Garrett Has Graduated and So Have I

My son graduated from Clifton High School!!!  I rejoice in the Lord for bringing me through Garrett's years in school and not shaking his head at me, saying, "O ye of little faith."  The truth that comforts my heart is the Lord is never disappointed in us.  To be disappointed in someone, means you expected a different outcome from them and they did something you didn't expect.  Since God knows everything about us, He cannot be disappointed.  I'm thankful that I wasn't disappointed in my son but ashamed that I was a little surprised.


In my humanity and feeble faith, I confess that there were times I didn't think my son would finish.  Isn't that awful?  He will admit it was a hard road, for both of us.  It doesn't change the fact, however, that I wanted to be the kind of mom that really believes in their children and pushes for them to keep going and knows deep in their hearts that they will make it!  Who wouldn't want a mom or dad like that?


Dear Son,


You did it and I am proud of you.  I didn't get you through school.  You did it.  No matter what it looked like, you reassured me that you would graduate, as you patiently answered all my nagging questions, because I really didn't believe you.  I suppose, I was the disappointment, when I look at it in retrospect.  Thanks for still loving me, even when you felt I didn't believe you or in you.  I sincerely apologize if I made you feel that way, at any time.  I thank God that with all our imperfections and mistakes, we can still have, what I think is, a great relationship.  It's the thing that matters the most, in life.  Not grades, homework, college or graduating.  It's the relationship. 


Today, I cheer you on to go out and do what you love!  Don't settle for a have to, when you can have the want to.  Be the best at all you do by jumping in and working hard, asking lots of questions and learning from your mistakes.  Move into your life, with God holding your hand and leaning on His wisdom.  Don't be afraid of people who think you can't do something or think you'd be better suited for "other" things in life.  Make great decisions and when you don't, admit it, make it right and keep on going. You have a big heart for love so be a man who loves the Lord and strive to be a protector and provider, one day.  You have everything you need to become all that you were created to be! 


You are truly, one hundred percent loved, no matter what and I ask God to remind me of the fact that He sings and rejoices over me, with all my mistakes and let downs.  He loves me without condition and I need to do the same with you.  Congratulations, Son!


I love you with all my heart and toes,


Mom

HOW DO YOU SAY COMPUTERESE IN SPANISH?

So my friend Madai and I have been trying to set up a website and both of us have never done it before.  (By the way, that's not me in the picture, in case you were wondering.) I never knew how complicated it could be and how precise you have to be.  One thing is for sure; when computers work right, they can do amazing things but when they don't work the way they are supposed to, look out!  There are so many things that can go wrong and I dont' understand most of the language used to fix it and it's in English!  To me it's equivalent of having to explain something that's techonological, in the Spanish language.  I get stuck and then have to make up my own words.  "Tengo problemas en Microsuave Palabra, Eccelerado y Puntopoder." That's my interpretation of  "I have problems with Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint."  If you speak Spanish and computerese, you can probably guess, I need some help with my Spanish. 

Although, I'm in the technology business, it isn't something I was born to do.  God placed me where I am working today and has given me the ability to learn and understand things I never really studied.  He's also given me great patience.  One day (hopefully this year), Madai and I will get this site up and running but in the meanwhile, I'm thankful for a good friend to go through this learning journey with and that my computer speaks English, even though I don't speak computerese very well.  Now, how do you say web site in Spanish?  :-)

Simply Amazing

Russ and I had the privilege of hosting a wonderful group of people who are following God's heart and desire to reach the people of Clifton, NJ. Some we knew and others we got to meet for the very first time but felt as if we always knew them. Their excitement to move to my home town makes me excited to live here! Russ and I plan to be more intentional about really getting to know our neighbors from one section to the other and be in prayer for our town. Please keep Christ Our Hope Church in your prayers, as we partner with them and the Lord, for whatever He will do through us, to reach many for Christ. This future church plant will be here in the Summer of 2013 but is already in the hearts of people who, to us, are simply amazing!

We're Not in Kansas Anymore!

Well, maybe not Kansas but as of the Summer of 2013, they won't be in North Carolina anymore. The picture you see with this post is of some pretty amazing people. True servants of the Lord. He has called them to Clifton, NJ in the Dutch Hill section, to plant a new church called Christ Our Hope. They are being sent by their church, Open Door Baptist.

With a glad heart, I will have the privilege to call them neighbor. The Soca family, Cox family, Handy family and Miss Schrader will be leaving what and who they know to come and live the gospel to the people of Clifton, Paterson, Passaic and to whomever the Lord makes appointments with.

The Rodriguez family from Cliffside Park, and Russ and I will be helping with the new church plant as well. We are praying that although we aren't leaving everything and everyone we know, that God will show us things and people we have never known, as He uses us to come along side these other families, to be on mission in the world, not of the world but for the world,(as Pastor Won taught) right where we live. We also pray that God gives us a burden and true love for our city and the people who have not yet come to know Jesus in a real and personal way.

Pray for Christ Our Hope Church and the families that God is bringing together to expand His Kingdom territory and that His hand would be on us and that He would bless us indeed. If you would like to help with this new church, either through prayer or in other ways, please visit this site http://groups.google.com/group/ChristOurHope-NewJersey?hl=en

Blessings!

Thankful List

This time of year folks remember what they are thankful for and now it's my turn.

* A God who loves me without condition.
* A hot cup of coffee shared with my parents almost every morning before work.
* Coming home to be with my children, even when they don't really like what I'm making for dinner.
* A good man who loves Christ and who actually wants to marry me.
* A great hair day.
* Siblings that laugh at the same things I do, including my corny jokes.
* A great meal with great friends and family.
* The breeze through my window at night.
* Five Buck Club movies at Kerasotes!
* Twenty plus years on the job and how God has provided.
* Christmas socks and giving gifts.
* Music that makes me dance while I clean.
* You.

One More Nephew!!

Radley Mishra is here! Adding to the clan is my newest nephew, born to Tina and Raman a month ago and I can't wait to meet him in person. Of course I'll have to fight off the rest of my siblings to hold him and kiss him up! May God bless you with great lungs for letting us know you are hungry, strong teeth for biting your mommy when she thinks she is going to get a kiss on the knee and big hands to pull daddy's ears when he thinks he's going to get a hug. Congratulations Tina and Raman!

My Momma

Do I really love my momma? I suppose you can say I do because she is, after all, my mom but sometimes that's just not enough. When I think about it, I'd have to say that I really do love her for my own very special reasons.

I'm the firstborn of 5 and each one of us have very different experiences with her and some that are the same. If you ask any one of us what the flaring nostrils mean, you'd get the same answer from all of us. If you are my brother Junior then the best thing she made was mashed potatoes and for me it was the french fries. Ask my sister Alicia about my mom and you would think she was talking about Joan Crawford in Mommy Dearest. (Not that mom abused us but Alicia was always in trouble. Remember the cop car and your jelly shoes, sis?) Aileen might say the trip to Hawaii was the best thing my mom gave her! The baby of the family, Tina actually called me mom, but that's just because my mom let her sleep with me as a baby and toddler and I had to take her everywhere. (Yes. Even on "dates") We all have our reasons for loving our momma.

I love my mom because of the times she played Karate with us. She made fish sticks like nobody's business and always the best brand (Gorton's!) She cared about our health even though those cod liver pills were nasty and made the oatmeal red, as she tried to hide them in it. My mom let me be a vegetarian for a year and didn't complain about it. She is the best cook every! She kissed my dad in front of us and showed us what true love looked like. (Yuck!) She showed us why we should never dance to close to a boy. (You don't want to know.) Mom took us to Puerto Rico on vacation and made sure we knew who our family was. Family is everything to her. My mom can make a split! She let me invite my friends over and yes, even some boys. She loved me even when I made huge mistakes in my life, over and over again. I love her because she lets me come over in the mornings to have coffee with her. She's a workout fiend and showed us how to exercise! (And one and two..) She knows what her grandchildren's favorite foods are and makes it for them with joy. My mom can make Friday nights into a party with a bag of Tostitos, cheese on the side, two pieces of fried fish, a steak and wine. She never has a problem with us crashing her date nights with her husband. I love my mom for the way she loves our dad. I love my mom because she loved her mom more than words could say.

The biggest reason I love my mom, is because she introduced us to Jesus. We didn't like going to church 3 times a week or being volunteered for the youth choir, prayer group and Easter procession but somehow those things stuck with me and later changed my life. (Better late than never) It's because of my momma's faith in God's promises to her that I can write this today. Thank you God for placing me in my family and for allowing me the privilege of loving my momma. Happy Mother's Day!