left only the power to pray

Being a mother isn't always a joy; sometimes it's painful. You have to let your children fly. You have to let them be at the bottom of a pile of bodies in a football tackle. You have to let them fly. Sometimes the direction you see them going in leaves you so utterly frightened, you are left only with the power to pray and thankfulness that God answers prayers. So, I'll keep praying.

Pentecostal Feast of Weeks

How awesome is Pentecost?_{Acts 2} Imagine being there in a foreign place and hearing the Word of God as you would understand it. On Pentecost the church was given birth and even today while we exist in this foreign place, ourselves, because of that very same Holy Spirit, the Comforter who Jesus promised, we hear His Word (Him) as we would understand it._{John 16} Now that is over the top by itself; but consider this - this wasn't something God said 'I'll do this today'. It was always part of his entire plan.

The hebrew people celebrate the Feast of Weeks (check it out). This commemorates God's giving them the Ten Commandments - His Word - the Law. Many of the people gathering on the Day of Pentecost had come to celebrate the Feast. Each event happened 50 (pente) days from Passover. The many parallels are mind boggling. On that day all believers graduated to having His Word written in our hearts! Now that's what I'm celebrating!

On this Memorial weekend, Feast on the promise of Pentecost - remember that Christ died for you and as He rose to be with the Father He is ever with us through His Holy Spirit. Have a great weekend.

Happy Anniversary Micah and Nicole

on life's journey, you sometimes come across some truly wonderful people you'll always be glad you met, have known and sometimes they are married to each other. Just wanted to say Happy Anniversary to two such people - here's to 5 years Micah and Nicole! May the Lord continue to bless you ever so richly! Kaitlyn, aren't they the best?! !

Weighing in on stuff

I've settled on FitDay.com - it fits where I am on my wellness program right now. It is easy to use, provides the feedback I want and what sealed it is that the calorie database of DietFacts.com feeds right into it. So, if I eat at McDonald's and had the new Angus Burger with mushrooms and cheese (why did I?) I can not only confirm that I shouldn't have eaten what amounted to 810 calories, but also it puts the data right into FitDay so I didn't have to input all the gory details, making foods to be added an easier proposition.

Since I see value in all the other programs I've checked out, I hope to some day do a comparison showing the differences in what they offer. I really think it depends on what you want to get from it - high to low maintenance, being informed, support/accountability, types of reports, and high on my list is what is available for free.

My best weight was last week. I've had people noticing - once last Tuesday by a lady I see ocassionally in a restaurant I a frequent weekly. It is beyond words to be aware of actual progress. The proof is not only in the scale but in the measuring tape, and former clothes I can wear, and feeling so much better physically and mentally. So it goes.

It's hard to be a sport about this year's NBA season - the Warriors are gone and too the Suns; this requires the label 'kleenex'. Who am I to root for. I'd root for the current underdogs but they've got to muster up what now seems like a miracle. If they don't its going to leave me with teams I don't like and won't care who wins! Worst case scenario the Spurs win? I've probably jinxed the whole thing now. *sigh*

I have a four-day weekend. To the extent possible, I'm including in my holiday celebration vacationing at the Spa of Normandy - a holiday weekend getaway at home. It'll begin with getting the hair done (with a side trip to the AAA for a car registration), acquiring some ribs, the makings for the famous beans and other delicacies (will have to work those into the food program), and then being jacuzzi bound. I'll work in appropriate mood music, watch some movies (watching Sleepless in Seattle - yes, again - right now) - there'll be no crowds or traffic! See you on the other side!

Oh, on another divergent note - have a friend that has been looking into his family history. When I have the time, which is rare, I dabble at this myself - to date unable to make that connection into the slavery/plantation time period. However he has been able to trace his latino heritage to someone who ran with Pancho Villa. He found too that the name changed to be safe from the authorities. Interesting to find your surname changes back in history. The giant will encounter that - his last name is not the same as his father's which changes everything for his future lineage. Of course in this day and age there are hyphenated names too - it's a whole new game!

Okay, well leaving Seattle to get the hair done!

Decoration Day?

Why do you celebrate Memorial Day? I used to confuse the purpose with Veterans Day - some how in my mind they were synonomous with people who had passed away and with those doing so serving our country. Too, heretofore, not many people I knew had passed away. I look at holidays more particularly now; when I grew up I took them for granted as a day off to have fun. I want to and for my children to understand the significance of what we commemorate and celebrate.

Answers.Com indicates "in addition to remembrance, this is also a time for picnics, family gatherings, and sporting events. Some Americans view Memorial Day as the unofficial beginning of summer and Labor Day as the unofficial end of the season. The national Click it or ticket (CIOT) campaign ramps up beginning Memorial Day weekend, noting the beginning of the most dangerous season for auto accidents and other safety related incidents. The USAF '101 Critical days of summer' also begin on this day as well".

Here's where some confusion comes in - "some Americans use Memorial Day weekend to also honor any family members who have died, not just servicemen". In particular, "the Southeastern United States celebrates Decoration Day as a day to decorate the graves of all family members, and it is not reserved for those who served in the military." It is too a day of presenting American flags. "Christian Church services on the Sunday prior to Memorial Day may include a reading of the names of members who have died during the previous twelve months."

Well the United States federal holiday we celebrate the last Monday in May is Memorial Day, also known as Decoration Day. Originally held (1868) in commemoration of soldiers killed in the American Civil War, its observance later extended to all U.S. war dead. The History Channel says "Memorial Day is much more than a three-day weekend that marks the beginning of summer. To many people, especially the nation's thousands of combat veterans, this day, which has a history stretching back all the way to the Civil War, is an important reminder of those who died in the service of their country."

The White House Commission on Remembrance has free songs at its Web site entitled the National Moment of Remembrance Home Page. One can download different renditions of the song "On This Day" by Charles Strouse, as well as Taps. Many others have contributed works for Memorial Day, including other famous songs and poems.

My father, who passed away in 1980, served in the Korean war - a defining time in his life being a springboard to the intelligent and multi-talented man I knew. One of his talents was being musically inclined - being able to play numerous instruments; while in the army he was a bugler. My mother passed away December 2005; I still can't believe she's gone - she must be at my sister's and I should call her, you know!?! The husband's parents passed in recent years, his father too a brilliant man who also served his country.

With understanding about this day now, personally I will remember these people this Memorial Day and I will give thanks to God for their being in my life and for the family that I have here with me. I will celebrate too, as we sojourn on this planet until we believers too go on to our heavenly home, that by the grace of God someone more may be going with me as I live to witness Jesus. Now that is really something to celebrate!

May you have a blessed Memorial Day celebration and reflection with the sweetness of recollection and the hope of a heavenly reunion and may God bless all those who put their lives on the line for their countrymen.

in honor of the armed forces ...

In 1949, "Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson announced the creation of an Armed Forces Day, the third Saturday in May, stemmed from the unification of the Armed Forces under one department -- the Department of Defense." The purpose of Armed Forces day is to honor Americans serving in the five services - the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Because of their unique training schedules, National Guard and Reserve units may celebrate Armed Forces Day/Week over any period in May. These men and women perform in the service of our country to protect and uphold what it represents. May God keep them and guide their leaders.

annieshomepage does a nice job on many holidays - here's her armed forces day site.

the ascended

My appreciation for the GateWorld (Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis) genre has associated me with 'the ascended ones' which correspond with the ancient of days. Here you can get all lost into the purpose of the ancient ones - whether self-serving, hands-off, or benevolent. I find it all very interesting, considering Jesus, who was is and ever will be, is the ancient of days and the ascended one - while He and disciples were talking, "in the course of it He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. His body was uplifted till it disappeared, and while they continued to gaze up they saw two men who assured them that He would come back exactly as He had gone up" _ISBE. Today is the commemoration of Christ's Ascension, the 40th day after resurrection. As I prepare the lesson for children's church, I made personal notes.

Jesus shares about His leaving, for the most part the ascension covered in most of the Gospels Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16; Luke 24, John_14-16; 20; and in Acts 1, from which we have hope and encouragement:

• We have distress in the world; but He has overcome the world.
  
• we know where He is; He sits at the right hand of God! "That I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you".
  
• He prepares a place for us!
  
• for us, He will come back! - the same way He went into Heaven.
• He left us gifts
• to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift
• the Holy Spirit-the spirit of truth, a comforter - who Jesus said will "teach you all things and shall remind you of all things that I said to you"
  
• we have work to do - be His witnesses.
• and He is ever with us "all the days until the completion of the age"

RMR's lit'rary reviews

_{excerpted from RMRodriguez; christian daughter, wife,
student, writer, tyrtle expert, and cinema/lit'rary critic (of
the infamous RRod [Gable] & RNorm [Bogey] opposition)}

"i read a whole book in a day (approx. 350pgs). it was called kite runner, good book!--about a boy growing up in afghanistan and his relationship with his father and his servant whose the same age as him. and i read a lesson before dying, on friday and satuday. and over the previous two weeks before that i read the sin eater. which is by francine rivers. i think you'd like her writing (must reads--Redeeming Love, and the Mark of the Lion series). i do. but i must say the sin eater is one of my least favorite. in the end it was worth while, but it took 200pgs before it started to really grab me. oh, and b4 that i read Lying on the couch, fictional book about counseling, written by a psychologist. the title is a play on words layin down and tellin lies. and i learned 6 new words reading it-- skein, avuncular, nihilism (which i was vaguely familiar with), sophistry (i like that one), genuflect, excoriate (i like that one 2). i wanted to read another of his, but they don't have any at the library. so, now i'm starting A Map of the World. We'll see how that goes. I think you'd really like the Red Tent and the Time Travelers Wife too."

for your time of struggle

Daughter Dearest ...

buffeted against the wind, ever my child,
a wearied willow bent;
you'll still reach for the stars and sway.
for though fires and threats loom,
your watered and deeply rooted limbs
protect your bloom.
our Creator greater than they will help you to sway
when the air seems still

stretch out those roots
soak up stilled waters
you will survive.
beyond the surface, in the depths of your eyes,
and the innermost depths of your soul,
it's there that you know.

stand up little one
hear my voice call
I love you! I'm here!
It'll be a scraped knee is all.
Take my hand and lets once again stand;
you and I; yes we can.
Those stars won't be up there but around you everywhere!

with love from maumz
heart crying your tears
strength lent to your fears
hugz and kisses always yours
kneebent anguished prayers to Abba Father's ears
for you, precious, adored.

_{written by SRNorman}

There's no time like the present to make the best of the rest of this life!

the borne identity ...

From 'birth' to 'bearing and having borne' children goes from bringing them into this world to the concepts of ...

1. To yield fruit; produce: peach trees that bear every summer.
2. To have relevance; apply: They studied the ways in which the relativity theory bears on the history of science.
3. To exert pressure, force, or influence.
4. 1. To force oneself along; forge.
   2. To endure something with tolerance and patience: Bear with me while I explain matters.
5. To extend or proceed in a specified direction: The road bears to the right at the bottom of the hill.

Only one can birth, but a mother can be a force within and bear the lives of many. My quiver is full. The son I didn't birth had a lot of mothering over the years (as have all my children), specifically from his own and steps like myself who was at the end of that road. Joseph was Jesus' dad, but he too had an impact on the child he raised; too the woman who took in Moses as her child. Although knowing we are not initiator, we know that some plant seeds, others water, others sow.

This son presented me this for mother's day.

My Mother

Sometimes life just seems so difficult, if you know what I mean.
So much you have to do, for you maybe provide, cook, or clean.
There is something interesting about the way you've intervened in my life. When I was lost you held on believing even though I put you through much strife. As I look back on the way raising was put to play,
You somehow distinctly always knew what to say.
Even though sometimes I felt it was harsh or difficult in my own way.
I suppose I had to trust in you, believe that we would agree one day.
If you add two and two together they say you will get four.
If you add mother after mother I've had, I say you get a whole lot more.
I thank GOD for the way each of them had a special impact of their own.
When I see them look into my eyes there face tells me "Wow look how much he's grown."
I try to say sometime special, just a simple word or two.
But behind the tears I say secretly "Give honor to whom it is due."
Sometimes I wonder if you know how much I am in debt to you.
I could have simply gave you a card, but those words just don't feel true.
There is so much beauty and virtue of a woman whose life is awe inspiring art. Since I have some skill with words I might as well honor you with my heart. Thank you for your patience, discipline, and love.
I can look up in the sky and see my mom, a beautiful sky lit dove.
So much purpose and care she has, just me your son.
I compare a dove to you, so you can think of me the next time to see one.
Thank you once again for all that you do.
I know you know this but I'll say it again, "I love you too." _{RCN III}

The sentiment from our college middle daughter's card told me I always make her feel at home.

It was a day of hugs and 8 year old kisses; I am blessed to have committed so many forgeries ;-).

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her._{Pr 31:28}

Woman On the Move Across the Nation

At WomensHealthGov, I joined the Women's Challenge starting NationalWomen's Health Week, May 13-19, 2007 virtually walking across the pacific coast from Alaska to Hawaii - received a free pedometer too! The Challenge goes through the 4th of July weekend. Today, Mother's Day was a great day to start. I've lost 15 pounds and wore for the Day a teal summer dress with jacket I bought online about a year ago and I wasn't able to squeeze my hips into it, much less my bust. Well, today I wore it and I was looking sharp!

I'm four months away from my Hawaii vacation, and I'm just thanking God and looking forward to the me who will be going on that trip with the husband. I'm truly grateful not only for the husband's support, but also his encouragement and participation.

You may have noticed my walking tracker down at the bottom with my weight loss tracker - it is from when I first got the pedometer. I haven't done much yet, but will do my utmost starting tomorrow. The website itself is very informative about women's health replete with tools and information.

Let me list a couple of places to develop nutrition/fitness tracking and meal planning Lean Cuisine's Wellness and Kraft's Healthy Living (neither program dependent upon their food and some supportive of other programs like WeightWatchers and South Beach Diet) - the beauty of these tools is that they are free and are highly informative of the nutrients lacking and over abundant in your intake; its an eye opener into eating habits and food quality AND your overall daily and weekly progress - tracking weight measurements as well. The difference between them and Sparkpeople.com is these are less inclusive of 'forum' activity although that and journaling is available. I love the christian and overall support found on Sparx.

I took a day off today to enjoy the husband's barbeque ribs - oh and he made the most delicious smoothie! I'll be back on program first thing in the morning! I've had a great weekend - took care of a traffic ticket and was enabled to go to traffic school and spent Friday afternoon in the jacuzzi, where I was also Saturday after some gardening.

And now, if I have found favor in Your eyes, please make me see Your ways, and let me know You, so that I may find favor in Your eyes; and consider that this nation is Your people. And He said, My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. And they said to Him, If Your presence does not go, do not cause us to go up from here. Ex. 33:13-15

Salud!

Appreciating Friends and Days in their Ways

You had a day or a week?

I sent this to my Ace for nurses week: where you'll find things like

"But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:"~1 Thessalonians 2:7~

There are 9 Bible verses with the word NURSE in them
Nave's Topical Bible offers this page: Nurse
Smith's Bible Dictionary offers this page: Nurse

and the the 12th was a day to remember Military Spouses - so this is for all of you, especially the wife of Chief Hayes!

THE MILITARY SPOUSE
Author unknown

There he stands in camouflage…yet he cannot hide from you.
You can pick him out in a crowd, and eye his stride among a formation.
There he goes, away from you again, off to do his part and be his best,
leaving you in his wake - never behind, yet always longing for his return.
There you are, amidst boxes and paper and confusion, creating a home, designing a household, transforming a building into a loving nurturing, comfortable environment.
Memories will be made here. Events will be celebrated.
Children will be born, graduate, grow, change. Your family will evolve. Your love will increase. Your marriage will improve. And then you will be asked to leave it all…again.
There are those who do not understand…
Who cannot comprehend what it takes to fulfill your role, to fill your shoes, to be all that you need to be.
They marvel at times, criticize at others, seldom appreciate, cannot imagine. There are those moments when you are where they are.
When you marvel, criticize, lack comprehension and are unable to muster understanding.
And then he appears at the door, or on the phone, or through a rumpled letter addressed to “My Love” and suddenly there is comprehension and understanding, affirmation and conviction.
For by his presence, through his voice, in his message you KNOW that you’ve been beckoned to a noble calling, when asked to be a military spouse.
Invited to support a soldier who allows freedom, who guards democracy, who instills leadership. And in your role you see a slice of life that few others have the privilege to experience…
Flags appear more brilliant to you…
Parades draw out more emotion for you…
A patriotic song is a musical message played just for you…
A hand-over-the-heart is as stirring as an embrace for you…
A parting kiss can hold you for months…
A welcome back embrace can fill you up from lonely months…
A grave marker is a stark reminder of the meaning of devotion…
A tear shared is a stark statement on the meaning of sacrifice…
A duffel bag on a baggage claim gives you pause and connection…
An eagle’s soar gives you inspiration. There you are…
The military spouse, the one asked to be strong, the one willing to belong.
The one who is often required to do it all.
The one who is privileged to stand beside a true American - day in and day out.
There are military spouses around the world, beside soldiers, airmen, marines and sailors.
They share a bond, a unity and a duty to be there, always for their hero.
There.
Said.
Done.
There are no better…anywhere.

Cheers to you all for all you do!

Meet Myrt the Sqyrt!

Well, this is Myrt the Sqyrt Tyrtle! I use Myrt, but the youngest likes the name one sister came up with - Sqyrt. Other name candidates were Spyke (from the Land Before Time) and Roddy (from Flushed Away). Fortunately we didn't go Teenage Mutant Ninja turtle - although Myrt's initial injuries might have qualified, nor did we go with Vyrne (it just seemed a little too Over the Hedge ;-)).

We moved Myrt the Sqyrt from temporary housing to the new permanent housing - like those makeover shows. But there's a basking rock anchored to the side of the aquarium that it doesn't like (they require basking time - so that will have to be changed. The husband and I shopped for turtle habitats the other day - and expensive proposition. Maybe Myrt should remain homeless? We ended up with an 'everything you need for your turtle' kit from Petsmart. We also went to Petco and the local pet store to get the full assessment of turtle habitat information. If you buy everything separately you go way over the kit cost. But with turtles, the filtration system is very important because keeping the water clean is a more difficult task - we may have to upgrade. So while we have blueprints for a grander home for Myrt the Sqyrt - complete with basking reef and all - this is home for now. Welcome to the family Myrt!

make time to serve!

Right now I am on the air bike. I wanted to put my mind to something to do, so I grabbed my PDA.

Friday, Fontana had its annual national day of prayer breakfast. The only recently retired city council clerk, Bea Watson (a wonderful lady), has been organizing this for several years now. It is held at Fontana Women's Club. This year the theme was 'make time to serve'. I always enjoy attending this event. I've been the last three years. It always remembers our country and its founding principles, our troops and most importantly that God is integral to these things and our very life.

In years past, they showed a film with Red Skelton about God in our Pledge of Allegiance - priceless!

The theme was taking time to serve, reminding that it only takes one person to make a change. The music was thought provoking - one should think about the words when they sing America the Beautiful. Pastor Dan of Crossroads Church, who I've always seen here, was the singer and there was also performances from a duet and a quartet. From the color guard and prayers, I enjoyed it all. Another annual event of note is the annual Inland Empire's breakfast.

With our ever so busy lives, think about all things you make room for and ...remember ... take time to pray - the easiest service of all! The life you change may be your own!

Time passes quickly on the air bike with a PDA in your hand.

by the grace of God, she brought you here...

my mother has passed - but I am a mother by blood and most importantly by love. I have loved my kids, their kids and those kids. For me this day is special to have touched a child's heart for a moment, a day, a weeks, months, years, a lifetime. It is of it's ownself a great reward!

Mother's day is a day we can re-kindle what that should mean in our own lives.

I was trying to come across activities:

Biblical Moms Quiz

2) has some nice activities Have a "Girl Power Trivia" contest! Write down questions about famous real and fictional girls, including Pippi Longstocking, Cinderella, the Power Puff Girls, and so on. You might ask, How did Pippi Longstocking wear her hair?" "What did Cinderella wear to the Ball?" or "Which Power Puff Girl wears green?" etc. Read the questions, see who guesses the answer first, and award a prize to the team with the most correct answers.

3) Arrange a dress up center with old clothes, hats, and accessories. Use a floor length mirror so they can see their creations and take pictures.

Happy Mother's Day!

Maydays!

Mayday Mayday Mayday! Where is the time going? The youngest has about 8 weeks left in the second grade (applause) - we did not like that teacher (military school for free).

A turtle risked life and shell to enter our yard this weekend. To its dismay, our dogs were very entertained when the kids came to its rescue. 'To keep or not to keep' now is the question - whether it is too costly or troublesome to give the youngest the pleasure of having a turtle and where did it come from anyway? I spent the lunch hour addressing such questions at PETCO. Of course a naming process has began -- turk? Slider? - anything but Shell!

The giant went to an Orange County auction and bought a car - yippee! We've been sharing mine of late.

Getting back to my blog title, the phrase, first used on May 1st, 1927, comes from Mayday which wiki says "is an emergency code word used internationally as a distress signal in voice procedure radio communications, derived from the French m'aider, meaning "help me." It is used to signal a life-threatening emergency by many groups, such as police forces, pilots, the fire brigade, and transportation organizations. The call is always given three times in a row ("Mayday Mayday Mayday") to prevent mistaking it for some similar-sounding phrase under noisy conditions, and to distinguish an actual mayday call from a message about a mayday call.

The holiday, May Day, itself is May 1, and refers to any of several holidays celebrated on this day. May 1 was a traditional summer holiday in many pre-Christian European pagan cultures, and many elements of these holidays are still celebrated on May 1 today, such as the Maypole. While February 1 was the first day of Spring, May 1 was the first day of summer: hence, the summer solstice on June 25 (now June 21) was "midsummer."

Besides the two major May holidays, Mothers Day and Memorial Day and Believer's Ascension Day (17th) and Pentecost (27th), also proclaimed for commemoration this month are Cinco de Mayo and Armed Forces Day (20th).

I've been struggling a bit with motivation which reminds me of a word from one of our daughters (and she knows who she is) - disencouraged. I like it! Thanks be to the Lord (not the lord that Sara called her hubbi) and the husband, I've been able to push past these feelings enough to keep on my program.

On the movie tip, we recently enjoyed 'Corpse Bride' - I liked it, 'Night at the Museum' - I loved it, and 'Deja Vu' in which it was great to see work from Erika Alexander from the "The Cosby Show". The movie was very captivating, in some ways reminiscent of Denzel's the 'The Bone Collector' and appears to have similarities to Cage's movie. We shall see. Meanwhile the husband bought me 'Beauty Shop ' with Queen Latifah and an 'old school' cast with people I haven't seen in awhile (from "Martin" Laura Hayes, 'the Cosby Show' Keshia Knight Pulliam, "The Jamie Foxx Show" Sherri Shepherd, and others)t o give a 'looksee'. Meanwhile we are so behind on '24' and all of our sci-fi regulars, not to mention movies we've purchased.

I'll try not to be a stranger. You too okay?