Home again

Vanessa is home safe and sound from her mission trip to East Timor and Bali. Here she is with a monkey and with some kids from East Timor. I hope to put some more pictures up soon.

tag....your it

I've been tagged by my friend Sharonb at Quiet Reflections.
Here are the rules of tag
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
5. Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

So six random things about me?
1. I am what they call Obsessive compulsive personality type. Not disorder, but type. Apparently the difference is if you do something compulsively and you think if you don't do it something bad will happen , you have OCD, but if you do something compulsively and don't know why, but don't think anything bad will come of it if you don't do it, you have the personality type. In other words I am obsessive compulsive for no reason, Gee that sounds great.

2. I love living in Hawaii and absolutely love the heat. I don't care if I sweat. The weird thing is I also like snow skiing. Obviously that hasn't happened in awhile, but I still think I'd like it.

3. I love reality tv. The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Amazing Race, Survivor, The Mole, should I continue.

4. I only drink Gevalia coffee, the kind you order. With French Vanilla creamer from Coffeemate whom I once complained to when I couldn't find it in Ft. Sill. They told me they were introducing a new flavor and that they had cut back temporarily on French Vanilla in that area. I told them that isn't fair, I don't want a new flavor, and I will not be buying Coffeemate again until it is back on the shelf. The next week I walked into the commissary and there was a whole refrigerator case full. Now that's what I call customer service.

5. I love UH football. No other college football but I love UH. I jumped on the Colt Brennan bandwagon last year and never got off.

6. I am a Dallas Cowboys fan. I am totally obsessed with the Cowboys. I someday hope to live by the new Cowboys stadium and in the state of Texas so that every fall I can spend my time rooting for the Cowboys. My hubby is a Steelers fan, he can't help it. He comes from Chicago, but likes the Steelers. When the Cowboys play he isn't allowed to root against them. He can keep quiet, but not root against them. No telling what unforeseeable accident may occur in the event he tries to root against them. For this I cannot be held responsible. And that folks is my disclaimer.

I would like to tag:
Jen at a good cup of coffee
Kelley at Aroma of Joy
Elizabeth at embracing life
Susan at Forever His
Cheryl at Hope for each day
Cheri at Pass the salt, please

I will let these ladies know that I would love to hear six random things about them.

John 16:33

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International Standard Version (©2008)
"I have told you this so that through me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble, but be courageous-I have overcome the world!"

This is my favorite Bible verse. I have it hanging on my kitchen cabinet so that I never forget it. I look at it every day and know the world will never own me because Jesus is the owner and He has overcome the world, what could be better than knowing this?

The Katinas-Powerful-as my surfing friends would say "I'm totally stoked"

They were amazing today. They sung this song while a new video of our military was playing in the background, it was special to our church since we have so many member who are in the service. There father was a marine and now is a preacher in a church in Samoa. They gave amazing testimony, sung 2 hours worth of songs, and it was the coolest service. Our pastor is nice enough to allow us a concert every once in awhile, especially when the group has such a powerful message to share. I just had to buy the new CD "STILL" to be released on August 19th. I must say "this CD rocks." They said they wrote this song about praying for their kids over the years but were convicted realizing it was a message to share with the world, the one's we are able to be praying for, not just our families, but the rest of the world. What a nice bunch of guys and you can tell they have huge hearts for God. They showed us a clip of their kids and it was really good. Of course I was 4 rows back, I would of had to knock over my pastors kid, the youth group, and Surfing the Nations people if I wanted to get any closer. Check this Cd when it comes out, I guarantee you will be praising and worshiping for years to come.
Same song, lyrics a little bit clearer.

One more for the road:
Of course they did this one. It was one of their big hits. I love this one and it was so cool to hear it live. If you listen to the whole song it gets into their singing as a group instead of just one.

Sunday

I had to post this today since this group, The Katinas, will be performing at our church on Sunday. I can't wait, I am totally pumped. They will sing in English and in Samoan for us so this will be a real treat. They have been to our church before and I am so grateful that they are coming again. What a God given talent they have and I am so happy that they will be sharing it with us on Sunday.

Happy Birthday Darrian

Today Darrian is 5 years old and will be starting Kindergarten on July 28. He graduated from pre-school about 7 weeks ago so he is pretty used to going to school. He is going to have a whole day to enjoy his presents. As you can see to the left of his graduation picture there is a spin art, something he has wanted for a long time so today we will make some spin art. We are also going to the store to pick up a cake, he wants sponge bob. So sponge bob it is. There is a picture of his niece Kai'lie to the left. Yes Darrian is an uncle at 5. He is actually an uncle to 3. I don't think he knows this yet, but someday he will. Anyway Happy 5th Birthday to my precious baby boy.

Thank you Cheryl

Thank you Cheryl my dear friend and sister in Christ. Cheryl has been kind enough to pass along this award Arte y pico (meaning peak of art)to me. Her blog is one that I go to whenever I am on the computer because she always has things to say that encourage me in my daily walk with Christ. She has prayed for my mom and now my sister and I always know that I can count on Cheryl for a kind word. Go on over and check out her awesome blog, Hope for each day.

Now I am supposed to pass this along to 5 blogs who bless me so I have chosen:
Jen at A good cup of coffee
Sandra at Diary of a stay at home mom
Kimberly at A planting of the Lord
Liz at Looney Bin 4 sure
and last but not least Rebecca at The Washington Walkers
3 of these woman, Jen, Sandra, and Liz I have blogged with for a few years now and Kinberly and Rebecca I have met recently online. All of they have always been there for me when I needed prayer for my family and all of their blogs have blessed me in many ways. All of these women are my sisters in Christ and I am grateful for each and every one of them. I hope you enjoy this award, I don't know if any of you have gotten one yet, but if so you deserve that and many more, and ladies please pass this award along to 5 blogs you would like to. Thank you again Cheryl for thinking of me and may God bless you and your family.

Praise and Adore you

This is one of my all time favorite Christian songs. I just found it this year, but I never tire of hearing it. There is a little intro. before the song actually starts so bear with it. I think you will all enjoy this one. For more Then Sings my Soul Saturdays pop on over HERE.

Casting Crowns

I was reading an article in Charisma (a Christian magazine) about Casting Crowns and in the article it said something that really struck me as interesting. The article said "an emphasis of the ministry and music of Casting Crowns is to help young people have their own relationship with Jesus, not a relationship borrowed from their parents and leaders. I was pondering this because I know of a lot of people young and old who go to church and pray and do all the things you are supposed to but don't really have a relationship with Jesus. So this article really brought it home to me that it is so important to teach this to our children and teens. Not just have them saved, but to help them to know the Lord. I teach my kids to pray but encourage them to do the prayer so I can guide them in actually talking to Jesus instead of just copying some prayer they learned at Sunday school or somewhere. I also encourage them to read their Bible daily. My older daughter was saying "mom do you know there are churches where they don't even bring a Bible?" I told her there are churches that don't even teach people you have to read the word daily. It's just some place to go on Sunday and hear a few words out of the Bible. How they exist without actually being able to talk to Jesus all day like he is a friend I will never know. I do know that teaching our children to arm themselves with the power of the sword (their own Bibles) is the way to develop a solid ground to walk with Jesus on. Just my own thoughts on this article.

Prayer request

I am not even sure my sister would want me sharing this with everyone since she is a private person, but I know that you all will want to know to say a little prayer for my family, and of course I have to go with my own judgment, which isn't always the best judgment, but it is mine, so here goes. My sister has found out that she has a little, tiny, spot on her breast and they want her to have MRI since it is so small not even ultrasound was able to pick it up. The doctors are not concerned, but we all know that prayer is always the best way to share of our worries and concerns with our maker. Since my mom only went home to be with the Lord a few weeks ago we are hoping for a quick answer to our prayers. Thank you all and of course I just had to share a little Hillsong with you all. My sister has an awesome blog for people who like to read so she can be seen at this blog if anyone is interested.

Amazing

We went to church last Sunday at Word of Life in Honolulu. There was a huge youth convention this weekend and this guy Jeff Deyo performed this song and the kids were wild and most came to church on Sunday where he performed this and another song and let me tell you it was AWESOME. The whole church, young and old, were rocking out to this. Then we had this speaker:

Again, AMAZING, what can I say. The kids were wild and so were we. He was such a blessing to have at our church. Ron Luce is one cool dude for Jesus.

This happened at the youth rally here and it is happening all over. It amazes me that so many young have tears streaming down their faces and look so lonely that only calling out to Jesus can save them.

The Message

This is my favorite Bible. I have lots of Bible, NIV, KJV, New American Standard, etc. and I refer to this Bible the most. I even bring it to church so I can clarify what the minister is reading. I call it my Bible for dummies. I sometimes get lost in the language of my other Bibles, but this one makes it easier for me. Does anyone else like this Bible? My minister refers to it on occasion at church and I notice more and more people carrying it around on Sunday.