Monday, December 19, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Love
How do I keep loving, when my friends keep leaving without a single goodbye or apology to me? Why do I keep loving, if my trust just keeps getting dashed to pieces every time someone says one more unkind thing? I guess the question that I'm wrestling with is, how can I afford to keep on loving? It does nothing for me except hurt my heart again and again. And then I turn to His word: "There is no fear in love, for perfect love casts out fear...whoever fears has not perfected in love." I can't be afraid of what others will do to me, or say to me. I cannot be afraid. If I am a daughter of God I cannot afford that luxury. Later John writes that I can't love God and hate my brother. Love isn't exsclusive. Love isn't only to people I can trust. Love extends to anybody and everybody no matter what their background, position or place in life. And until I realize that I can never truly love God.
Christ first came to love us when we did not know him, did not care about him. Christ loved all, despite the fact that he knew he would be betrayed. As he hung, soaked in blook and crying out in agony on the cross he didn't think about what he "got" for love. Christ's love is total, unconditional.
What about me? In my heart I know there is only one choice. I have to keep loving. I have to open my arms, embrace the world and love without reservations, without a thought of what it owuld do for me. Past hurt, past anger I must love. I must love until I am so hurt and exhausted that at the end of each day I must again, fling myself on Jesus and cry for mercy. I have no choice. Christ expects no less.
Christ first came to love us when we did not know him, did not care about him. Christ loved all, despite the fact that he knew he would be betrayed. As he hung, soaked in blook and crying out in agony on the cross he didn't think about what he "got" for love. Christ's love is total, unconditional.
What about me? In my heart I know there is only one choice. I have to keep loving. I have to open my arms, embrace the world and love without reservations, without a thought of what it owuld do for me. Past hurt, past anger I must love. I must love until I am so hurt and exhausted that at the end of each day I must again, fling myself on Jesus and cry for mercy. I have no choice. Christ expects no less.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Week with the Cousins
On a happier note we had a great time with our family, some of which we have not seen in six years. We took lots of pictures and so everyday I'll post a few pictures to tell you more about the happier moments of our trip. Today there's a lot of pictures because I'm introducing each of my cousins. The only one missing is Jared because we didn't have time to take a picture of him.
Claire...obviously.
Little Ashley.
This is Sabrina, she's the oldest from my dad's sister. She's 14 almost 15. Her younger brother, Jared is 9.
This is Daniel. He's 13, three months younger than me. He's the oldest from my dad's brother.
This is Matthew. He's the youngest from my dad's brother. He's 9.
This is me. :)
Emily...she thinks she's really cool.
Juliana...the middle girl from my dad's brother age 11.
Cade, with his "peace" sign.
So those are my cousins from my dad's family! More pictures to come...
Claire...obviously.
Little Ashley.
This is Sabrina, she's the oldest from my dad's sister. She's 14 almost 15. Her younger brother, Jared is 9.
This is Daniel. He's 13, three months younger than me. He's the oldest from my dad's brother.
This is Matthew. He's the youngest from my dad's brother. He's 9.
This is me. :)
Emily...she thinks she's really cool.
Juliana...the middle girl from my dad's brother age 11.
Cade, with his "peace" sign.
So those are my cousins from my dad's family! More pictures to come...
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Memorial Service
Many of you know that my Grandma died a couple weeks ago. My family just got back from California where we were at her memorial service. The oldest grandchild from each family read something they wrote for her at her memorial service and so I decided to post what I read.
Ever since I was little I have always called my Grandma, Lola. That’s what my grandparents requested and so that’s what I have always called her. Somehow that makes her seem more personal, more specific. I mean there are thousands of grandmas in the world, but, at least to me, only one Lola. I hope that today she is honored like she deserves.
The last time I saw Lola was in January. She and my Lolo had just come back from a business trip in Maryland and they stopped at our house in Spokane for a week. That was the most fun time I ever had with them. It started off with me getting lost at the airport and ended with them waking us up at 4 in the morning on their departure date for a little “surprise.” While they were there we went to a movie, went shopping, got manicures and hosted a New Year’s Eve party with Lola’s cooking.
One of the things I loved about my Grandma was her cooking. Every time we visited we would load up the car and head to the local Asian market. Hours later the house would be filled with the smell of delicious Filipino food. Some of my favorites are panset, synagong and champarado. She loved to cook and blessed my whole family with her delicious food.
Another activity I did with Lola was loose teeth. Obviously, I’ve lost all my teeth now but when I was younger we found out a secret. Everybody knows how generous Grandmas are, and mine probably more so, but anyway, we found out that the tooth fairy at Lola’s house was just a little bit more generous than the one in Spokane. Well, we would always try to loose teeth around the time of our visits. It usually took a lot of effort on our part, but if we succeeded in yanking one out we were rewarded by Lola with a 20 dollar bill. Eventually my parents started talking about popping out a few so they could earn a little extra cash.
I really admire my Lola for her generosity. She was always giving, giving, giving. Lola loved to buy clothes for us and give us gifts. In fact, whenever we knew we were going to see her we would make a list of “fun things” to do with them that we wouldn’t normally do. These included bowling, going out to eat or for ice cream, going to the mall, etc.
Another thing I loved about Lola was her spontaneity. If you even hinted at something you wanted to do she would either immediately suggest it or ask you if you wanted to do it. And of course who is going to say no to ice cream!
There are so many things I could tell you about Lola. I could tell you how excited I was when I was finally taller than her. Or how I scared her so bad she screamed and jumped straight into the air. But I hope this has shown you how much I loved Lola and what an amazing woman she was. I’m so sad to loose Lola. Nothing is ever going to change that. But I am so thankful for the time I was able to spend with her, and the things I was able to learn from her. I love you, Lola. I can’t wait to see you again.
Ever since I was little I have always called my Grandma, Lola. That’s what my grandparents requested and so that’s what I have always called her. Somehow that makes her seem more personal, more specific. I mean there are thousands of grandmas in the world, but, at least to me, only one Lola. I hope that today she is honored like she deserves.
The last time I saw Lola was in January. She and my Lolo had just come back from a business trip in Maryland and they stopped at our house in Spokane for a week. That was the most fun time I ever had with them. It started off with me getting lost at the airport and ended with them waking us up at 4 in the morning on their departure date for a little “surprise.” While they were there we went to a movie, went shopping, got manicures and hosted a New Year’s Eve party with Lola’s cooking.
One of the things I loved about my Grandma was her cooking. Every time we visited we would load up the car and head to the local Asian market. Hours later the house would be filled with the smell of delicious Filipino food. Some of my favorites are panset, synagong and champarado. She loved to cook and blessed my whole family with her delicious food.
Another activity I did with Lola was loose teeth. Obviously, I’ve lost all my teeth now but when I was younger we found out a secret. Everybody knows how generous Grandmas are, and mine probably more so, but anyway, we found out that the tooth fairy at Lola’s house was just a little bit more generous than the one in Spokane. Well, we would always try to loose teeth around the time of our visits. It usually took a lot of effort on our part, but if we succeeded in yanking one out we were rewarded by Lola with a 20 dollar bill. Eventually my parents started talking about popping out a few so they could earn a little extra cash.
I really admire my Lola for her generosity. She was always giving, giving, giving. Lola loved to buy clothes for us and give us gifts. In fact, whenever we knew we were going to see her we would make a list of “fun things” to do with them that we wouldn’t normally do. These included bowling, going out to eat or for ice cream, going to the mall, etc.
Another thing I loved about Lola was her spontaneity. If you even hinted at something you wanted to do she would either immediately suggest it or ask you if you wanted to do it. And of course who is going to say no to ice cream!
There are so many things I could tell you about Lola. I could tell you how excited I was when I was finally taller than her. Or how I scared her so bad she screamed and jumped straight into the air. But I hope this has shown you how much I loved Lola and what an amazing woman she was. I’m so sad to loose Lola. Nothing is ever going to change that. But I am so thankful for the time I was able to spend with her, and the things I was able to learn from her. I love you, Lola. I can’t wait to see you again.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Last week my cousins came down from Spokane and we had a great time! Their parents stayed for a couple of days and then Annsley and Seth stayed for a week before flying back to Spokane on Saturday. I have several great post ideas but right now the pictures say it all!! We went to the river behind our house as well as our friends' man made lake! It was a great week with lots of memories!!
Monday, July 4, 2011
"The Samaritan Woman"
Again this is based off of a story from my dad's sermon. This is part one of "The Samaritan Woman." You can read about it in John 4.
Johanna clutched her head covering tighter and walked even faster. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, hot and painful, reminding her that nothing could ever be right for her again. Dust clouds billowed up ahead and Johanna jumped to the side, stumbling and falling. The rider only laughed mockingly and whipped his horse faster. A woman, an outcast, scorned and mocked to tears. Unrespected, unloved, unwanted. What good am I anymore? She walked wearily to her house and hoisted a large clay jug to her shoulder. As the sun slowly appeared behind a curtain of fluffy clouds, Johanna followed a trickle of women leaving their city to fill buckets with cool water for the day ahead. She continued up a hill, averting her eyes from needle sharp stares and biting whispers. Bits and pieces of conversation leaked out from secluded groups of women.
“What does she think she is doing here?”
“…mmm what more can you expect from someone like her?”
“Don’t you know, rumor has it she’s sleeping with Ahmon the butcher, and they're
not even wed,” the woman sighed with mock sympathy.
“Not that it would make much difference if she did,” another woman added. “How many husbands did you say she’s had?”
“Oh at least five. Takes them in for a season and then throws them out like food gone rotten.”
“Or maybe it’s the other way around,” the women tittered.
Johanna cried out like a wounded lamb. She let her jar fall to the ground and listened to it shatter as she ran away from the well. Her heart thudded in her chest like a hammer striking down again and again. She looked back to see pieces of her jug scattered near the well, the broken pieces like her broken heart.
Johanna clutched her head covering tighter and walked even faster. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, hot and painful, reminding her that nothing could ever be right for her again. Dust clouds billowed up ahead and Johanna jumped to the side, stumbling and falling. The rider only laughed mockingly and whipped his horse faster. A woman, an outcast, scorned and mocked to tears. Unrespected, unloved, unwanted. What good am I anymore? She walked wearily to her house and hoisted a large clay jug to her shoulder. As the sun slowly appeared behind a curtain of fluffy clouds, Johanna followed a trickle of women leaving their city to fill buckets with cool water for the day ahead. She continued up a hill, averting her eyes from needle sharp stares and biting whispers. Bits and pieces of conversation leaked out from secluded groups of women.
“What does she think she is doing here?”
“…mmm what more can you expect from someone like her?”
“Don’t you know, rumor has it she’s sleeping with Ahmon the butcher, and they're
not even wed,” the woman sighed with mock sympathy.
“Not that it would make much difference if she did,” another woman added. “How many husbands did you say she’s had?”
“Oh at least five. Takes them in for a season and then throws them out like food gone rotten.”
“Or maybe it’s the other way around,” the women tittered.
Johanna cried out like a wounded lamb. She let her jar fall to the ground and listened to it shatter as she ran away from the well. Her heart thudded in her chest like a hammer striking down again and again. She looked back to see pieces of her jug scattered near the well, the broken pieces like her broken heart.
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