A Prayer for Malina

Back in January I ended a blog post with the following prayer request:

'My last sentence carry's 3000 miles across the Pacific to the oncology ward in one of Oahu's finest hospitals..............Malina WE ARE PRAYING- May you feel God's presence wrapped around you and your family and may your healing come quickly- Praise God for the news you received today (that her Leukemia went into remission).  For my prayer partner buddies please join in praying for Malina as she overcomes Leukemia.'

As most of you know, my family and I were able to live in Hawaii for a couple of years (09'-11').  We lived on the island of Kauai where my husband Matt was the manager of a recreation ranch (the ranch was a vacation destination for family and extended family).  During our stay on Kauai, Ryan met his friend Isaiah at school- when they started spending more time together we were able to meet Isaiah's family and extended family.  Both Isaiah's family and extended family were so gracious to our family- inviting us over to family gatherings and BBQ's.  When you have moved to a new state, feeling a bit homesick, and trying to meet new people these types of gestures go A LONG WAY!  Isaiah's dad is named Eli (we call him big Eli when we are referring to him at our house- not because he is physically big but because he is older than our Eli- it get's confusing when you have 2 same named people- distinguishing is a must).  Eli's little  sister is named Malina- Malina is part of Eli's extended family that we were able to spend time with while we were on Kauai.

Just after New Years I received a text from my friend Dionne.  Antone and Dionne were the first friends we made after moving to Kauai- I met Dionne at church.  Dionne's brother Kimo had recently moved from California to Kauai- After moving, Kimo met Malina....those 4 period marks between the a and t represent Kimo and Malina starting to date, having their daughter Mahiehie, and then recently getting married.

Just for confusions sake:
Big Eli is Malina's brother
Dionne is Kimo's sister
Eli's son Isaiah and our Ryan became friends at school- Malina is Isaiah's aunt
My family started hanging out with Isaiah's family and extended family because of the boys friendship
Dionne and I met at church and became friends
We met Malina through spending time with Big Eli (Julie- Eli's wife....well...almost wife...smile) and Eli's extended family
Kimo and Malina met fell in love and got married
Kimo and Malina would be at the extended family get togethers that we would go to....
This is how my family met Kimo and Malina- It really is a small world :)

Dionnes text was asking for prayer for (her sister in law) Malina- She was very sick, had been medivaced from a hospital on Kauai to Straub Hospital in Honolulu....the diagnosis was Acute Myeloid Leukemia type M4.

The local paper on Kauai picked up Malina's story and explains even further what Malina has gone through since getting her diagnosis- Click HERE to read.

In the last couple of weeks, Malina was released from Straub so that she could fly to Stanford to receive a bone marrow transplant.  Malina's brother Alika was found to be her perfect match. 

Malina's facebook update page said this today:

Today Malina begins her preliminary appointments before her actual transplant. Today she will have her pulmonary function test, echocardiogram to check her heart and another bone marrow biopsy. Please keep her in your prayers for favorabl...e results and comfort during the biopsy. Biopsies are extremely painful and each one has been increasingly more painful for her. Malina continues to show an amazingly positive attitude in everything she does. Her smile shines daily. Kimo is there every step of the way. And Alika will stay with them until they complete his stem cell collection. Actual transplant will be March 27th.

I would ask that when you think of it, you lift Malina up in prayer- She's a young mama, she's newly married, she's strong and incredibly courageous.  Praying for Kimo as he stands by his wife's side and for Alika as he is privileged to be Malina's donor.  Also praying for Mahiehie.....

God Bless you and we are praying!!

 

 

'Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.' Joshua 1:9



Malina you are STUNNING!

Malina, Mahiehie, and Kimo

Beautiful!

Malina and her brother Alika

This pic is of Isaiah and Ryan- Isaiah and his family spent this past Thanksgiving with us here in Oregon.
 

Chris and Heather's Baby Evelyn

Our Birth mom Heather and her fiancée Chris were expecting a baby at the beginning of August.  They knew that the baby would be a girl and they had chosen the name Evelyn.  It was important to both of them that the baby girl they were having had a name that complimented Ellie's name- That is part in how the name Evelyn...Evie (EV) for a nick name, was chosen.  This past Monday (2/24) Heather experienced complications and baby Evelyn, at 17 weeks, went home to heaven.

The sadness that Heather and Chris are feeling is enormous...........

I would ask, when you think of Heather and Chris, that you would lift them up in prayer- That they, in a very real way would feel the peace and comfort of the Lord as they grieve.

Baby Evelyn is in the arms of Jesus...Her short life here on earth will go on forever in eternity and will be remembered always by her family.

We love you and are so sorry....




Heather with Ellie's half brothers Caiden (L) and Joshua Justice (R)

Parenting Teen Boys 101 (Terminology)

Parenting Teen Boys 101 (Terminology)

'Hey Mom, I'm going shed hunting':  Why in the world are they looking for a shed (storage) was my first thought- I turned to Matt and asked that very question and he responded by rolling his eye's and laughing.  Here is what I have since learned......Male White Tail Deer SHED their antlers every year- These shed antlers are a popular past time hunt.  My boys think it's fun to go out looking for these deer sheds and haul every one they find home to pile in their room (or pretend fight with them clawing at each other).....................Had they only said shoe hunting I would have totally known what they were talking about...smile

'Hey Mom, can I have ONE of these cookies': The word ONE is misleading....by one they mean they will be eating the whole box and maybe, if they feel like it, leave ONE cookie.

'Hey Mom, I'm Hungry':  Translated this means that you are about ready to get eaten out of house and home- Teen Boys can literally consume food faster than what you can buy it......Our grocery bill is tipping just under a thousand dollars..........Yes, I spend just under $12,000 a year on food- I love feeding my boys and love that they have friends and cousins up often....I would not trade any of the thousands of dollars spent each year on food for anything. Start saving now my mother friends of small children!

'Hey Mom, I got a Deer!!': If blood and gore bother you at all you just gotta suck that pansy thinking up (verbatim what I have been told)- If your teen boy shoots a deer one must go look, take pictures of the dead creature (with the child holding it by the horns), and proclaim accolades...........THEN after all of this you have to CONSUME a hundred or so pounds of that deer meat (or spit it in your napkin after each bite....I have NEVER ever done this).

'Hey Mom, Do you want a Rocky Mountain Oyster': 'Sorry boy's I can't cause I'm allergic to shell fish'...I thought my boys were talking about actual oysters.
If you have ever lived on a cow farm (cattle ranch....whatever it's called) you know exactly what I am talking about.  If not, maybe one of these names will ring a bell....prairie oysters, Montana tendergroins, swinging beef, and calf fires, oh this one is the best..................COWBOY CAVIAR
If you don't know what I am talking about yet google it-
Who looks at those after being removed from the poor calf and thinks............YUM!! Draw the line people D.R.A.W. T.H.E. L.I.N.E! (absolutely do not send me a private message telling me how good they are and that I should try- I will mentally judge you and will not be able to compartmentalize the fact that you have eaten them)

Here's to some of the most precious years of our parenting lives- Our boys growing up to be young men...


The view as you walk into my boys room- I especially appreciate the teeth on this whatever it is...

Here is the pile of deer shed's on my Eli's bed right now- He has been out shed hunting with his friend Tyler all afternoon

 

The Letter Waiting in the Mail Box

Dear Ryan,

This letter from your school was waiting in the mail box today!!

We are SO PROUD of you sweetie- You are living out your Christian Faith and it is noticeable to others.

Keep walking the walk son-

We love you,

Daddy and Mom

 

 

Don't Trust The Boat (from Julie)

Have you ever been around someone who's faith in our Heavenly Father shines brighter than the pain you know they are in..........
Someone who has walked through one unchosen fire only to be ushered into another unchosen fire....
As onlookers we are saying 'Enough Lord...she's had enough'
But as she speaks 'Jesus' is all she say's...
'Jesus saw me through the recent death of my husband....he saw both of us through the 6 months of suffering he endured before going home to be with the Lord,'
'Jesus is seeing me through the Dialysis I hook myself up to each night'
'Jesus is seeing me through the imminent Kidney transplant I will be having in just a few short months...'
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.....

Julie is filled with Jesus- her focus is Jesus- her claim is Jesus
At Bible Study today she shared with me that once in awhile she will sit and write an e-mail to send out to encourage others- She shares things that she herself has learned and is learning as she walks through this season of unrelenting fire- the fire has not burned Julie in the way Satan has hoped but instead it has refined her in the ability to look beyond her present situation to a greater faith....

Thank you for sharing Jesus with those you meet Julie- For ministering to those around you as you lay in your hospital bed, as you go to one more doctor's appointment, as you hook up to one more dialysis, as you go through one more medical test....

Persevere my dear friend....our Jesus is using you to influence many.  

'Heavenly father I lift up precious Julie- Please guard and keep the Kidney Transplant she is about to receive. Please be with her sister who is donating the kidney....please be with Julie's girls as they stand by their mom's side.  Please give the doctor's and nurse's wisdom and guidance.....Thank you Lord for Julie's steadfast walk in her faith...'

 

DON'T TRUST THE BOAT by Julie

"You of little faith," He said, "why do you doubt?"
Matthew 14:31

We are all familiar with this story about Jesus and His disciples. After Jesus fed the 5000,  He told the disciples to get in the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side of the lake. While they were traveling across the lake, Jesus went up alone to a mountain to pray. The disciples soon found themselves in the midst of a violent storm. Jesus, seeing all that was happening walked out to them in the midst of the storm and when they saw Him, they were terrified! But Jesus said to them, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid!" At this point, Peter walks to Jesus on the water but as soon as he saw the wind, he was afraid and began to sink. He cried out, "Lord, save me!" That is when Jesus asked him why he doubted.

Oh, how like the disciples we are! We fear the storm around us, the circumstances that seem beyond our control. Have you ever felt like retreating in the midst of the storm-back to safer waters or pressing on no matter what to your destination?
Could Jesus have arranged for them to have smooth sailing to their destination? of course, He could! But it's during the storm that our faith becomes stronger and we learn to trust Him.
When are we the safest in the storm? When we're following Him and walking in obedience
Jesus comes to us when we need Him the most. The things that you fear and often leave you trembling-He has control over.
I don't know what storm you're facing today. Maybe financial problems, relationship issues, a devastating illness or maybe several things all at once and your world is spinning out of control.
Don't trust the boat! Trust the Lord.
Focus on Him and His power. He will get you through this storm and see you safely to the other side.

Julie and her beautiful daughters

Trading Tory's and Frozen Samoas

The season is getting ready to change and you know what that means....
No, not taking the stud tires off (this is what my Matt would say in response to this question)
The correct answer to this my fashionista's is: Wardrobe change

Last Summer my friend Deb and I shopped consignment and I came across a pair of Tory Burch 'Selma' White Wedge Sandals in my size...Let's take a minute to admire :)

I have put some miles on these Tory's....they accessorized and adorable-ized many an outfit last summer and fall-
I've had my eye out for a cute pair of red flip flops- as Nordstrom's flip flops pop up on my computer screen I am most drawn to the Tory's...........of course, I'm a frugal fashionista so Nordy's price makes me shutter just a bit.  E-bay had some better prices and a few more styles (hey Darcy, should I go with used shoes...smile).  After much frugal thought I have decided to list my last spring Tory's (purchased for $4) on e-bay....if they sell I will be trading Tory's......
Here's what I am hoping to adorable-ize my outfits with this spring and summer:

p.s. before I post the pic just gotta say......I LOVE that it is girl scout selling season- I LOVE that my friend Molly is my go to source...........Frozen Samoas are where it's at- pure deliciousness right there baby....PURE DELICIOUSNESS!

p.s.s. I'll keep you posted on the Tory's

6 Words to Overcome Anger....

It's been an interesting season of learning...........
Psycho Analyzed big application explanation answers being replaced with simple scripture

My natural tendency is to respond to certain situations with anger
I could justify my responses with this reason and that reason stemming from this childhood experience or that early married years this and then package and shelve the responses in my mind with the stamp 'Justified'

Jesus
He is all about seeing us Sanctified
all about simplifying this humanly complicated life we tend to live

'Heavenly Father what do I need to understand about myself, my childhood, my marriage to unlock the secret to overcoming anger- How do I not let the sun go down with an angry heart?' 

'A soft answer turns away wrath' (Proverbs 15:1)

That's It? 

If I choose kind, soft, Godly words even when everything inside shouts angry this will take care of an anger problem?

'A soft answer turns away wrath'

Pretty soon those soft outward responses start becoming inward habits.....

'A soft answer turns away wrath'...Jesus simplifies how to overcome anger in 6 words.....

Heavenly Father please let me be a woman who's soft answer turns away wrath- I love you Lord Jesus and thank you for making the complicated so simple.....