Telling Stories...

He's such a good listener :)



 

Happenings

Hey friends. I have been missing in action for a while, so I thought I'd take a few minutes to just let you all know I'm still here and to fill you in on some of the big stuff that has been happening.

This first part is for animal lovers only, because to those who are not this probably may not seem like such a big deal. But, if you are someone like me whose busy schedule leaves little time for a social life and who does not have family close by, your dog or pets become your family. After 5 years of being the healthiest dog in the world and having no health problems, it seems as though the sky has come crashing down on my little boy. He's been having so many health issues, one of the biggest problems being a torn ACL, which means he has no use of one of his back legs because of the pain. Long story short, he needs surgery plus more tests for other issues he is having. I am praying for wisdom in balancing how to care for my dog who is a huge part of my life while trying not to build up major debt as a result of all the pricey treatments he is needing.



My poor boy Doobie.
On behalf of pitbulls everywhere I must clarify that he usually does not require a muzzle,
only when he is having painful testing :(

Now onto some much happier news. I got a new job/promotion! I am so excited about my new position, but as for now I have to be vague (until I sign my contract next week).

I am still chugging through grad school and am nearing the half-way mark.

And now, I have saved the best for last! A member of my family recently had a baby. Although she knew she would not be able to keep the baby she did not have an adopting family in line when the sweet little boy arrived 6 weeks early. Because he was born with drugs in his system the only choice given was a family member adopting him, or being taken by CPS. In response my mom and her husband decided to step up to the call, and they are in the process of adopting. My family recently made the trip from Colorado to California to introduce me. His name is Caleb Liam, and I am in love. I spent the last six days getting to know my little brother, and now my arms feel very empty without him.

Hope you all are well.

Faces of the Persecuted Church

About two months ago, as my mom was going into the nursing home to see my grandparents, she met a woman walking down the street. Within the following weeks this woman, named Elizabeth, and her daughter,  Dayam, became part of our family.

Elizabeth and Dayam live right around the corner from the nursing home and began visiting my grandparents everyday. They were there in the final weeks of my grandfather's life, and they gave a lot of support to my mom and grandma during this hard time. They spent Christmas with my family, and Dayam knew my grandpa as her grandpa. They continue to visit my grandma every day.

Elizabeth and Dayam have become an important and special part of our lives, and because of this I would like to share a bit of their story with you, and ask that as a church we can come together to help this family.

About six months ago Elizabeth and Dayam moved to Colorado from Pakistan. Elizabeth and Dayam are Christians who faced persecution in their own home, and because of this were given temporary asylum in the U.S. Elizabeth has one son who was killed in Pakistan, and also left behind a husband and another son who will hopefully join them here soon.

Because the asylum they were given is temporary, it will expire on February 11, 2013. At this time, if the application process for permancy is not completed, Elizabeth and Dayam will have to return to Pakistan.

Elizabeth has been working at a restaraunt where, because of her legal status, has been taken advantage of and is only earning $4/hour. She has also been picking up extra jobs cooking and cleaning as she can, but the legal costs for her and Dayam to stay in the U.S. are around $4,000.

This is far beyond what Elizabeth has been able to save, and far beyond what my family can give. We have had some church members step forward to help with this cost, but we still have a lot more to raise in just a short time.  I ask that as a church we model the early church talked about in Acts. I ask that those of us who can, give, so that the needs of our church family are met.

We talk a lot about the persecuted church, and I hope that you would consider taking this opportunity to help our persecuted sister and her daughter.

We have set up a paypal account in honor of Elizabeth and Dayam. At this time donations made are not tax deductible, but I ask that you would consider helping this family make a home in the United States.

Donations can be made here:
Elizabeth and Dayam Legal Fund

Celebrating Life

Can you believe this little girl is already 3 months old?

 I am so proud of her momma, who stepped into the role of
motherhood as naturally as possible.

Today Aleah got to meet Jerrie, who is one of my best friends and a spiritual mother.

They had some good conversation. I hope Aleah is soaking up all of that wisdom :)

Also in this week's news...

On Wednesday my grandma turned 86 years old.

Although quite the feat for anyone, I am extra thankful for this woman. Two years ago she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and given a few months to live (if that). Today she is cancer free, and she did it without chemo. I am proud to say that I inherited a bit of her stubborn streak, as she is living proof that it can be a good thing. Now if only I inherit just an inkling of her faith, I'll be able to move mountains.

Just a quick update on Yelena's adoption grant.

In the last week since I posted Breaking Down Barriers, $400 has been added to Yelena's adoption grant! As the amount keeps growing my body is having a hard time determining if I should jump for joy or break down in tears. Either way, thank you so very much to each of you who have shared Yelena's profile or given. Let's keep the momentum going!

Last but not least, God has entrusted this beautiful one here (another daughter of my heart) with a son who we will be welcoming into the world on Monday.

If God puts her on your mind or impresses her on your heart in the next few days, please pray for a safe and healthy delivery for both mom and baby, and just for lots of goodness to be poured into this little family. 

I'd love to hear what you have to celebrate this week!

The Knot Has Been Tied...

So, my mom gave me permission to spill her secret.

She got married this weekend!

It was a small, low-key, family-only event, and was impressively kept a secret. Which honestly, much of that secret keeping ability was due to the fact that it was also somewhat of a last-minute SURPRISE wedding. Everything was thrown together in just a few short weeks (which is one of the reasons my life has been crazy and I have been pretty much been MIA from this here blog).

I know what you're thinking, and no worries: My mom and her now husband have been "good friends" for the last 5 1/2 years, so we are all very happy for them and hopeful for their future together.

Now, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Roy:

Here they are with us kids (minus my brother-in-law and a step-brother):



And here we are:

The whole family.

Congrats Mom and James!

Just Call Me Meemaw

Yep. Gonna be a grandma(ish).

She's the closest thing I have to a daughter (in my heart it's the real deal). And she is having a baby.

Come August life is going to get Kuh-Ray-Zee.
But it's also going to get a little a lot more beautiful.

Accidental Latitude

A year and a half ago my grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had surgery, and it was discovered that the cancer had spread to several lymph nodes. The prognosis was not good. We thought that she would be celebrating her next Christmas face to face with Jesus.

Now here we are, coming up on her second Christmas since then, and as far as they can tell she is cancer free.

Soon after surgery my grandma received some of the best cancer treatment possible, including some of the newest medications. In fact, studies are being done on her because when you factor in her age and prognosis, her life is nothing short of a miracle. (But really, is any life short of a miracle? )

Along with the medical professionals, family stepped in. My mom did some research, and created a daily "smoothie" for her which consists of every single immunity-boosting, cancer-fighting fruit and vegetable on planet Earth.  These physical factors, along with being completely surrounded in prayer, have healed my grandma.

We are humbled and so very very thankful that God has allowed us to spend more time with her here in this temporary home in these temporary bodies.

But today I realized how much I take this for granted.

Today I received a letter from my Compassion daughter, Ruth, in Uganda. She is 19 and lives in a very rural area. She has never been to a city. Her family's average income is $8...a year.

Ruth is a prayer warrior, and has been on her knees for my grandma. In the letter I recieved today she told me that breast cancer is prevalent in her community as well as the surrounding villages.

What she told me next was the most awakening.

When women in her village are diagnosed with breast cancer, "they cut off their breasts and pray."

She went on to tell me that for this very reason we must be prepared every day to go onto our heavenly home, because there is nothing more we can do.

First, I must point out that in many ways she is right. We should be prepared for death at every moment. We are human, and God is God, and He can take us home whenever he wants, and no doctor can stop him.

But, God has given us a world full of potential cures and the intelligence to use them.

The only problem is that there are still so many who, simply because of their location or income, cannot access these wonders.

At times it feels as though the gap is closing. But then I realize that there are those of us who live in a country where, even if you don't have a penny to your name, you can benefit from most modern and life saving discoveries. And at the very same time, in the very same world, people are dying of diarrhea.

There are people in our world who take rocket ships to space and walk on the moon, and in the very same world people walk for days in order to reach the most basic medical care.

I have now walked through cancer with my stepmom and both of my grandmas. Two out of three of them conquered the disease, but all three of them were given the chance.

A chance that millions of people around the world are still not given, even today.

It's just another thing that breaks my heart, and another thing that I cannot fix.

But I can help. We can help.

In 2009 my Compassion daughter, Dilsly, had surgery to remove a lump in her breast. Her mother died of breast cancer when she was not much older than Dilsly, so immediate action was taken thanks to regular exams. None of this would have been possible if Dilsly was not part of Compassion's program. Dilsly could easily have been one of the many who are so close, but are unable to cross the barrier of poverty to receive medical care.

But thanks to Compassion, her medical needs are taken care of.

Thanks to Compassion, and other organizations like them, we are given the opportunity to help.

So, thank you, Compassion, for giving children a chance. Thank you for giving us a chance to stand in the gap.

And thank you, Father, that I live in a place where I can access a doctor and medication for something as simple as a cold. Thank you for creating us with the knowledge to create life saving medication. And thank you that I will get to celebrate yet another Christmas with my grandma. May I take not a moment of this for granted.

 

"We can be the generation that no longer accepts that an accident of latitude determines whether a child lives or dies. But will we be that generation?" -Bono

God Bless,

Bears Beware

I spent Thanksgiving day with my dad.

The last time I saw my dad was shortly after the great bear adventure of 2011.

Naturally, as soon as I walked through the door on Thanksgiving day, my dad handed me a magazine and this (holster included):

The magazine was opened to a four page article about a man who had been attacked by a bear in California.

I read the article and accepted the gift graciously, and understood that in "dad language" he was saying,

"I love you and I do not want you to be mauled to death by a bear."

He also suggested I keep it with me, even in town, as it works on humans just as well.

So, I would like to say a big thank you to my dad in taking a proactive stand in me not being eaten by a bear.

And to all the bears out there:

Beware. It's locked and loaded.

A Special Day for a Special Girl

See this gorgeous girl here? (Not me, the other one ;)

She has been in my life for what seems like forever.

Together we have been through lots of ups and downs, laughter, tears and hair colors.

I've given her talk after talk while she crosses her arms and rolls her eyes.

From baseball games to pizza nights, pumpkin patches to coffee dates, she has been a wonderful blessing in my life.

Today is a big day for her, a day that makes me feel old, but proud of the beautiful young woman she is. Won't you join me in saying

Happy 18th birthday Bobbiann....

You are so very loved.

Oh, Deer

I am still in Colorado, hanging out with my family and these guys in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

I spent the last four days in the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. The name (which means "Blood of Christ") is perfect, because the beauty is so engulfing that it is impossible to not be filled with worship for our Creator and Savior in this place.

I am so thankful to have this time of fellowship with my family and with the Father.

I hope you take the time today to let His beauty engulf you.



~I'll be back in three days. I can't wait read about what you all have been doing the last few weeks.

*Crickets Chirping*

Hey friends. Sorry it's been a little quiet around here. I wanted to check in and let you all know I am alive and well.

Because if you are anything like me you spend nights tossing and turning when you haven't heard from your blogger friends for an unusual amount of time. Okay, so maybe I am exaggerating a little, but  really, I do worry.

I have been with my family here in Colorado for several days now. Between hanging out with the family, helping my mom move, going to church, going to more church, and making new friends, I have been pretty busy. Plus, with the move, the internet has been sketchy at best. All this to say, I miss you all, and will come hang out with you some more when I get the chance.

I hope you are all doing wonderfully :)

Much love,

The Perfect Accident

You know those people who think their pets are just the cutest things to ever grace the planet and post a million pictures of them for the world to see...like the world really cares?

Well, I'm about to become one of those people.

But really, my baby boy is the cutest and sweetest dog around.

Exactly three years ago I became the foster momma of this over-loveable pitbull baby.

Shortly after, I accidentally became his permanent momma...

Deep down I believe it was meant to be ;)

Learning Through Hellos

Throughout life I have been blessed to have all my grandparents play an irreplaceable role on my journey. And I have been even more blessed to have grandparents to walk beside me who also walk beside Christ.

In 2009 I spent the days and hours leading up to my grandpa's passing at his bedside, mostly listening to stories and laughing, and of course some crying.

Then one year ago today I sat beside my grandma and held her hand as she was ushered into Heaven.

Somehow they have taught me through death just as they taught me through life, and I am so thankful that God blessed me with the opportunity to be there in those moments.

My remaining grandparents live in Colorado, and through the last year especially, it has been hard to be so far away.

Last August my grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had surgery to remove the large lump that was found, as well as several lymph nodes that were also cancerous. Although her outlook was grim, she has been doing surprisingly well, no doubt thanks to the prayers surrounding her.

The last ten months have been a rollercoaster ride for my family and my grandma's health, but through it all my grandpa has been an example of Christ's strength and compassion for his wife of 65 years.

Then last month the results from a routine procedure shocked us all.

My grandpa was diagnosed with colon and stomach cancer. We don't know exactly how advanced it is, and he has chosen to not have surgery in order to maintain his quality of life as long as possible. 

I talked to him on the phone a few days after the diagnosis, half expectant to hear a disheartened voice on the other line. As soon as I heard his beaming "Hello!" I couldn't help but cry. 

It was the happiest hello I have ever heard in my life....half giggle really.  

Only in Christ. That's the only explanation for the joy I heard on the other line.

So, through simple hellos, they are still teaching me.  

This summer I have decided that I need to absorb as much wisdom from them as possible. God has changed my plans around, because I believe he wants me to spend some precious time with my grandparents.

I have handed over my responsibilities at Youth for Christ for the summer, and put some hopeful Zimbabwe (travel) plans on hold. It has has not been the easy thing to do in a lot of ways, but at the same time the decision was easy.

As soon as summer school is over I will be on a plane to Colorado, where I will have many more hellos, and many precious moments to hold hands with wisdom.

A Big God

A couple weeks ago I told you about my sister Juju. Juju spent the first two weeks of 2011 in the hill country of Thailand, working through an organization called Integrated Tribal Development Program (ITDP).

I spent this evening listening to her team share about Thailand and the wonderful organization they partnered with. The theme of the evening was definitely that we serve a BIG and MIGHTY GOD.

In Thailand, a country that is 97% Buddhist, ITDP is reaching tribal groups who have never before heard of the love of Christ.

And how are they showing them the love of Christ?

Through meeting real and dire needs. The first priority that ITDP does for a village is water and sanitation. ITDP identifies clean water sources and then installs a water pump which brings clean water to a community for the first time. They also help each household build (or dig) their own bathroom (which are outdoor squatty potties) and they teach them the importance of sanitation. These things alone can dramatically change a community and increase the life expectancy.

In addition to  these things, they teach nutrition, gardening, and schools and clinics are built in a central location where they can serve several villages. And all the while, these things are being done through ITDP staff who are building relationships with the people, and as a result, leading people to salvation through Christ.

The area where ITDP works was once one of the major opium producers in the world. Opium farming has been outlawed, and as a result many of the farmers have lost their income. It is also a major area of child trafficking.

To replace this crop, and to create sustaining business that will provide for families (and therefore take away the desperation it takes to sell a child) ITDP is teaching farmers how to farm coffee beans. ITDP has started a coffee company called Thai Tribal Arabica Coffee. They currently have a coffee shop in Thailand called Lanna Cafe, and have sold their product to Starbucks on a small scale, but they are in the process of expanding. In fresno there are thousands of pounds of raw coffee beans from Thailand that will soon be roasted, sold as a fair trade product, with the proceeds all returning to Thailand to the farmers.

My friend Juju is so excited about the coffee aspect, as she is a barista and an artist. She is hoping to be able to use some of her talents to help market the product. There are also talks that a cafe will be opening here, in Fresno, within the next couple years.  I can't wait to be able to drink their delicious coffee and support the farmers!

I love hearing about organizations like this, who really have an understanding about how to bring long-term change for communities physically, economically, and most important, spirtually.

If you would like find out more about ITDP, please visit their website.

A Broken Beauty

This is Juju.

I have known her since I was in third grade and she was in diapers. Her mom helped my mom care for my sister and I during a hard time in life. Her family is my family.

She is my sister.

Over the last several years my little sister has grown into a beautiful woman and a dear friend.

And last night she was more beautiful to me than ever.

Last night I saw her broken.

Juju had the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Thailand. For the last two weeks she lived in a village in the middle of nowhere.

She lived in a hut with a local family. She experienced a new way of living, bathing, eating, and serving.

She did a lot of physical work that no one would consider glamorous of fun. But she enjoyed it fully.

She served in any way needed, even when plans changed.

Yesterday Juju returned home from Thailand.

She returned home cultured and excited and joyful, and broken. As she shared her pictures and stories I could see and hear the joy just beaming out of her. And then she started talking about the organization she partnered with and how God was using them to love the Thai people and how God was using them to give them a hope and a future.

The way God is moving completely broke her. All the walls were gone and I could see Juju's heart, and it was beautiful.

I was honored to be there in such a moment when her love for God and his people was so evident.

More than ever I am so proud to call her my sister. And now more than ever I am beyond excited to see how God is going to use her unique passions and talents to bring light and love to the people of Thailand and beyond.

There is just something beyond beautiful when someone's heart is broken by the things that break the heart of God.

(Stay tuned...you will soon be hearing more about the wonderful organization Juju partnered with, as well as ways she will be partnering with them to continue to be a blessing to the Thai people).

Only about 6 weeks late...

The last week of July I went to Colorado to spend time with my family and celebrate my grandparents' 65th wedding anniversary.

My sis and I got to spend some rare quality time together.



Although most of the time we were busy planning for the big party, we were able to take part of a day to explore downtown Denver. We went to 16th Street and enjoyed "Your Keys to the City," which is basically pianos painted by local artists displayed throughout several blocks of downtown. The cool part is that they are on display for passerbys to stop and play. We stopped and played a little, but this guy was better than us.



This is grasshopper. He likes to hang out on this cherry blossoms piano. He wanted to be my friend.



Then we stopped for lunch at the hotdog place.



My sister had the wild boar. I was a bit safer and had the all beef, but decided to spice it up with the curry sauce. I love a good hotdog, and love some good curry sauce, but together....not so much.

(If it makes that picture any less gross, please know neither my sister or I were able to eat the whole thing). In retrospect I should've tried the Elk Jalapeno Cheddar. Oh well, maybe next time, or maybe not.

Of course, I also got to spend lots of time with my mom and grandparents.

This is the face my grandma gives me when I say something funny but inappropriate enough for her to want to smack me with her menu.



Saturday was the big day. Here is the happy couple celebrating 65 years.




And here they are with their offspring (minus a few) and their offspring's significant others.



The week ended when I had to rush away from the party to catch my flight home. The following day my friends Shawn and Lauren got married, and I was on the only flight from Denver to Fresno which would allow me to be at both the anniversary party and the wedding.

I have known Shawn since I was 8 years old, and have lived with his family for the last several years. We have shared enough water fights, your mama jokes, and bed head to legally be determined siblings, so there was no way I was missing his wedding.

Unfortunately, I had a layover in Phoenix.

And apparently July/August is monsoon season in Phoenix. Seriously, who knew?

With several hours of weather delay in Denver I knew the chances of me catching my connecting flight were slim, but I kept hope. As soon as our plane landed in Phoenix they let me get off first, and as I ran off the plane all the passengers were cheering for me and yelling out things like "good luck", "you can make it!", and "run girl!". (Seriously. We all got very close being stuck together in a tiny terminal for hours). It was like a movie.

Unfortunately though, it was not a movie, and I did not make my connecting flight.

After checking with several different airlines, I found that there were abolutely no more flights to anywhere closer to Fresno until the next day.

So I headed to the rental car place, and spent the next 10+ hours driving home in this peanut.



I left Phoenix at 10pm and arrived in Fresno at about 8:30 the next morning. I had enough time to shower, get dressed, and drive another 1 1/2 hours to the wedding. I made it with 20 minutes to spare.

It was definitely an adventure and I learned many techniques to staying awake (which include but are not limited to: driving 80mph with the windows down, blasting mariachi music, and slapping myself in the face). I will say that if you are driving through the Mojave Desert at 2am and you find an open gas station, keep going. I would rather take my chances on the side of the road with coyotes and cactus.

So that is how I ended the month of July and began the month August, and this is the first time I have had time to sit down since, or at least thats how it feels.