongoing lesson.

Wontok Children - Jimenez Elemenary School Philippines

2008-06-21T18:56:00.000-07:00

How exciting to share the first images from the school after the first wave of backpacks has been received. We had 17 backpacks, and 3 backpacks joined at the last minute. God provided just the right number. If you look at the backpacks in the classroom pictures, you may be surprised as I was that they are so nice. Not all the kids need backpacks! So I'll share more later about where that brings this project. The kids who received the backpacks were the needier of the school. We will be doing supplies for the school, so bulk up in August when they go on sale!

All the Backpacks and their new owners with the teachers and staff from Jimenez Elementary School.

Check out this classroom door. Eye level bent rusty sheet metal waiting to gauge an eye out. This should be replaced by now by Lawrence's cousin Generose. Thanks Gene!

The library as it stands today!! There is water damage, water is there even at the time of the picture from a big rain. Keeping books in the school would be a great idea. Just need a better location, not by open windows and too low to floor where the water creeps up to touch the books!

Lawrence taking picture with recipient of Jenna's backpack! All but 2 backpacks were brand new. This hello Kitty backpack was a last minute addition to our project. Thanks Jenna!

Kids waiting to receive the backpacks.

Staff, teachers and principle with Lawrence.

One of the backpack recipients. Lawrence took a picture with each kid.
Lining up before class.

Classroom view from behind.
Classroom view from the front.

The Return of The Papa

2008-06-19T12:39:00.000-07:00

Lawrence is en route as we speak. Each time I hear an airplane overhead I visualize the inside of the plane and what Lawrence is doing, usually sleeping, loud snoring... Lawrence enjoys the experience of flying, go figure!

I had grandiose plans when he left. I planned to have the house neatly organized, the handyman jobs completed, the old entertainment center (weighs several thousand pounds, OK maybe not) removed, the hutch relocated, the garage cleaned out, the toilet seats replaced, the surfaces clear of clutter. There were more projects, but my perfectionist brain just exploded while writing out the wish list. All this, while single parenting three quiet clean angels.

I do have hopes to go to the dump today, get rid of an old dishwasher and garbage. We'll see. I also have to buy a t-shirt and iron on the pictures I printed. This is a fathers day gift, so it would be nice if it was ready when we pick him up at the airport.

I wonder if at the core of every messy person is a perfectionist. If I can't do it all, with-in an unreasonable timeline, then I can't get too it, too overwhelming! I have done more dumping than ever before. I have come to the sad realization that I am not a closet pack rat as I came to realize a few years ago, but a FULL BLOWN PACK RAT!!!! Not a flattering realization. But, the first step toward recovery is understanding your problem, so now I can become an anti-pack rat.

I have to share something that makes me giggle. A few weeks ago Caleb walked into a friends house, she also has 3 kids, although her youngest 2 are 4 going on 5. He walks into her house and confidently says, my house is much cleaner than yours. This person is NOT a pack rat and has a very tidy house. I do go through moments of cleanliness, although they don't last long, due to the stuff landing on the floor so quickly after being cleaned. I have been purging for the last 5 years and have just begun to anti-pack rat purge, which is different than what I have done before, hence the need to go to the dump. We've been doing weekly drop-offs at the thrift store for a few months now.

OK, enough of that, I hope Lawrence took pictures so I can post them of his trip to Philippines. He spent it sweating as it was HOT HOT HOT and SWEATY! Lawrence visited Sherwin, and was able to take him out for lunch, then his mom joined him last Saturday and they were able to visit Sherwin together several times.

Time for random pictures!

2008-06-16T01:27:00.000-07:00

Just hangin' around.

You scared? You should be! Rrrrrrr. Snack cut, cleaned and presented by Caleb.

Our new puppy. Malachi is matching Papa's work 'uniform'. So proud! Beware of the Jedi who will stack all the mattresses in the house. Yes! Lawrence is laying on top of all the mattresses and box springs we own, and 3 little Aquino members did this lovely thing to my room several times before being threatened with.....I can't remember now, but the building project has ended. They never could put it back, but had no problem building this Tower of Fate as they referred to it, 3 times!

Look at my new shoes!
Celebrating Fathers Day while Papa's away. We sang Happy Fathers Day(tune of Happy Birthday), for he's a jolly good fellow, and gave him 4 hip hip hoorays! Papua New Guinea style. Malachi and Silas and yes, the angel is sticking out his tongue and teasing you!

Backpack, backpack.
Who's a monkey?!

Think of something funny Malachi.

Hmmmmm.

Lawrence Flys the Coop, Again!

2008-06-09T23:26:00.001-07:00

Once again, Lawrence is bound for flight across the pacific to extraordinarily hot Philippines. He will be relocating Sherwin. Probably bringing him to an Aunts house in their birth province. The aunt lives in America but has some children in the area. We have been praying about how to help Sherwin, since extending his stay in rehab is more than we can continue with. Lawrence has been looking into hollow block making materials. Hard work, avoiding boredom is the goal, for Lawrence anyway. Others are offering a life of TV, so we'll pray and hope the best for him.

My prayers are for safety for Lawrence. He'll be gone a week and a half. The longest time away from us. Safety, good health, safety.... The driving there is something else! He'll be working on getting our office set up and running.

The office building we are in has a high vacancy right now, so Lawrence negotiated being able to use the office next to ours until the building owners need it, so we are setting up our initial library and Wontok Children base in there. Our latest idea, and I mean as of early evening today, is to have a mobile library. Our desire is to get the books out to the provinces where they are truly impoverished. The city we have our office in is a 24 hour city, I'm sure they have a library, and those patrons are poor perhaps by our standards, but not my target market.

Lawrence is planning on bringing our first batch of backpacks to the school and delivering them. Very exciting, I will definitely post pictures of that. Maybe I'll run off and make a website?!?

Sportmanship

2008-06-03T14:00:00.000-07:00

Many of you are raising children, with the goal that they would have good character and sportsmanship, among other things. This clip is so poignant, so moving. A teachable moment for our young athletes. I encourage you to show this to your children.

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3380875

pics with my Dad

2008-05-27T16:44:00.000-07:00

Grandpa 2003
Grandpa with his wife Dianna and Caleb and Malachi

Romaine and Tracy's Wedding

The Birth of the AquinoClan

2008-05-27T12:51:00.000-07:00

OK, I'm feeling more balanced now. The pressure of getting the house on the market by next month is off, no, not for any particular reason, other than what I said before. I am working on doing what I can, leaving the rest to God, and there is a lot of 'the rest' let me tell you!

I just learned from my Realtor, that only 18% of short sales end in escrow. This means the rest end in foreclosure. If we don't get this house this round, we can try again if/when it goes into foreclosure. Apparently the banks get a tax write off for their losses with a foreclosure, not so much with a short sale. If any of you are really into write offs as I am, you can see how these lenders would choose the higher write off, not necessarily the highest moral integrity, considering these same lenders contributed to the problem we see here in the Bay Area.

Many people were approved with 'creative' negative amortization loans that borrowers couldn't possibly pay when the initial low payment terms ended, 3/5/7 years usually. Over the last years here, before the bubble burst, you could just refinance, the equity was growing so fast it easily accommodated this 'creative' financing. I think it had been going on for years, just the people at the tail end of the curve took the hit.

So Lawrence and I have sent a letter of invite to Lawrence's mom, Cecilia. The prayer is that God do what is the best, so if having Lawrence's mom living with us is too hard on family life, that she not come. The letter outlined basic boundaries and norms. We even included a list of American values to help a foreigner understand Americans better. My aunt and uncle sent Lawrence and I a copy over 15 years ago (I know, can you believe it's been that long?!). It took us about 7 years to come up with a workable culture of our own, and the Aquino Clan is born:). If Cecilia can make it through the paper, she will have a better understanding of the things we do. A very interesting paper. http://www.cmc.edu/math/alee/extra/American_values.html Re-reading this paper, I laughed, and found it funny. So much truth. Perspective, with 15 years of seeing the truth play out. Asian and western values are so different. Without Christ, we wouldn't have had a foundation for unity.

A Caulking Story

2008-05-25T00:27:00.000-07:00

I have been working my self into total exhaustion and have become completely overwhelmed . As I shared this with my sister, she reminded me that if God is going to give me the next house, it would not be based on my exhausting myself, but God doesn't need me to work miracles. Imagine that! Don't misunderstand, I believe in doing my part to be available...but giving from what I don't have..... always relearning and applying these lessons. I am so relieved, I spent today doing nothing! At the end of the day, I was able to finish caulking the shower.

After "un-caulking" the shower several days ago, and not having access to the shower all this time, I am so tiredly excited to have this project completed! Not so simple as I had hoped.

We are still waiting on the house I mentioned earlier, Dennis Ct. While it seems so perfect, we don't have our ducks in a row to get it if they offered it to us at this point. The Realtor said the lenders were planning on making a decision this upcoming week. So, we continue to prepare the house for sale, and need to sell before we can purchase. God can do anything, so we wait and live while the future unfolds.

Wontok Children

2008-05-06T09:25:00.000-07:00

I recently realized I haven't shared much about Wontok Children, the non-profit I am working on starting. If anyone has started a 501(c)(3) and wants to help get the bylaws and paperwork set up, let me know:)

Some great service opportunities if you want to join in this project. We need many things for the backpack project. You can buy backpacks, or any of the supplies. In August, there are so many sales! Backpacks are on sale in September. I bought them for only $5 at Walgreens and Longs last year. We also need donations for shipping costs, and then a fun day of packing the backpacks. Bring your kids and get them involved blessing other children! We have so much here, our struggles financially are a far cry from the true poverty of this province. What an amazing opportunity to help others. To touch those starving children in Africa, if you don't know what I'm talking about......... You know when you had to clean your plate as a kid because you had food, albeit gross, and the kids in Africa are starving, how did this help them exactly?

Below is a rough idea of what WONTOK CHILDREN is, and where I see it going.

Do you believe in co-incidences? I don't. Many things come together at just the right time, providence, God's sovereignty? I think so.

WONKTOK CHILDREN

Mission Statement:
· Share Christ’s love
· Discipleship
· Empowerment through education, reading
· Teach living intentionally

Vision:
Broaden minds of children through education, literature, teach basic life skills, parenting, vocational training, entrepreneurial development, provide job opportunities. Help impoverished girls to see hope in their future, not end up using their bodies for survival.

Project List:

1. Lending Library at local Mapandan School- donated children’s books
2. School Supplies – providing teachers with supplies
3. Backpack Project- each child gets a backpack at the school
4. Building Library on commercial land in Mapandan
a. Pay back taxes on land, get title (Lawrence's family owns a small property there)
b. Building structure
c. Librarian – story hours, filing books, managing library
d. Shelving
e. Computers with internet service ??
f. Music listening area ??

5. Boarding School style Community-
a. To build a community, boarding school style to house, feed, and educate orphans and local children. Parental involvement will be required for children with parents. Co-op style.
b. Where Christ is taught as truth, with biblical values.
c. Charlotte Mason style education. Math, reading, phonics, writing taught up to lunchtime with well supervised time to explore the world with magnifying glasses, bug nets etc… after lunch.
d. Strong work ethic will be learned. Everyone will have a job.

Backpack Project-

Our goal is to give each child a backpack, one entire classroom at a time(43-45 students per class). Each backpack includes:

Optional items(find sponsors)
Toothbrush (instructions for use)
Hand sanitizer
toothpaste

Spiral Notebook
Crayons
1 book
1 biblically accurate story book or Child’s Story Bible by Catherine Voss or Egermeier’s Bible Story Book
Pens
Pencils
Pencil sharpener
Small toy or stuffed animal
Library

Opening minds through reading is the best gift to assist impoverished people out of poverty. The world is at your fingertips if you can read. Readers are leaders.

School Supplies
Our goal is to provide "Mapandan Elementary" with the teaching supplies the teachers need to properly teach.
· Chalk
· Classroom pencil sharpener
· Age appropriate writing paper
· Teacher planner
· Large hand sanitizer dispenser

Shipping Costs
We are prayerfully considering using a shipping container and sending books , backpacks and any other supplies all at once. We are accepting donations to cover shipping costs. The shipping container is from port to port, Oakland to Manila. Vans, and or trucks will need to be rented from Manila to Mapandan, as well as drivers.

another link for pictures on Zillow.com

2008-04-18T10:28:00.000-07:00

http//www.zillow.com/search/RealEstateSearch.htm?dg=dg1&addrstrthood=38423+Dennis+Ct&citystatezip=Fremont%2C+CA+94536

http://www.visualtour.com/applets/flashviewer2/viewer.asp?t=1301549&sk=30

Now you have all the pictures that exist on this house.

Please keep praying for God's best. Also, for the right situation for our current house, best renters, lease to own, bless another family. Wisdom and discernment before we go mixing things up for others. THanks

Dennis Court

2008-04-13T08:54:00.000-07:00

We put on offer on a house that is a one-in-a-million chances. Let me tell you about this house!

In Glenmore - 1 minute drive to my friends house!
Huge tree in large backyard - already has a swing
In very good shape, has lot of original parts - great bones
kitchen is in the center and has so much potential.-and is eat in!
floors are hardwood throughout. living room looks good already. Bedrooms have expired carpet:)
There is already a sandbox!
large back yard, covered patio
The house is 1900 sf which is laid out very usably.(is that a word?)
No garage - but 2 huge sheds/outbuildings - tons of storage with possibility of turning one into Lawrence office.
A large room to use for homeschooling (the picture with lower half of wall with panelling)
2 large closets- 1 could be a games closet (we have so many games I've been wondering where to keep them, so they are organized and accessible!)
Room for a dog if if if we so chose.
Definetely a large grassy area with auto sprinklers and.....a dirt area.
We could compost, worm compost, dig holes in the dirt with out digging up all the good stuff, and very excitingly, there is a mud remover affixed to the back porch!

http://www.movoto.com/real-estate/homes-for-sale/CA/Fremont/38423-Dennis-Ct-12_40329994.htm

There are pictures on this link. Not good perspective to show what it really looks like, but a glimpse.

I know our next home will be a miracle home so why not this one? Some things to pray for. This home is a short sale, which means the owner owes more than the property is worth, and the bank decides how much they are willing to lose. There are 7+ offers on this property, so the likely hood of ours being accepted is low as we are not the highest bidder.

What I do know is that if this house is ours, what appear to be obstacles to us, are like mosquito's to God, or even less actually. I know God will either clearly work miracles to give us this home, or clearly close the door. In this case, it will slam loudly. Aside from the house meeting so many of our desires/needs and matching the list of things I have been praying for, I would never expect us to be able to get it.

With this house we would consider bringing Lawrence's mom over. There would be enough room to comfortably have her here. I know, those of you whom have walked with me for a while are stopping to re-read that last sentence. I NEVER thought I'd be willing, but I am open to it, really. The thought of taking care of her was never an issue, just needed more space to accommodate. I always assumed it would be in a separate living space, but God has opened my heart to it....... I am thankful that God will not bring this about if it isn't the best situation for our entire family. There are good things for our children to see about taking care of family.

I have to confess some of the challenge that made the 6 months she stayed with us so hard, We didn't have a place for her, no discussing ahead of time, and many unknowns. I was at the end of my pregnancy with Silas, and the first few months of a newborn. More importantly, I have had to work through forgiving her for the parenting decisions she made that have affected Lawrence.

Another prayer, unrelated to the house, please pray my mother-in-law will go spend time with Sherwin in the Philippines. He's in rehab over there, and is a place in the program where he is supposed to have a family member to dialog with and attend weekly meetings.

Speech Therapy

2008-03-31T11:46:00.000-07:00

Malachi has started speech therapy. He had a session last week and second one today. He LOVES it! He loves his speech therapist, Loren. Such a blessing, since he is going once a week! This is our special time together, and time for him to get someone focused just on him. He said he likes being the only kid getting all the attention, but he really wants to invite his brothers to join him to play the games today. Such a generous spirit, wanting to share good things with his brothers.

We are meeting in Loren's home, which Malachi and I like. Very comfortable feeling. Loren, the speech therapist, asked if I wanted to stay, instead of me having to tell her I was staying, and giving my litany of reasons.....I was welcomed! The main office is much more corporate, and the therapist there begrudgingly said, we'd try it for a time to see if Malachi was too distracted, and if so, I'd have to stay outside during therapy.

I had been praying about a best personality match for Malachi, and God is faithful, and giver of all good things, not only is Loren gentle with her speech, but very attentive and patient. Malachi is having so much fun playing games and is doing well with his sounds too.

Cardinals and Red Socks

2008-03-18T23:30:00.000-07:00

We are now a few weeks into the baseball season. I was late to Malachi's practice, and I had Malachi, I was so encouraged and had to share. There were so many parents out on the field. It looked like workshops going on. Since I had complained, it was important to share. Some of you must be praying!! I happily watched for a short time, then went over to Caleb's game and cheered him on. I'll take some pictures and you can see the evolution of his stance. He takes his batting stance very seriously now. Caleb's coach is so high energy......he yells out randomly, "Red Socks ______" and the kids and parents yell, "Rock". He also yell/asks the kids, "WHO ARE WE?" and they mumble back "Red Socks". The kids are getting a little louder. I don't know which is more amusing, the coach or the kids.

Dry skin solution!

2008-03-18T14:04:00.000-07:00

Something I found while looking through my pictures. I thought You'd get a kick out of it. I have mentioned before that I wished Lawrence would take pictures of the things that happen on his watch so I can enjoy later:) Well, looks like he did.....

If you look closely at the picture below, you can find the answer to the question, 'WHAT is that stuff anyway?'

Baseball Mania

2008-03-13T00:04:00.000-07:00

I seem to have fallen into baseball land. Lawrence's friend Joel convinced him to do an easy job, be team manager for Malachi's T-ball team. Call the list of parents and tell them what team they are on, coordinate jerseys, general team start-up stuff. Remember this is from my perspective, so actual factual conversations are just hearsay.

Fast forward to now.......Lawrence is coaching the team alone! Think about this, Lawrence who tends to prefer people not interrupting him at work with 'pointless' conversation, is in charge of 9-12 T-ball players, their MOMS!! and dads. His laid back style has already caused quite a non-laid back reaction, however at present, no one wants to be coach. I am hoping and praying that some of the parents afraid of commitment, but willing to help where they can, will, in essence be the coach. I must mention, we have a great team mom.

I have encouraged those whom I have heard making suggestions under their breath to participate. Please pray that I am gracious and kind as I continue. I have lots of scenarios of conversations rattling around in my head, some less uniting than others, I know you know what I mean. I really do want this to be a fun experience for the kids and not torture for Me and the other parents, so please pray for harmony, team unity, gentle spirits, and an openness for any ministry opportunities. Our church is a 10 minute walk from the field.

Caleb has a very HIGH energy coach. He used to be a pro baseball player and he has a plan and is teaching those boys a lot. This team was just formed and there are no parent volunteers on this team yet.

15 year anniversary

2008-02-28T22:00:00.000-08:00

Lawrence and I had our 15 year anniversary yesterday. We celebrated with the kids by going out for sushi. We've been happily married for 8 years now! God is good and miracles really do happen. We are so blessed.

Gary Eugene Boyd 1941-2008

2008-02-26T22:30:00.000-08:00

He died early this morning. His heart failed, they shocked him and gave him medicine but once the medicine wore off, he coded again. He had been unresponsive for some time before this. He was unable to breathe on his own, and once he was taken off of the respirator, he didn’t even take his second breath. His wife released my dad from his suffering to go be with Jesus, where there is no pain or suffering. I am happy for this peace he has now. Caleb said he wasn't sad because he knew Grandpa was having a party in heaven with Jesus.

Dad was loved by his wife, whom he has been married to for the last 5 years. She saw his heart and enjoyed being with him.

My dad was born to cousins during WWII, left in an orphanage in Nebraska until he was 2, then adopted by evil people. He had a damaging, to put it in vague terms, childhood. He was acquainted with suffering, but he also came to know Christ. To know where he came from, you can see how Christ worked in his life.

Growing up, my most vivid memory of my dad was his absence. Although along the road there were some moments.

As a young child I remember my dad singing in a barber-shop quartet. He loved to sing bass, as low as he possibly could. He would sing strains and pieces of songs. On the occasion when he would come into my room at night, I’d ask him to sing “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow you, all the days of your life...” He’d sing it a few times. We sang together in church once, I’m not sure how old I was. 10? I’m thinking it may have been, “They will know we are Christians by our love”.

My dad could give the best bear hugs. I knew he loved me as a child because of those hugs. I give those hugs to my boys, who eat them up and can't wait to squeeze the air out of me!

On Sundays, my dad would crank up the Gaithers as he made pancakes, the other Sunday morning rituals don’t bear mentioning.

He loved apricots fresh and ripe from the backyard tree. I remember him cutting up cantaloupe and later on lots of canned peaches.

We enjoyed stolen moments with the TV on occasional weekends where we'd watch shows like Barnaby Jones, Rockford files, Quincy, and Star Trek. As a family, we did watch Star Trek The Next Generation, possibly the only sanctioned TV outside of the Olympics. We’d watch that Saturday nights and eat air-popped popcorn with stove melted butter.

My dad spent much of his at-home-time enjoying sci-fi novels, in the living room on the couch. I remember this large book of ‘The Hobbit’ he’d read to us. It had pictures, plastic overlays.
A couple of times he read books after dinner. I remember a couple missionary stories.

When I was 14 my dad gave me 3 pairs of cloisonné earrings, and when I was 18 he gave everyone in the family scarfs.

I lived alone with my dad for about 5 months in 1990. We didn’t see each other often, but he left a sticky note on my door that said “I love you”. He made turkey burgers with frozen mixed vegetables, the kind with lima beans:-0 served with a side of BBQ sauce. Did I mention this was every meal he ate at home. Perhaps breakfast was different, I don’t remember that.

Whenever I said goodbye to my dad, as an adult, he’d always say, “Love you kiddo”. I love you too dad.

My Dad

2008-02-22T11:54:00.000-08:00

My dad had a stroke last Friday, he is in the hospital. Things aren't looking too good. My sister and I drove down to SoCal to see him Tuesday. We saw him that night around 10p, which under normal circumstances is the middle of the night for him. We woke him up just enough to see an eyeball, and came back the next morning. He was still very groggy, although he did nod that he remembered seeing us the night before. He woke up more and more the longer we were there. By the time we left he was making faces as Elizabeth and I cracked many jokes at his expense, mostly his dangerous, aka, bad driving. He wasn't able to move his limbs more than a couple of times, and speaking was such a challenge, I didn't think he could do it, until he set the record straight on something once. His twin has a daughter, not a son. Speaking seemed to be very difficult, sometimes his mouth moved like he was working on speaking, but gave up. One time, it was completely garbled.

After we left to go back to the Bay Area, my dad took a turn for the worse. He was transferred to the CCU(critical care unit) where they shocked his heart because his rhythm was off. He was put on meds to maintain the proper heart rhythm. He is now off those meds. He wasn't oxygenating his blood properly, so he was also intabated. This means he's on a breathing maschine.

He already has total kidney failure, hence the dialysis. He has a sinus infection, pneumonia in both lungs and now a staph infection. He is also on blood pressure medication. I don't know if this is new or he was already on prior to this hospital experience.

Driving down, Elizabeth and I were cracking inappropriate jokes, laughing. On the way back, I felt strangely better, however tired, and quiet. Now, I feel sad. I know I'll see my father in heaven, maybe then I can know him whole and undamaged.

A move to Fremont

2008-01-29T16:59:00.000-08:00

I am praying we move to Fremont, to a neighborhood called Glenmore. This move makes sense on many levels. 2 weeks ago today I began to share this desire with my family group, aka bible study. Friday after that I met a new friend Janna, via a growing friendship with Amy. I mentioned in passing this desire. At the end of our park day Janna said let's pray we all live in the same neighborhood! Knock me over! A strong desire of mine is to be in community, to raise my children with other similar minded people. To have run into someone with a similar desire and willing to pray together right here and now! So we joined hands and prayed we end up in the same neighborhood. I'm so excited. When God moves, it is always immeasurably more than we can imagine, ask for, or our mind can conceive.

Those joining our prayer for this move, that it add to our testimony, for a blessing in finding a home with the Lords fingerprints all over it. The caveat, I only want this move if it truly is best for our family. Seems like it will be. Lawrence will cut 1 hour a day off of his commute. My prayer for the house itself: an eat-in kitchen, a space for homeschooling, a climbing tree in the yard, a yard big enough for a trampoline, a dog run?, dirt area, grass area

mudman returns

2008-01-27T19:58:00.000-08:00

I should have known I'd have another opportunity sometime to show you my mudman. Silas covered himself in (ajax), yikes. I ran and grabbed the camera, then cleaned him up. I recognized the smell, but it didn't click that it was ajax until I found the evidence. I haven't used it for cleaning in a while, have moved to natural stuff so kids won't have problems with toxic exposure! Ironic I know!

Too much work to download the camera now, will add another time.

We are praying God will bless our family with a move to Fremont. We are looking to rent in the Glenmore area. This would cut 1 hour off of lawrence's daily commute, and bring us closer to a hopeschool, church community. We are in a great commuting location now to anywhere in the bay area, but that also means, not too much community right here.

Please join us in prayer that the Lord will reveal the best for us, beyond what we could have asked for, conceived in our mind or heard of. When the Lord moves and blesses, he gives so much, for our ability to bless others, build our testimony and whatever I can't even think of.

A home with a kitchen as the heart, a yard big enough for a large trampaline, a place for homeschooling base, it's own room.

2008-01-01T16:56:00.000-08:00

Silas spitting?!?! Malachi

Under the boardwalk

Uncle Joey and Autnie E - aka EJoe with Isabella.

See, here is the sea anemone, and the sea star.

Caleb

The Crows landed and snacked on fresh seaweed.This one is just so cute.... Silas, putting up the tent.
out of time sequence, but I'm sure you've guessed that.

Caleb Silas

Silas Malachi

We visited 'Starfish City' this winter on one of the coldest days of the year! As many times as we've visited Santa Cruz, we've never seen this vast treasure trove of sea life. There were anemones, muscles, barnacles - huge and small, crabs, snails, misc. crustaceans. Sooo cool. I'll post other pics. I thought I'd named them so they'd be easier to find, but only 'Starfish City', so named by Caleb.
Silas making a sand pile

Happy 40th Birthday Lawrence!

2007-12-17T22:45:00.000-08:00

The new girl in Uncle Lawrence's life.

Isabella practicing her Sumo stance! She's just turned 10 months and is taking her first few steps on her vacation in the Bay Area. She's visiting from Austin TX!
Tiger shark at Hayward Shoreline interpretive center.
Uncle Lawrence and his niece Isabella!

Today Lawrence turned 40. We celebrated by going to Gerry's Grill, a nice Filipino restaraunt. We got to spend dinner and dessert with E Joe and Isabella. Isabella is 10 months

A book worm team

2007-11-12T13:22:00.002-08:00

This morning, Silas woke up, climbed out of our bed and climbed in bed with Malachi who began "reading" The Little Red Hen. Such a beautiful thing! Silas was laying next to Malachi with rapt attention. His appetite for books has recently become apparent, his attention span increasing. He has joined the ranks of reading books over and over.

Back at the villiage, life as normal?

2007-11-09T23:12:00.000-08:00

We babysat Cheyenne, our favorite dog overnight last week.

Silas playing with magnets.
Starting vacuuming early. Disguises optional.

I had to make this entry to share my newly permanent markered baby. Malachi found Silas with a permanent marker and thought he'd be the teacher of how to mark as much visible body parts as possible. The picture here doesn't do the artwork justice. Much is covered up. He was careful to include the large circles around the eyes. A picture is worth a thousand words....

Malachi's doing well with his cast. It is not nearly as bothersome to him as the splint from the ER was. This is lighter.

While Lawrence was away........Yay, he's back!!

2007-10-31T22:57:00.000-07:00

Malachi broke his arm Sunday night! An accident involving a little assistance off a slide ended in a couple fractures on this brave kid. We spent 5 hours of 1 on 1 time. We got to read several books and talk with a 6 year old who fell off a slide and seamed to have broke his arm also.

Malachi was so calm not whimpering or even complaining that the nurse at the ER really didn't think he broke his arm. The worst part was when they put the splint on after 4 ½ hours of waiting. Malachi was groggy and crying, he kept saying the split was too tight and hurt him. The fiberglass was poking into his skin. His arm was hot and itchy. I felt so helpless. This was only a short period though, so it could have been much harder. My mom spent the night, since I got back home at 1a.

Silas woke up about around 2:30a or so. I was just going to bed. He was positively giddy to see me. Very smiley and content and giggly. Hospital departures too fresh.

And now........Lawrence is home.........Halleluja!!!!

Up up and away

2007-10-18T17:07:00.000-07:00

Lawrence has been itching to get on a plane and fly over an ocean. He is getting this opportunity on the 26th of October. He is flying to the Philippines with his brother Sherwin. Sherwin is being deported.

Coincidentally, AKA providentially, our business is at a point where I just thought Lawrence needed to go to the Philippines to usher us into our next phase. Lots of paperwork, lease, etc... needs doing. Lawrence mentioned wanting to go to the Philippines the day I realized he needed to go for the business. He broached the subject cautiously and much to Lawrence's relief, thanks to the Lords prompting I was on board.

A whole week without Lawrence coming home at night is barrelling toward me. I am feeling the awesomeness of a weeks length right now. We have such a full schedule, it is just so daunting to not have Lawrence coming home, and 2 Saturdays, 1 Sunday, not counting the Sunday Lawrence will need to rest from his trip... here's to hoping the flight, like his long commute is the rest he needs:-o I wish I was joking.

Lot's of prayer coverage needed for us.

For those of you who don't know. We have a drafting business. Please pray for Gods best with this business. If it is to be, it will be full of blessings that will overflow and bless all that come into contact with it, employees, clients, and anyone in between. This business can only succeed if the Lord blesses it, and we want to be in the center of His will. Please pray doors clearly close or clearly swing open. Pray for Lawrence to have wisdom and discernment as he interviews and meets with architect schools to create relationships.

Please pray for Lawrence's safety, and also for Sherwin. This is a new beginning, and pretty scary. He moved to the US in 7th grade and before that lived in Papua New Guinea. He was born in the Philippines, but hasn't' been back since leaving as a young child. I don't know how old, but Lawrence left in 2nd grade to move to PNG, Sherwin stayed till he was 5 I think, with his Nanai(sp?)Grandma, before moving to PNG to join his parents.

Back from Radio Silence

2007-10-12T16:25:00.000-07:00

Ok, this next story is almost too much, but this is my life. I went to drop off library materials, and was just getting back in the car when I received a call from Lawrence asking how soon I was going to be home. My littlest angel had cut his penis with scissors, and there was blood. We're seriously low on band-aids.

If you haven't heard about liquid glue, I can't say enough about it. Great for the very young children when you really need the band aid to stay on, and for the more delicate areas of the body.... Thanks to liquid glue, we all slept happily and comfortably through the night. For those of you who have no idea why I'm talking about that, just think urine=acid, cut in delicate places.

On to other things. I've been quite busy, and am in a constant state of near overload, or actual overload. My body is at about 20 years more aged than my age. While I am cured of any diseases, tumors or really life threatening things, I'm not recovered. I held Silas for about an hour or less last Thursday, and on Friday my lower back/Sacrum started hurting. By Saturday, I was immobile. It took a while to connect the dots to figure out the sources, it had crept up so slowly, seemingly unrelated. It will take me a while to get back to a robust life, for lack of better word.

It is so frustrating, I don't have the energy to keep my house clean, cook meals daily, put laundry back into dressers. For most moms, women even I think, having a messy home, makes your mind messy. How have we been living your wondering now? Lawrence washes the laundry, the dishes pile up until Lawrence or I clean them up. Vacuuming......... well, it could be done more often, shoes help so you don't feel the crunch! For meals, I started making oatmeal for breakfast everyday in the microwave, lunch and dinner tend to be 50% pre-made meals from ??

It's not really a depressed place, but I don't have the energy to get up from the chair, the energy to move, to think. I'm maxed out. It is a physical taxation. I'm depleted. I am trying to think of how to fill the void, to gain strides forward. Lawrence is so generous with giving me time to do things without kids in evenings and weekends, so I will crawl out of this void with time and more importantly, the Lords help.

The mere fact I've made an entry in the blog shows a spurt of energy. We are going to see Andre Cole, a magician, tonight. This should be a fun outing. I've been living as if I'm not teetering on the edge of total exhaustion. Staying at home with kids all day is not relaxing. They get cabin fever and then fight more. Let me tell you, bickering children is one of the biggest energy drains I can think of. So we've been doing school most days until quiet time, then going out. This week, Wed, Thurs, and today, I have limited school to whatever Caleb can do with minimal input from me. This is usually a page of math. And today, a page of writing.

We've been enjoying books on CD, and this week, have enjoyed Lunch Money, a new book, 2005. Very good actually. Long, 5 hour or so. I count that as read aloud, I am grateful for skilled narrators to fill our minds with the written word with much less energy than it takes me to read.

We started listening to CS Lewis's The silver Chair. I'm surprised, Caleb is enthralled with the fantasy. With the Classical education philosophy, you are supposed to read books below your reading level for entertainment, shear fun, books at your reading level and books above your reading level, to challenge you and push/pull you along. Caleb really enjoys reading books multiple times, so books on CD is great for that, those readers never get too tired, or have other kids that are hungry, tired or thirsty:)

ABC 7 news link.

2007-10-06T14:42:00.000-07:00

Effective Ways To Avoid Breathing Bad Air (9/6)

This is the correct link to view when I was on the news on my first day out alone with kids. Already a lifetime ago.

Papua new Guinea Mud men Visit

2007-10-06T11:52:00.000-07:00

I had to substitute for actual picture since Lawrence didn't take a picture. While I was out, Silas and Malachi played in the flour and Lawrence's best description of how they looked, is well, see the picture:) He didn't know whether to laugh or be mad, so he pursed his lips to keep them in place and moved through the clean up process. What a great husband he is!