Delighting in Vacations You Don't get to Choose

Doesn't it look like my family stepped into a postcard?  This was taken at Lake Sabrina in October when we joined my husband's family on their yearly fishing trip.  We took a day before meeting up with the family at Convict Lake to just enjoy some of the beautiful nature.  My husband and kids are always up for an adventure.  I was a little resistant to the idea of joining their "man-cation", but there ended up being so many wonderful surprises along the way. 

I actually took advantage of this opportunity to make a homeschool lesson out of it.  We were learning about the native people of the North American continent so I looked up the native people of the area and came across the Paiute and Shoshone people groups. We made a stop at the Paiute-Shoshone Cultural Center. They had so many incredible exhibits that brought us back into the lives of these amazing people.  My kids learned so much despite their young ages.
  

Photo taken from the Bishop Paiute Tribe website

 When we came home, we found out that Sacagewea, who accompanied Lewis and Clark on their expedition to the West was of the Shoshone people group.  She was married to a Frenchman, Touissant Charbonneau, who led her to the Lord Jesus Christ and who supported her spirit of adventure when they began their journey with Lewis and Clark.  Their son, Jean Baptiste (who was named after John the Baptist) was only two months old when Sacagewea strapped him on her back to begin the journey.  Because of this journey, the gospel of Jesus Christ was taken to the west.

Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered...Psalm 40:5.

Delighting in 36 Years of Life Together

My Dad and Mom have an incredible love story.  They were both born into severely underprivileged childhoods.  They completely understand one another when they talk about the loneliness of being separated from your parents at an early age and being left to fend for yourself.  In fact, that is what has been the adhesive that keeps them together.  They became their first stable family when they married each other.  They have had their share of difficult seasons throughout their marriage, but my Mom has always looked to the Lord to help her serve my Dad through the most trying of circumstances.  This August they celebrated 36th years of marriage, and we were able to have a sweet celebration with close friends and family.

I had the privilege of emceeing the event.  It was such a blessing to talk about the wonderful memories I have of seeing my parents enjoying their marriage.  My Mom always told me that Friday nights were off limits for babysitting my kids because that is when they were going to have their date night.  They always dressed up to eat dinner out and thoroughly enjoyed each other's company..  Still my Mom tells me that my Dad will make a pot of coffee at 10pm and spend the night talking until 2am.  Their marriage has always been an awesome example to my siblings and I. 

And what celebration would be complete without the music of the Gutierrez Brothers?  They didn't know this but they make an appearance every night at my parents' house during dinner because my Mom plays their CDs.  They were so great to accommodate us by playing for my siblings and I while we sang the song You Raise Me Up to my parents.

Through my Dad's illness, I am learning that we need to take every day the God's gives us and celebrate it.  These times of joy get us through the times of difficulty.

All the memories of the night were captured by Katie at the Rock Studio Photography  and the photos featured on her blog.

When Life Seems to Get You Down...Eat Sushi

This has always been our tradition:  when good news or bad news comes our way...we get together and have sushi...

This photo was taken the day that my father came home from the hospital the first time he was admitted for his leukemia.  This was hours after we had heard the dreaded news about his diagnosis.  We were all trying to be so strong on the outside for each other, but on the inside, I know all our hearts were breaking.

I wish life was as easy as eating your troubles away.  The truth is, that there is no earthly way we could make ourselves feel better when tragedy hits.  When life gets us down, we turn to Jesus Christ.  The words from the pages of the bible have directed my emotions and my concerns in the face of great despair and uncertainty.  Jesus promises in the bible that He will send His comforter, the Holy Spirit, the third person of the trinity, to come to our aid in these times. 

Psalm 46:1...God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, even though  the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, thought the mountains shake with its swelling

Psalm 62:8...Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.

Psalm 119:50...This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.

Philippians 4:6-7...Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

We also have a great support system around us who pray for us, visit my parents in the hospital, bring us meals, and are constantly checking on us and encouraging us through this time.  We would not be able to make it without them.  Every text, call and inquiry of my parents is so greatly appreciated.  Each of us kids is also blessed to have amazing spouses and children who allow us to be by our parents' side.     


After his release from the hospital this last time, he told my dad told my mom that he wanted to take her out on a date.  His doctor has forbidden him from having sushi because of the leukemia, but he told my mom that they were going to have sushi.  Afterwards, he took her to a jazz club in town and they hung out till midnight.  It's miraculous the way a man can have a severe brain hemorrhage and then still be able to take his wife out a week later.  We serve an amazing and powerful God who can confound doctors.

When It's Just Not Your Time Yet...

I knew he didn't look well on that Monday.  But with my husband leaving on a business trip, me preparing for women's study and attempting to school my daughter, there was no time to coax him into going to the emergency room.  Deep down inside, I suppose I was hoping that there was nothing to be concerned about.  He had been having a pressure headache but I would see him that evening because I would be staying the night with them until my husband was back from his trip on Wednesday.

My father's bone marrow has been through so much over the last couple of years.  Bone marrow is what produces healthy white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets.  The platelets are the component of the blood that causes coagulation.  In the absence of platelets, severe bleeding can occur in any part of the body that has had even a blood vessel burst.  Up until this point, he had been receiving a blood and platelet transfusion once a week to avoid bleeding.  Little did we know that it hasn't been enough, and that pressure headache was caused by hemorrhaging on the right and left side of his brain.

The neurosurgeon's plan was to drill a hole on both sides of his skull to drain the blood.  Unfortunately, or fortunately (for God knows what is best), they were not able to keep the platelets high enough for surgery. A week later he was released from the hospital.  The report from the neurosurgeon this week is that there is not much pressure on the brain at this point, although he is having a little trouble walking.  His platelet transfusion has been increased from one time a week to two with 2 units of platelets at each transfusion.

It just wasn't his time yet.  God is not done with him here.

Psalm 139:16...Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.  And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.