Can’t Take A Vacation From “It”

While I was standing in line at the Target in Kapolei, HI, on vacation, I was reading the magazine covers and it hit me.  You can’t take a vacation from all this.  The magazines front pages had all the usual  ”So and so lost 14 lbs in two weeks, You too can have the skin of a 20-year-old, Organize your house in 6 minutes!, Eat this and do that and you’ll never have cancer, Clean your home all at once, and while you are at it, Be the best lover…” and it goes on and on.

You just can’t get away from it at all.  So I open my Bible and read:

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.  Romans 12:1-2 MSG

It is so important for me to read my Bible daily and meditate on what I read, to renew my mind and heart daily, so I can see clearly.

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I Should Be Doing Something Productive

I haven’t been feeling well, not too sick, but maybe this is why I haven’t gotten better, I just don’t stop and get completely healed.   I couldn’t read or think straight, so I sat down (or laid down) and watch a lot of my new programs on my DVR.  I made a pretty good dent on it. I had to do it to make room for next weeks program    Like a lot of you, I hardly watch live TV, except for last week, I tried to watch more than one channel at the same time, oh how did that frustrated me.

I also listened to Carlos‘ songs, over and over again.  They blessed my soul.  I love his transparency, his longing for God in his writing.  I’m excited and looking forward to one day, in the near future, I would hear his songs on the radio ♥

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The Best Birthday Ever

My two granddaughters started my day singing happy birthday, at 6:45 am. and when Losiah heard them singing, he woke up and sang to me also

After school I was told to go to my room so they can do what their family does on birthdays.  They stringed a long  ribbon all over the house with presents attached to it.  It was so much fun, not only getting my presents, but seeing them looking at my face when I would find one and open it.  This is such a neat idea.

This was one of the few moments that it was not raining during my week in Atlanta

Later Fermin showed up and took us to an Italian Restaurant for dinner.  The girls choose the restaurant (they really wanted Chuckey Cheese, but the Italian was their second choice).

I thank God for the privilege of spending my birthday with them ♥

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Autumnal Equinox – The First Day Of Fall!

Here comes Autumnal Equinox, September 22, when days get eaten by nights.  Tomorrow, Wednesday, will be shorter than today.

Fall arrives tonight in spite of what our thermometers say, while this is no Georgia or New England there are a lot of California places where the leaves will turn gold, orange, red and some will turn purple – you just need to get out of the city and find these places.  I have stood in awe at the beauty of the fall in Georgia, and done the same in the month of November in Yosemite.

Provides her food in the summer and gathers her supplies in the harvest.               Proverbs 6:8

I’m planning on going to Yosemite and witness the beauty of it all.

Happy Fall Season everyone, enjoy it, fall seems to go faster than any other season of the year, perhaps because we start celebrating Christmas earlier and earlier, me being one of them

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I Feel A Birthday Coming Up

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I was in Hawaii for two weeks –  long enough to get used to the time change, but now I’m in Atlanta, GA.  I’ll be here for one week, taking care of the grand children while Carlos and Heather are away.  I haven’t had any problems getting up, but oh boy, by 9:00 am I’m in need of a nap.  I feel a birthday coming up.

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That Every Man, Woman, Boy And Girl . . .

Jesus said, “Come follow me.”  Matthew 4:19

One ability my husband had from the beginning of his ministry as Executive Director of the California Southern Baptist Convention was to stay on target.  From the beginning his aim was to help Christians and specifically Southern Baptist Christians to share the gospel throughout California, the United States and the world.  Many people, when you mention Fermín’s name, smile and recite “That Every Man, Woman, Boy and Girl make a decision when presented with the Gospel of Jesus Christ”.  This has been Fermín’s passion, he preaches it, he lives it, he breathes it.♥

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Our Labor Day Week-End

Our Quick Labor Day Week-End Trip – Fermin and I left on Saturday to go to Burbank.  Never stayed in Burbank before, somehow I expected to see Jay Leno or someone famous to just walk by

Richard and Lidia Cano (Language Mission Church Planter Strategist for the area) came by and picked us up.  We left to go and eat at a cozy little Chinese restaurant in Downtown Burbank.  

We like calling our local missionaries and invite them to eat, this gives us an opportunity to just spend a relaxed time with them.  Sometimes we go out with the pastor of the church Fermin is preaching at, other times we invite the Director of Missions from the area, and yet another times is just Fermin and I.  This time we ate lunch on Sunday with the Director of Missions, a couple from the church and us ( no picture).

Fermin preach twice in Granada Hills on Sunday morning – at 9:00 am he preached to the Spanish speaking congregation and at 11:00 am to the English speaking congregation.  He was great on both services  We had a fantastic time with both groups.

It was a quick trip by 2:30 pm we were on the road heading back to Fresno.  No bad traffic in either direction.

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Da Pidgin Ten Commandments Hawaiian Style

I found this at Jameston by the Sea Restaurant on the North Shore of Oahu

1. God is numbah one.

2. No make da kine statues.

3. Watch yo’ mout. No swea with God’s name.

4. On Sunday, no can do notting.

5. Leesen to yo’ muddah and yo’ fuddah.

6. No murder nobody.

7. No go moemoe with yo’ bradah’s wahine.

8. No cockaroach notting.

9. No lie, brah!

10. No be jealous one noddah person’s stuffs.

Oh, an one noddah ting… no talk stink about nobody, bumbye you get bachi.

Transalation

1. “I am the LORD thy God”
2. “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image”
3. “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain”
4. “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy”
5. “Honour thy father and thy mother”
7. “Thou shalt not commit adultery”
8. “Thou shalt not steal”
9. “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”
10. “Thou shalt not covet ”

Oh, and one other thing, don’t talk bad about no body behind their backs – I think this is what the last line says

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Mahalo For Showing So Much Interest

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth… God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” (Genesis 1:1, 31)

It was bittersweet leaving Hawaii.  I don’t remember the last time I felt like I really had a vacation.  Staying two weeks really helped, but I was also so ready to come home.  We rested, played, worked, went sight seeing, met with friends and did so much more. 

I have received many comments about my photos, mostly I used my point and shoot camera, I thought I was going to use my other camera more than I did, it was just easier this way.

Here are some of the last photos I took from the plain.  Mahalo  (Thank You) for showing so much interest. 

Honolulu International Airport

Honolulu

 Hanauma Bay

Awesome Sunset

Arriving in Los Angeles

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Happy Birthday To My Son Carlos Whittaker

I always tell people how proud I am of you, today I’m telling you…

 

Monday, Labor Day… I was at a church picnic when I started feeling uncomfortable, I walked around the park.  You should have been born already.  They had given me August 4 as your birthday, and now it was September 3rd and you were not here.

You were instrumental on me wanted to be a mother again.  I have prayed for you from the moment I new you were inside of me.  

I am so proud of you, not so much because of your accomplishments (which are many),  but because you  seek God’s leadership for your life.  You have been an example for me many times.  

May God continue to bless you in your ministry, family life, health and financially.  Know that your Dad and I love you and thank God for your life.  Have a wonderful Birthday my Son and thank you for bringing Heather, Sohaila, Seanna and Losiah into our lives.  

Love You,

Mom

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