Friday she became a 2nd Lieutenant (reserves) Army Nursing Corp

So it's been about 9 days since she heard the definite news of receiving her Army commission and the excitement of it.. hence she celebrated by going skydiving with a friend on Sunday afterward in San Diego. She is now hooked!

It was Friday morning Jan. 30, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. that Ashley said her oath and signed on the dotted line to become for now a reserve in the Army Nursing Corp. here at our home. Her proud parents, two brothers, and grandparents Van Essen were here to witness. The Army Reps Sargent John Stoner (medic who served two terms in Iraq) he is the recruiter from the local area who she was in contact with at APU, and he handled the discussions and a meeting with her dad, the application process and the waiting to hear as to whether she got her commission. So he and Colonel Bruce Britson another recruiter arrived to administer the oath, which she wanted to say outdoors in front of our own flag (wasn't to great for pictures). At the end of Bruce Britson administering the oath to her, John Stoner than handed her a silver dollar which is a tradition in that you than give this silver dollar to the first person to salute you and so on when you salute another officer for their first time they will give you a silver dollar... Which he said at graduation, you can accumalate a pocket full of them. At this point Ashley outranked John Stoner. And than she signed about 50 pages of commitments and the directives to pay off her college loans with Colonel Britson signing them as well to make them official. And about an 1.5 hour later it was a done deal. This was basically to seal the deal with the Army. They have only a few months in the year that they accept the next years of skilled recruits and they advance in at the stage of an officer, foregoing the process an enlisted recruit would take. And it assures them you don't change your mind at the time you graduate. I have viedo but not to smart with uploading that yet.

Just after the oath was administered by her superior Colonel Britson

Colonel Britson, 2nd Lieutenant Symens and Sargent Stoner

The witness gallery L-R; grandpa, Brian, Shane, Grandma, Dad, Sargeant Stoner

I, Ashley Nicole Symens do hearby agree.....

With Colonel Britson's signature, it's official

The proud parents and their daughter who is now an Army Nurse

Grandpa, Ashley, Grandma with the newly acquired gift of Army coffee mug

Now she will continue with schooling, graduating on May 9th, and taking the NClex nursing boards test in the early summer. With the anticipation of passing first time, or the second if necessary. But than she will make sure that she has the rest of the summer off to travel. Her plan is seeing family in the midwest like grandparents long awaiting her chance to visit longer than one weekend in 6 years, vacationing at the river and is in a wedding at the end of July. after 6years of hard work and no breaks having worked at Disneyland every weekend, and full time during breaks in school schedule. She has had a great month since quitting of relaxing and studying. She's so much more at ease!

Sept/Oct is a group that will be "activated" for duty into the officers basic training at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. for 9 weeks. Three days before the date she leaves there will be another commissioning ceremony which moves her from reserves to active duty. Officer Basic Training this has been described as "death by power point" to bring the officer up to speed on protocol, procedure etc and some physical training but nothing like an enlisted person. The perk of being a skilled officer. There will be 3 weeks of gun training and some haz mat training. But Britson said that overall it's pretty light stuff. And she will work in the hospital there during this same time.

This entire pay package that she will receive and paying off school loans up to $120,000. over the 3 years and that she is just going to step right into working in a hospital under the auspices of being an Army nurse is really a great one. If she signs on for another 2 year commitment they will pay for any master programs she is accepted into, take care of her moving expenses and that will be where she will be assigned to a hospital.. So it's really a career option that she can make to stay in or to than be in the reserves and become a civilian. With the economy and cutbacks.. for now she would regret not taking the opportunity. We are proud of her in pursuing this, and than when she had a ton of information, came to us with our perspective and insight.

John Stoner had just received word that he was accepted into PA school (physicians assistant) and will be transferring to Fort Sam Houston in Texas during August. He will finish here in CA at the end of June and than take a month off to transfer his wife and kids and to take time to go visit families. He will see Ashley when she arrives, and he will salute her!

Now she will learn to like "Green" as her wardrobe basic color!

Go Army!

A new Alpha begins..

Tonight was the start of a new 10 week session of Alpha at Emmanuel.. I am privileged to be a small group leader and see first hand the work of the Lord which brings people for so many various reasons to participate. It is unlike anything I having grown up in a traditional church had ever been a part of. And if it was going on, they were meeting in disguise in some special room with those who knew what they were doing. We on the other hand as small group leaders of Alpha, really, don't have any idea what WE are doing, BUT the holy spirit is just everywhere going before us, walking with us and directing where to go next and we are willing.... And he's bringing in the lost from places of trials, sadness, hardship, disgrace, simple lives, hard circumstances, life battles that wouldn't darken the door of a church doorstep on a given Sunday because they just don't feel they fit the mold of acceptable as they are or they've done alright on there own and don't need "God". And than there are some who have actually been in church for years, decades, and yet are empty. It's awesome. Because we are no different than them, we all need Jesus.

Last Thursday was a huge celebration of 10 years of Alpha at ERC. But let me back up, as the week before this on Thursday (two weeks ago) about 25 of us met at the brick building and broke bread (had pizza, salad, soda) and than we broke off into every office upstairs with cell phones and lists and lists of people to call. Roughly 700 people to call. Some had already RSVP'd that they were coming and so we just thanked them for the interest and hey bring a friend, some were recent visitors to ERC and we reached out an invite to the celebration (free dinner, concert, some testimonies and dessert) and hey bring a friend, and than if they were interested, we explained the 10 week Alpha starts the following week and bring a friend.. and some on the list were just plain cold calls and you do the same explaining what Alpha is about..

So the Thursday of the Alpha celebration party comes and 275 people from over 10 years, and some new folks show up and it was a great time of just welcoming, getting acquainted, extended a hello, inviting to the next session and or just hearing what God has been doing since they once attended. Celebrating what Alpha has meant for so many who that was a big door they stepped through from a life serving themselves, or the first time when they had ever heard of Jesus loving them... And for some, they hadn't been back to church since they last attended Alpha but the phonecall/postcard invite was what they needed and here they were... (not a coincidence)

The typical buffet alpha dinner was followed by a concert by Mike Eldred and his two daughters who I believe were Lindsey and Macklin.. sweet young ladies who banter well with there dad and who love the Lord and have beautiful voices. Mike & his wife came to ERC about 15 years ago as wild bikers and just came through alpha, were loved on by the Korver family, served at ERC and are now living in Arizona for last couple of years serving the Lord there. There were many testimonies of ordinary people who now follow Jesus because of an invite to Alpha, or are small group leaders who share the hope that rescued them. From this night, there were 147 interest cards for the next alpha!

Now the typical alpha session will vary in number, but roughly 35-50 is a good guess-timate of attenders but you just never know.. Tonight we were thinking that it was possible for the 147 to show up and had squeezed the tables/chairs for dinner up against the space for the group talk anticipating 110. The count was 79 attenders and 23 leaders. What an awesome night it was. The place was packed and hoppin!

I have been involved with Alpha for about 3.5 years and there are 3-10 week sessions a year. (I'm not really sure when I started) but now just lead a womens small group each time. After two years with my friend Susan as a co leader, she has taken a break during her sons senior year of baseball season but we continue to lead on Saturday mornings together a bible study.. So I am now with a woman I have known through the Valley school system and call a friend, Rene and we look forward to what's ahead.. She's never attended Alpha and has never led, so she's qualified and tonight went great. God is good.

So pray for each of those attending that they will have open hearts, open minds to what God has lead them to participate in that can greatly change the rest of their lives.

Isaiah 43: 18-19 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

crazy day at the office

Today was a manic day at the office... and working with some numnutz is frazzling... While I fall into the trickle down of information on where zipcodes flow in buildings for the "bigs or smalls" for ground and air of a package in transit. Whether it is good or bad information, I than run with it.. I have to implement it into training materials (of paper handouts and for posting for loadside and sort employees and than transfer it to the computerized training and test) within anyone of the district UPS buildings in So Cal. So Cal consists of Hubs in Cerritos (two shifts), Anaheim, Laguna, San Diego, San Marcos, Chula Vista and one airport Long Beach. So it is a encompassing job and it is forever changing.. but I can control the number of misloads with transferring BAD information if I find it to be bad but I ususally catch it and than call someone to the carpet!

Ideally having two weeks notice to work out the bugs and get a plan to the employees before it goes into play.. So what usually happens with that is that you work it all out, it either changes or they decide "not" to do it at all...

But as it happens quite often, the best laid plans and intentions of an IE Planner need to be adjusted on the spur of the moment and the plan sticks and all is well. And than there are times like Monday when an IE Planner throws out a "huge" realignment in the Laguna building to start Wednesday, and which is emailed to me at 1:oo a.m.on Tuesday. And so when I come in on Tuesday quickly start the process and I must say complete it in one day of pushing it hard.. And than I come in the office on Wednesday and read the email that comes in the early a.m. saying "we've put the plan on hold" and can you get the computer testing "back on line for the previous plan by tonight".. aahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! The paper part is easy, just go back to the previous excel file and we're good to go, but the computer is tedious. So I spent the better part of today tediously reworking the computer program. Late this afternoon get two separate phone calls from one of the operators Eric in the Laguna building who at one time worked in Cerritos alongside of me and I for him and we get along. (cuz I have no management credentials, just the power) And he mentions a couple of lineup changes that have been made in the past and yet when I get skipped in the loop, nothing transfers to the computer testing and so it brought him to ask. So we straightened that out and tomorrow I will again work his testing computer program to get things in the right working order.

So after he thanks for for the help and for quickly getting them back in good materials, I mention to him that with the "axe" coming down on heads indescriminately that I might need his backup.. he affirms me by saying he knows many managers who would go to the mat for me ... ha ha ha

This similar occurance came up in the Cerritos building last week of coming across by accident some lineup changes made and yet no official "grapevine" notification, and so for the time being I earn my living by "catching" the gaps and guffaws made in plans that do or don't work..

It's hard to make a living in this economy and so I will just bite my tongue (sometimes harder than others) and just keeping seesawing with the times and... collect my paycheck!

There is no denying it in writing....

Tonight after a long day of work and attending a marriage builders class with some friends at church, finally arrived at home to open the mail. A letter from Aetna was in the pile and so opened it with an anxious wondering..... About the fourth paragraph down it gets to the point that they were upholding there previous finding of a denial of the appeal. They acknowledged all of the findings that were included, and case studies, but the gist of it being that my insurance policy does not cover anything experiemental. There was about 1.5 pages of niceties about further appeals possible within a 60 day period.. But denied none-the-less.

At this time, I will be waiting to make that decision as to whether to end the process or to advance on with it. Twice denied using the same information, and the patient not being of any concern due to the fact that FDA does not give approval for the procedure specific only to the ankle which is my case in point and until than insurance will have no reason to acquiesce. It has certainly been a frustrating 2.5 years dealing with it, and I not sure what I'm feeling on the thought of continuing with it. Is this in the denials, the Lords answer to the prayers of doing what is right???

And than a surprising bit about "a survey to let them know" how the process went, so that they can be improving it.. hmmm, not so sure now would be a good time to answer that question.

step one accomplished ~

Ashley at the beginning of Fall I believe it was, started to look into and contemplate after a couple of Army nursing recruiters visited the APU campus the possibility of taking this route after graduation. So many discussions, reading up on it, Greg went to the last meeting with the recruiter. Now before they left for this meeting, they worked out what questions needed to be asked, how to ask them, why you ask them, and that Ashley was going to do all the talking because well, this is about her life. Greg had numerous "money" questions that he was sure he wanted answered to assure the payback of student loans..... The three of us went out to dinner that night to fill mom in on the details while fresh in there minds, to discuss what they heard and what they still needed clarity about. So I said "what are the pros' n cons'?" and in the excitement between the two of them the list seemed to go on and on for the pro's... she goes in as an officer not having to go through regular bootcamp, but instead 6 weeks in San Antonio Texas at Sam Houston hospital, and training is essentially death by powerpoint and 3 weeks of gun training, she will receive excellent training in top notch facilities and would be better than a civilian hospital committment of employment. She looks forward to travel around the country during the training period, Her Ob/Gyn training is definitely in HI for four months and so that is a good gig when that occurs. The chance for travel after training and she's given her assignment, if she gets any of her top ten destinations for assignment-top 3 are Germany, Italy, and Hawaii. And the biggee is that for the 3 year committment, she will receive $120,000 towards a student loan which she has already gotten completed in her name. And if she makes an additional 2 year committment, they will pay for you to get your Masters Degree, moving her wherever she gets accepted to a school, they pay your moving costs and she than becomes assigned to a hospital in that area because you will take two years to get your master degree completed.. And so about a half hour later when she took a breath, I asked "are there any cons'?" and I looked at Greg and asked "she didn't sign on the dotted line already did she?" and Ashley laughed and said "he wouldn't let me yet"... The only real cons were "leaving family, friends, missing normal activities in life". She is pretty sure that she would regret not taking advantage of the opportunity. So we agreed that it was a very wise decision and much to consider and think about and pray about. No real pit in the stomach from mom, just the overwhelming emotion of missing her.....

Ashley sent in all of the application requirements for a commision in the U.S. Army in the Nursing Corp. in mid November 2008. They originally gave her a date of Mid December when she would hear the answer.. But there was a delay, and on she was told that Jan. 7 her paperwork would go to the review board and would hear within two weeks. So Jan 22 she was notified from her recruiter liason, that she is now officially a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nursing Corp. :) So one day very soon, she will be first commisioned into the Reserves with a signing on the dotted line and taking an oath. And than she will finish the last semester with graduation on May 9th. She will than be required to pass the NCLEX boards sometime during June, July or August when they are administered. Upon passing that is what will set in motion the date of her departure.. Approx Sept/Oct is the guesstimation right now..

She is the maid of honor in a friends wedding on July 24 and so that is one thing she will need to make sure is not affected by a departure date. She is going to go out to Minnesota for a week after graduation to grandpa/grandma's since it has been awhile since a trip like that.

So time is short and it will forever change the lives here at the Symens household. One we are proud of Ashley, and are ready for her to move into the next phase of life with excitement. This weekend she is planning to go skydiving, yep, the adventurer begins.

today marks the 26th married year....

Today January 21st is our 26th wedding anniversary (1983).... wow, the time has gone by pretty quickly, when if I could remember what I might have been thinking it would be like at the start of life on the verge of matrimony - I was clueless. And it's been filled with alot of memories of great, good, loving, traditional, meaningful, shared, blessed, joyful, maturing, exciting, surprising, secure, safe, growing, meaningful, relaxing, loving oh I used that one already.... it has also been stressful, trying, hard, sad, sorrowful, reflective, maturing and more than a few struggles along the way. So I think that sums up what is all part and parcel of being married regardless of who you are. But it is telling as to how you survive marriage with the necessary and appropriate skills to walk through each of these emotions together rather than separately. That is the tricky part, because without good role modeled mentors towards being mature this can be the dicey part...

We can admit that we had quite a rollercoaster along the way and sometimes, screaming for the ride operator to stop the thing so we could get off! As you can tell, cooler heads prevailed and we kept it together. Not knowing what we were doing other than most of the time just walking away from the situations as they came up. mmm, the best we could do at the time to survive, but not really healthy. In the midst of life we were blessed with 3 kids in five years, and they are a treasure. Ashley (23), Brian (21) Shane (18)

I will admit that much of our early to middle year struggles stemmed from poor communication skills (by both) to share the depth of some things. I was struggling with the torment from anger of lifes events, guilt of poor choices as a youth, lack of confidence. By the grace of God, there finally came a time that I finally gave in to the healing that had been in front of me many times that I had refused often. And yet it was so needed to be healthy on many levels of emotional and spiritually and relational. But I refused by my stubborness to walk the hard road because I feared the "maybe" that honesty might bring by admitting them outloud. And yet when the dam finally broke on May 17 & 18 of 2006, freedom finally reigned in my heart, in my mind, my soul and in our marriage. Who knew....... I had a day of just reconciling with my God in the sand of Sunset Beach in a beach chair, with a bible, and alot of prayer, tears and confession. I felt that when I had left that beach that I had surrendered to his will, laying down my will and looking for a fresh start.. alas, I actually held onto a little bitty part of what I didn't want to give up and God wasn't having any part of that..... he had already started working it on Gregs part, by having me leave up an email correspondence with a girlfriend on the computer screen where we were chatting back and forth as she struggled with some life issues... It was somewhat revealing and yet not what it appeared to his "read between the lines" ... I was an alpha small group leader and so on the 18th I headed off and yet had a pit in the stomach told me that something wasn't right and I needed to go home. A good friend who has walked this healing with me, prayed over me and home I went. Only to find that Greg was out walking the street-thinking, and so I found him. We sat in the car at the corner for about 3 hours.... having the most honest, truthful, revealing conversation of our lives, that included tears, smiles, hiccups, forgiveness for each, grace for each and a committment to the new us. The most unimaginable thing occurred, Freedom, love like never before, compassion, friendship and we haven't looked back, only toward how to love each other each day. It's been the best of 2yrs 8 months of our marriage.. God is so good

Greg approved this blogs content..

WAIT A MINUTE it's not decided!!!!

Regardless of what the clinical supervisor on the phone from Aetna told my "spy" on Friday... I received a letter today from Aetna acknowledging that they on Jan 09, received the packet for appeal, and the letter was dated Jan 12 and it stated 15-30 days for notification.. So until I get the actual denial letter, there's a shred of hope for a positive decision.

But, should it actually be a 2nd real 2nd denial, I will most likely hold off any further action toward the surgery. I have been praying earnestly for "an answer" and perhaps two denials could be the answer and I'm missing it.. So that is what I am considering and will need to take some time before the one last appeal with employer that is still the last best hope.... but for now, still praying that the God I trust will bring peace in this.

thanks for listening and praying ya'll.

speed of sound appeal response ~

I'm not necesarily meaning that this appeal process for the major ankle surgery that is needed to remove the lesion has gone by quickly, cuz, well... it hasn't.. but during this 2nd appeal to the mercy of my insurance company for compensation coverage that started right after Thanksgiving, I had really just not given any worry to it, did some praying on it though for sure.

I received this Monday my copy from the surgeon of the letter that was sent to Aetna as the cover introduction. After reading it through, I felt that he covered many good points about the prospective surgery success by himself, success in Europe, my state of the ankle without it and future issues that might occur. I did not receive the 1.5 inches of dull reading on statistics, procedure, and Medical Journal reports, but thought that it would give them at the appeal board much to consider. My surgeon went on two weeks vacation in December and so I think that the finishing touches were not completed until after the new year to the cover letter. So anyway........ if you remember, I have a medical office "spy" who as soon as I asked her, went into the mode of inside operative today during her lunch hour, contacting Aetna and getting the low down on the details of all that they knew and what they would be willing to give out. The last appeal she learned many interesting points of moving through the system for answers. She is good, cuz I received my answer HOT OFF THE PRESSES before the letter was even drafted to be sent to the patient and the doctors office.

Aetna appeal board received the appeal letter on Thursday Jan 15th and the originial denial was upheld on Jan 16th by Dr. Barry Smith.. That is what I meant by "speed of sound" response - it's like WHAT, did you even read beyond my name and assigning a log number of eight digits to it before they stamped "denied again" on it. So the phone guy Scott Clowder, clinical supervisor who had to deliver the bad news to my "spy" gave her some tips for what option I have left. My employer UPS is actually the "owner" of the insurance plan and so I can consider making the appeal through my HR at the Corporate HQ in Atlanta where they meet weekly in a committee that considers medical appeals.. He said sometimes this is a viable option.

Right now, I will just consider the option and what to do next AFTER the weekend. Today was not a good day before I got this news and so I have not had a full meltdown yet, nor do I suspect that it would help......

144,000 flee the state.......

Today it was reported that 144,000 people fled the state of California in 2008 and the dream many spent most of there lives chasing after is grittier or a fleeting memory. Now in a state of 38 million that isn't a huge number, but it's the why they left, as to the where it will continue to spiral for some time to come...

* 8.4% unemployment rate in November.

* 236,000 projected foreclosures.

* last month a 100,000 jobs were lost in the state, one cause is 2000 public works jobs cancelled because the state couldn't afford $16 million towards them. And yet "arnold" says we need to build more schools, roads, and transit.. (see tax increases coming)

* California facing over 18 months a $41.6 billion dollar budget hole that is predicting raising taxes, cuts in education and postponed tax rebates. No fiscal responsibility by lawmakers who have more than enough money to cover what is required, but they waste more than they take it.. it's not a surprise that we can all understand what the legislature can't comprehend, that's no way to run a budget. somebody has to do without and they always pick education, highways, and public safety. these become buzz words for why they need to raise taxes.. The Constitution was written with government providing these things as first and foremost.

* the median price of a home has nose-dived one third from the 2006 peak. Most median priced homes are out of reach for the middle class. Many children can't consider buying a home in the community they grew up in.

* The housing market eliminated $1 trillion in wealth.

* dead end public schools.

* unchecked illegal immigrations.

* clogged traffic has robbed CA. of its allure.

An interviewer was speaking with an 38 yr old engineer who is seeing his wages go down and his cost of living going up, is moving to Denver Colorado and has a house purchase in the works. He's selling his 3 bdrm home in Nipomo about 80 miles north of coastal Santa Barbara where his yearly property taxes will go from $4300 to $1300. A substantial beginning to downsizing the family budget.

We know alot of people who over the last few years who have picked up and moved to some different states of Colorado, Idaho, Oregon in order to be able to one get out of the concrete jungle where they have family and friends, but yet the ability to "breathe" while living has been realized. For some they have lured some of there family and friends to join them in the adventure and so that does make it easier. Some of us are thinking that's an alternative we'd keep open, but for now can't make the leap and are glad we bought our homes alooooong time ago and are still "breathing" here in CA while we make a living and a life. But for many we know who are in the struggle that has them trying to hang on while having to make some hard changes to lifestyle or location possibly to start over we keep praying for good resolutions whatever way it needs to work out.

I remember decades ago when many Califonians moved to Oregon and boy was there a ground swell of anger from the invasion. The Californians were mistrusted and ridiculed for the move. There was no welcome committee dropping by with a basket of goodies and a handshake.. Well, get ready here it goes again...

Your Biblical obligation to (the soon to be President) Barack Obama

I read a lot of blogs and I came across this one today, and although it was written soon after the election was held, with the inauguration just around the corner, it is something to ponder. We will reveal ourselves in how we handle and/or how we behave in many aspects under a leadership who we might or might not agree with. But the Lord knew this would be the outcome and it is going to happen, what are we going to do to bring glory to the heavenly Father in our individual actions, but that it wouldn't bring him shame.

happy reading and reflecting;

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Your Biblical Obligations to (the soon to be President) Barack Obama
Written by Erick Cobb
Wednesday, 05 November 2008

I think it is really important for our mission here and for our own spiritual growth that we respond biblically to the election of Barack Obama as president.

The two of you that voted for Obama won't need this, but for the rest of you: please prayerfully consider your biblical obligations to Barack Obama when he takes over the presidency.

1.) Submit to President Barack Obama as God's Sovereign Choice for Our Country
* Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. Romans 13:1-7

* Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. I Peter 2:13-14

We are to submit to the leaders God has put over us unless submitting to them we cause us to sin against God (Acts 4:19-20). This command is actually much easier for us to do than it was for the believers it was first written to. Their emperor was Nero, who liked to light Christians on fire and feed them to wild animals and yet they were called to submit to him. Surely, out of love for our God, we can joyfully submit to Barack Obama as our president. God has not given us a command that is too difficult here (I John 5:3).

2.) Respect President Barack Obama

* Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. I Peter 2:17
We are to respect Barack Obama. During the Clinton years it was far too common for Christians to disparage their president through bumper stickers, t-shirts, and the comments they made. If that is your impulse, please grow up. God commands us to show honor to our leaders. It is unacceptable for Christians to speak disrespectfully of their president. You can (and should) speak out against his policies, you can even get involved in four years to remove him, but while he is president you must speak respectfully of him.
Once again the emperor Peter was talking about here was Nero, who by the way was not an elected figure, they had no say in who the emperor was. In obedience to God, watch how you talk about our president.

3.) Pray for Barack Obama Daily

* First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. I Timothy 2:1-4

If you have never been in the habit of praying daily for the president, this would be an excellent time to start. President Obama has a lot of challenges ahead of him. Pray for him everyday.

Pray that God would reveal himself to him, bless him, give him wisdom, and keep him safe. We are teaching our boys to do this every day.

It is interesting that when Daniel found out that judgment was going to come upon Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:19) he was visible shaken and declare that he wished it would happen to the king's enemies instead. And Nebuchadnezzar wasn't really the king you would want, now was he? - trying to BBQ Daniel's friends and all. And yet Daniel cared about him and wanted him to be blessed, not judged. You can have that same spirit towards Barack Obama as you pray that God would reveal himself to him, bless him, give him wisdom, and keep him safe.

For the next few days as you talk with believers and unbelievers about the outcome of this election you have an opportunity to be refreshingly biblical - and truly counter-cultural. Let's show the world (and other believers) that Christians are not a bunch of cry babies and sore losers who put all their hopes in having political power. Whining, fear, and bitterness are not fitting for us who believe God is up to something in all that he ordains. Let's show the world (and other Christians) that we have a happy trust in God's sovereignty. Let's show them that we are prepared to joyfully submitting to, respect, and pray for Barack Obama, out of a deep trust in and love for our God. Or.....you can do just what the culture expects you to.

Keep in mind our cause, the spread of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, does not depend on having political power. In fact, our cause has most often thrived when it had no such advantages! The Kingdom is breaking in even now, the fullness of it will soon appear!

Hurray, it's the last day

Today is the last day after 5.5 years for Ashley at Disneyland. It was her first job ever, and she began it right out of high school. While it was a better paying job than most, and the hours were plentiful during the many school breaks and overtime plentiful during the summers. It was a bit demanding during the school schedule as well for her, but it was her bulldog determination to accomplished them both well. She was able to make her private school tuition and so that is a great feat and she worked very hard. But it's only the happiest place on earth for those who visit it a day or two at a time, not for the employees as it's a tough crowd to work amongst. So I took a picture of her in her uniform as she embarked on the last day. This will give her the last semester of nursing school to be just about excelling and finishing well. Not having the distraction of work will be a great relief. She has made plans for post graduation and should be hearing shortly as to whether those are to be realized, with the Army nursing corps application currently under review and anticipated answer in mid January. More later when we know.

the pinning ceremony will be May 8, and graduation will be May 9th

Christmas pictures posting

These pictures come from Our Christmas at home, Christmas Day tradition at Uncle Ron & Aunt Alices and than our weekend in Madera with the Van Essen's ~ tons more posted on flickr.com/photos/symens to be seen

the official Symens kiddo's Christmas picture 2008the man will no longer be lost with new GPS

camping gear for the dirt bikerwhat did Ashley get?The Shanester


CHRISTMAS DAY - VAN MEETEREN'S

Shane, Christian Taylor and Ashley

The men downstairs watching sports
The women upstairs playing catch phrase
Santa brought Greg a prophetic shirt
our family picture #1
our family picturer #2
the Lloyd Van Essen clanthe original 5

Lisa, Stacy, Lorinda

(yes, I missed the Gray memo)

grandparents with all of the 7 grandkids

~ LET THE Wii TOURNAMENT IN MADERA BEGIN ~

Shane getting his groove on in dancing

and than Brian

doubles tennis
niece Sydney/Brian against niece Brook/Shane
Bowling
Lisa using her true form (we girls did that)Boxing
the father Bryan vs daughter Brook

THE FOUR BUNCO TABLES OF COMPETITORS

The New Year has begun

Happy New Year to anyone who "might" be a reader. Do I have any? hmmm

Today is a beautiful day in our neighborhood... Greg left me to sleep after he got up and sleep I did, crawling out at 10:30 am.. (sometimes I'm related to Rip VanWinkle himself) and we are still in our pj's all day with NOTHING, let me repeat NOTHING on the schedule but watching football bowl games. All of the kids were gone overnight to friends, and it was intently foggy last night and so I texted Shane at 12:30 and told him to just sack on his friend Kevins couch rather than risk the drive home in the fog and against any drunk drivers. Ashley sent me a text at 6am that she was at the Rose Parade (surprising) as her school friend Ashleighs dad has a store on the parade route and they were there to serve breakfast to there employees and the policemen in the area. So she got a great view of the parade, something I didn't tune into this year. Ah we are on vacation, maybe we will go to Pasadena tomorrow and walk the area where they display the floats. Maybe

We watched an exciting Nebraska/Clemson football game with NE winning out. There were other games but can't recall the who or what they were... Now currently watching the rout of Penn State by the USC Trojan warriors in the Rose Bowl. Next game is the Fedex Orange bowl between Cinncinatti and Virginia Tech.. I might just be putting on a hat and heading out to pick up dinner for us and Brian (who's sleeping in between texting).

The last 8 days has just seemed like an ongoing string of Saturdays, and it will be extremely difficult when Jan 5th rolls around to actually get back onto the regular routine again to the office. But in this economy, a routine we will gladly accept for as long as we are blessed with it.

fixing my error ~

okay so the "my other websites" of the flickr pictures link was incorrect on my part the entire time I've blogged and I just took note of it... it has now been fixed and links directly.. FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/SYMENS - I have currently posted new pictures (pardon my slow processing) the new pics will be of our trip to Yosemite in Nov., Brian's 21st bday, all of the Christmas 2008.

We are enjoying a quiet night at home for the new year... most likely cuz it's our choice and that we perhaps just don't have any friends.. ha ha ha

We've watched alot of bowl games throughout the day while taking down the christmas deco.. the Brut bowl, The Gaylord Hotels Music Bowl, Chik-Fil-A Bowl and the Insight Bowl where Gregs beloved Minnesota Gophers got the snot kicked out of them by Kansas.. Now we certainly enjoy football, but give me a break on the names of those who sponsor them - there are more bowl names to come for us to chuckle over in the next week. We are anticipating that someday soon we will have the Viagra Bowl, the Tampax or Kotex Bowl or the Pepto Bismol Bowl... I've got more, but will just quick there.

Happy New Year from us sitting quietly at home!

Our recent movie reviews

While these comments are those of the blogger, bear that in mind, you might have really bizarre taste compared to mine. Five movie reviews from our last two weeks -

YES MAN ~ was just what you'd expect from Jim Carey, his funny faces, his funny comments, jokes, and the plot is very somewhat shallow in parts and than again hits some depth in others... but overall it is an enjoyable movie that we give a thumbs up. good one to rent...

SEVEN POUNDS - Will Smith - UGH... went in expecting that it would at least be entertaining in spite of knowing it had somewhat of a dark premise to the plot.. but it mooooovvvveeeeddd sooooo veeerrrrrryyyyy slllloooowwwwlllyyy in the beginining 30 minutes that it was actually torturous to keep up with the plot of who he was (never figured it out) why he was doing this (came to you in itsy bitsy glimpses until the end) and than it just really didn't make much sense.. felt like it was filmed in segments with huge gaps and than just edited all together.
The next day Greg and I were trying to explain it to Ashley and still we both saw it completely differently and he was confused as to who got what and when... a complete and total THUMBS DOWN, don't even rent it. Will Smith has made to many good movies to take in this one

MARLEY AND ME with all of our Van Essen clan this wknd in Madera. Owen Wilson and Jennifer Anniston. I give this movie a great family rating. Heard that they used 21 dogs for Marley to make this. It was funny, funny, and than again.... advance warning - bring kleenex. I give this a major Thumbs up. Great movie change for Owen Wilson as a family man who does responsibility really well, who knew he had it in him!

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTONS; Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. It has a plot that you have to not think to deeply into and just go with it as it unfolds, it is a good movie with a peculiar premise of an OLD man born into a newborn's OLD looking body and than he is thrust into a life of some bumps with those around him after some unfortunate beginnings with his own family. Wont give away anymore than that, but it is not your usual plot. a thumbs up from both of us.

GRAN TORINO; Clint Eastwood. Now this is an actor that has a long and infamous career. Heard this was going to be his last movie and it is somewhat of a "dirty Harry" "unforgiven" style that he has done in his younger years. Truly there is probably a generation that has no idea who he is (unlike those of us with the western movie station for flashbacks) But just imagine that he is now playing a very older man (probably his own age) and saying that he has got some issues is an understatement of major magnitude. With his cantankerous personality and lack of affection for anyone but the wife he is burying at the very beginning, this leads you through some basics of the plot and how it progresses to the end. But Greg and I both looked at each other during the movie and said the same name of the actual person we know that he reminded us of and laughed! Now we do have a disclaimer that the "f" word is used somewhat liberally in the movie because of the way it unfolds of culture youth and a contankerous war veteran speaking. He also uses somewhat a ton of verbage of slang to describe the minority neighbors and such... but he has somewhat of a learning curve in the movie as well. We both liked this movie and give it a thumbs up.

a quick note..

We arrived home safely a few hours ago from four days of activities involving Christmas with family. The boys left this afternoon ahead of us by a short measure of time and we each ran into the rush of traffic heading back into L.A. from many travelers far and near. So we do our best to "grin and bear it" until you breathe easier with the change of a route where it opens up.

We had a good local Christmas day with about 35 of the Van Meeteren's which starts a little after noon and just goes on until late in the evening.. We eat, talk and share, and let me add that after a big lunch, eating just goes on throughout the day if you allow yourself the constant trips to the kitchen island where there is a spread of goodies that just is unending. We have a $10 gift exchange/stealing kind of game some santa gifts and lots of laughter. The women hang upstairs and we played catch phrase which brings laughter, and some tears from squealing beyond the point of laughter.. The men spend the day downstairs immersed in one or more of the sporting events on tv, and a hot game of cards of "smear" and just doing whatever else they do down there but they too have laughter and plenty to eat.

Friday at various times our own family headed up to Madera which is roughly 4.5 hours north to Stacy's for the Van Essen wknd of hanging out together. My parents had been up there for a couple of weeks. Lisa's family came down to Madera on Saturday. We enjoyed several meals together, saw the movie "marley and me" together (very good one) and there was WII and XBOX competition going on throughout the weekend and some sore muscles from boxing, dancing, bowling, mario carting and fun was had by all in being together and laughing at yourself and with others. Plenty of time goes by between these gatherings, and times like this bring you back to what is important in life and yet what we can quickly forget to embrace with each other. Today we attended Cornerstone church of the Dykstra's in Chowchilla, where the past youth director in seminary was leading worship. He did a fantastic sermon for which is another blog in itself, but he laid the reality of being a christian in this world as it is written in the word of God in these times... He hit the nail on the head and gave you no wiggle room for hoping or glad that "someone else was hearing this sermon" cuz it was for each of us..

Hope that your Christmas time was truely blessed.

The night before Christmas Eve thinking spell..

As the time draws near towards Christmas eve.. WE ARE READY! I have been in a baking frenzy as Brian could be quoted as having said this week & the gifts are under the tree and I'm excited to share those with friends and family. Today was just a day of (missing work) and Greg and I went on a "oops we forgot that person" gift find where we lucked out right away and actually picked up a few of the extravagant just because kind of gift giving ideas.

We as a family are going to the 11pm Christmas eve service after Ashley and Shane get off of work and I am looking forward to celebrating the birth of the savior whose destiny was to be nailed to a cross for MY SIN. A friend is doing his testimony at the services going on all day long.

Our family tradition is that we each contribute one thing as Santa into the stockings of each other for Christmas morning. I am also excited about the Christmas morning gift opening this year as there are quite a few well thought out gifts under the tree to fit specific interests/needs/likes and I'm looking forward to seeing the look on their face when they are opened!

Our Christmas day we will all be with Gregs side of the Van Meeteren family with aunts/uncles/cousins here locally. Friday we will all be leaving for Madera to my sisters to meet up with the Van Essen side with the parents, sisters/brother inlaws/nieces & nephews during the weekend for just hanging out together. It should be a fun weekend of family and than home for ringing in of the new year 2009. Lots anticipated in the new year.

baking extravaganza - sort of..

Well, considering how much baking I really ever find time to do, this afternoon was a extravaganza of accomplishment. I think about it often but rarely manage anything other than a quick out of the box something. So today, went to church, lunch with Ashley and a quick stop to retrieve Gregs cell phone at the furniture store we were at yesterday.. he dropped it somewhere is all he knew- shopping or at movies???? For which, as Ashley and I were walking to the car after church I mention the loss, and she stops and says "hey, this store called yesterday that they had a cingular phone.. blah blah", she says "I told him no one here has lost a phone" cuz the truth is Greg rarely has it with him when we are trying to get ahold of him so she figured he couldn't have lost something he didn't take with him.... So he lucked out.

Ashley and i baked together for the first time in like "ages" since she has been in school fulltime and working fulltime, she's just usually not in the mood.. so after a batch of cookies and a pan of bars, she bailed and went back to reading her enthralling "twilight #3 of 4" where her nose has been planted since the semester ended. Now having given her two weeks notice to disneyland and not working weekends, she is very relaxed. I trudged on and made 6 dozen more, and will make the roll out cookies tomorrow after work... cuz I now too have bailed, and am relaxing on the couch with twelve dozen cookies overflowing my cookie jar. Brian will be happy.

The boys went snowboarding to the mountains at 4:30 this morning with 10 people.. came back having had a great time, great roads, and great weather. They ran into the Hyink's in the ticket line - Small world. The snow in the local mountains is awesome for total as they really got dumped on this week with 54" with all the rain down on the flatlands. So it will be a regular spot for them. Brian is planning on making a trip to Gorman on the way home from Christmas wknd in Madera with his dirt bike meeting a friend, and that will be a cold ride as they too have gotten some snow this week/cold...

Well, the tree is lit up, the baking permeating the air, and sunday night football is under way.. time to check out..

Wednesday woohoo's

Today, I snoozed a little long..no walking since it's rainy and cold, and I have a cold, ankle sore and so taking a rest period to heal up. Get to work and bonanza, I have a light work load for this ONE particular day, no requests in the inbox that aren't quick turnarounds.. so I finish it up and gave a Ashley a text asking if she wanted to hang out shopping or a movie or both... she said yes, I will be dressed by the time you get home.. So we went to see the "sleeper" movie with a not so hot recommendation from either of us (rental maybe) of "nothing like the holidays". I think we saw all of the funny parts in the previews, apparantly.. so we went to Ziba's for eyebrows threaded, did some shopping (yea!) and than heading home cuz it was sloppy rainy out and cold.

I wrestled (literally) with the printer which seems to only have issues with Ashley and I ever, to which Greg always chimes in at the wrong time "I never have trouble with it".... SHUT UP ALREADY.. cuz when it's giving you issues, what does that comment help? NOTHING! so 130 copies later two sides and making sure it didn't jam, freeze up, grab to many pages (I hate that one) or slur the type, I was done with another step. Thankfully printing my labels went smoothly other than the one typo I found later, but eureka onto folding, stuffing, who gets an extra picture, a doodad from Ashley... and than once everything is stuffed, licked, stamped I sent Shane and Ashley to the post office at 11 pm to expedite the snail mail with moving it along in the early am... yes, they were playing xbox and reading.. they were willing and it's just a few blocks.. bonding time!

oh dang look at the clock, it's late again.. oh well ~

waiting impatiently....

Last night, I began the duanting task of the annual Christmas letter writing (yes, late again) and so I begin to make a couple of notes about the year. I write, backspace, write some more and backspace alot until very late into the night.. adding in pictures to the letter deemed trickier using Shanes new computer for me. Fortunately Ashley was home to keep me heading in the right direction with the finer points of word doc that I lack. I think she thought she should have just read her book in her room to be closer to the office than downstairs on the couch cuz she made a few trips upstairs to bail me out. We live in an age where she says "txt me" when you need help, and I did ~ ha.

So today, I race to Sams Club and get the picture card figured out, ordered and requested back in hours.. it was somewhat of a tag team with the person next to me as we kept leaning into each other when we got stumped or needed confirmation we chose the right this or that. I leave and run some errands in other stores and than back to get picture cards. For which I run into that same person and we compared finished product. I made a stop at the post office to get stamps and decided to use the machine vs the 45 minute wait in line.. I ended up leaving with about 9 dollars in coins and change and my 6 books of stamps.. ugh, now to haul around those funky looking coins and not use them like quarters. Honestly they come in different sizes and colors, a few do look like quarters and I had to use my reading glasses to read "One dollar" on it. Can you imagine where that will go when it comes time to use them. Just give me the paper version. Oh well, don't need stamps again until next year when I send out cards in 2009. or email them out would be my inspiration....

So tonight I come home "ready" to hit the floor running after I refine my christmas letter. Wouldn't you know it, tonight is the night Greg needs two computers set up in his office to work on end of the year reports and forecasting for next year ~ WHAT, I need to use the printer, and space to print my gazillions letters and labels. I like order and so nope, can't just start stuffing envelopes and stamp them cuz that's out of order from my routine.... oh well, another day won't matter at this point. I guess there is one consolation, I ran into a couple of friends today who said they aren't this far yet..

Saturday musings..

WHEW ~ this week has been just cram packed and fun, but exhausting at the same time. I have shopped for ONE gift online and well, the list is very short this year and the kids I've got figured out.. so no worries ~ isn't that great.. This is a christmas of CHRIST in Christmas as it should be and the materialism as a "quiet" feature of gifting but not overloading. But of course we now have all adult children and they too understand that times are uncertain in the job market. Gregs only request to them for a gift was that they all read the Dave Ramsey book "the total money makeover", so we will see if he gets that "under" the tree.

Today was cold, somewhat cloudy/sunny and drizzly and windy.. the heater was turned on this afternoon for the first time to combat the chill in the air and thru the crevices in the house..

Friday I made a random call to the surgeons office to "hear" how things were shaping up in the appeal, not really anticipating that there would be such a response. Natalie the assistant answered and she said "perfect timing" as she was busy copying the one inch stack of papers to be submitted as the appeal to Aetna insurance for my case. She asked me if I had received the denial letter, for which I had, and would I fax it to her as they had hoped to include it. Absolutely I'd fax it in 10 minutes when I got home. So the packet should either have hit the certified mail system yesterday or on Monday heading to NC.. I would assume some time after the new year we'd hear back, who knows if they all vacation during the holidays or actually labor over the piles of paperwork. Do I sound relaxed in the waiting process.. well, I am. I have hope for getting this resolved in the cysts removal and to move on in healthy living without the added stabs of pain, but I'm also resolved that if surgery is not permissable due to insurance insistence of denial, that LIFE WILL NOT STOP in that I will be active to the highest level possible. I now walk 2-2.2 miles every weekday morning, and have added 2.2+ miles every night that I can, so that has been mind over matter quite often, and perserverance, but I'm feeling better physically, somewhat tired, but better overall. The other night we went to a football game with some friends in Temecula, and parked some distance from the HS and it was downhill to the game and yep you guessed it, uphill back to the car. I felt good when we arrived at the car and so "victorius" over circumstances...

Tonight Ashley and I watched the movie Bucket List with Jack Nicholson/Morgan Freeman. It had been awhile since we date nighted this movie at the theatre and I had forgotten many of the parts of it. But the idea of a bucket list is a good one, especially if you think of it early in life and can master many things while still alive and kicking. Ashley had earlier announced she was probably going skydiving over the break from school with a friends family.. Greg said he needs to take out a life insurance policy on her!

Well, early bedtime is calling me. Greg's already asleep 3 minutes after he sat in the chair next to me... but he is older than me! hehee

Ellie Lofaro part one

Ellie Lofaro is a christian comedian / author - very funny woman with a dry sense of humor. (my kind of woman) She has a two part broadcast and presents a humor-filled and insightful message about overcoming life's trials with God's help.. laugh along with her and be inspired... http://www.family.com/ to listen to it under broadcasts. I'm looking forward to tomorrows finale.. It is good to laugh at ourselves ladies...

one story she told.. Mabel is a woman who raised her children right and her son moved to the big city, and had a roommate Stephanie. He assured his mother that it's purely platonic and they aren't sleeping together. Mabel arrive for a visit to see for herself. Stephanie cooks a lovely dinner and Mabel returned home. Several days later, Stephanie tells David that her sterling silver gravy ladle is missing and she not accusing his mother but it's been missing since her visit. So he says I will ask her, but I don't think she would have taken it. So he emails his mother and says "mom, I'm not accusing you of taking the gravy ladle but since you left it's been missing and Stephanie can't find it." Mabel emails back to David "I'm not saying that you are sleeping with Stephanie, but if she was sleeping in her own bed, she would have found it"... hysterical laughter is going on now and she says "power to the mothers......"

one of the good pieces from her presentation about being an overcomer: If you are not hanging out with women who don't look like you, you are missing something...
We will converse for hours with each other about earthly things, but will not talk about Jesus, our relationship, our blessings, our struggles.. If you know the joy and peace of Jesus and you don't tell others, what are you? If we are christians and when the cancer comes, and we're not prepared in our faith, it's late, but can we say "he is God and he is a good God". If we are christians we need to be sitting at the end of the hospital bed with more than good luck, hang in there. If your a christian you need to have something to say as we stand at the cemetary as that casket is lowered. We are more than overcomers, we are women of faith, we are women of substance, it is not just "hang in there, do your best, good luck, come what may". He is God, we will live forever we will meet again that is a promise. I am not going 6 ft under, biting the dust. We are going to live and rule and reign, I have no idea what that means, but I CAN'T wait to rule and reign in heaven. Praising him for all eternity... We have answers, why are people breaking down, why do families stop talking for so many years. Oprah has 22 million a day viewers which is a following. Where do you get your truth from? Where do you get your opinions from, are you embarrassed to say what you think or are you quiet because you don't know his word? Many will say that your faith is so personal, heck no, we get married we tell everyone, we have a child we show everyone, If I have Jesus as my saviour and we don't talk about him.. What are we? We could very well end up in the judgement line after our life has ended and have an acquaintance who we worked with who will say "you’re a christian, we worked next to each other in the cubicles for 8 years and you never said a word", or are we a parent whose child played soccer with others who might say "you’re a christian, we were on the soccer field 46 times and you never told me about Jesus".. We don't say anything, how can we not say anything? We tell friends when theres a sale at the stores, but we won't share this.. why?

Are we ready to answer the challenge? We know Christ and we must make him known...

Gods blessings... I'm now more motivated.

Wednesday woes

This morning the alarm clock was a totally shocking and a much dreaded interruption, so I tried out the snooze feature on my phone and while I don't know how long it delayed the inevitable.. it wasn't long enough.. I begrudgingly ventured toward the shorts/sweatshirt attire in a pile on the bathroom floor, and just in case Virginia was waiting in the driveway, sent her a text to be patient I was getting there... Now it didn't help that a group of us went to dinner/happy hour together after work and well, I had a few drinks and it might have been the reason that it felt like a fastball landed square in the back of my head! Although I have been under the curse of headaches for awhile and so it's not a given that it wasn't related to that, but I doubt it. And the slow start once I returned from the walk pretty much didn't speed up in any fashion and therefore being that I can pick the time I start work, I exercised that right and dawdled with getting going.

Yesterday I changed my contact prescription back to the original one we were using before trying several tweaks... each changed lense was giving me headaches after hours on computer at the office and I was using readers to see the fine type.. whew, today was so much better. It made for a good day at the office at this time of year when you need to be able to move at the speed of sound, and not make a mistake because you couldn't exactly "see" what your doing...

Tonight Greg is dining with clients for a second night in a row, although I do get invited, I don't always take him up on it. Without my night time walking partner, it is very easy to contemplate just "skipping" the attempt and stay here, but I am liking the direction that the scale is reading, and know that it won't continue unless I put in the extra time. So time to hit the streets before I change my mind...

a day in the life....

Well, today started out normally in that Virginia and I walked on time at the route surrounding our neighborhood, and than when I got home the headache was mounting.. so I thought I'll just take some advil and lay down for a few minutes in my walking getup.. well that was actually a couple of hours with my hood around my eyes trying to reduce any sunlight. So I dragged myself into the shower and headed off to work. As the day progressed, the little drummer boy beat in my head did not improve and the burning drip in the upper spine reminded me that sometimes days are just not to much fun.... for me... But my new attitude (which takes a lickin at times) is to keep movinig forward regardless of how the body is feeling, and to rest when I can, but to not let it slow me down... so yep, some days are like this and I just try not to cringe and sit on the sidelines. scheduled a complete spinal MRI for saturday afternoon unless I can get in earlier.

I worked from 10am- 7pm, when I got home, I changed into my walking shorts, sweatshirt and Greg and I walked over to Uncle Petes and gave him a tree ornament that we found in ours "of a crossing guard holding up a STOP" sign... that is the job he has in Cerritos and thought we'd gift it to him.. and so 2.4 miles later we were home.. It feels later than 9:15 right now, but glad that it's not.. Nice to have some down time before bed.

Tuesday night is a girls night out for a group from work... we do this on the occasion we can all work it in, so happy hour at El Torito ~ I guess we will call it our Christmas gathering. I just hope to be able to get out of the office in time to enjoy some of it. .99 taco night. Thankfully Greg has to entertain clients for dinner and so this gets me out of that! yea...

good night, time for bed!

Sunday summations...

We were blessed by a terrific worship service and Jason Brown's sermon.. Although without my notes I took in front of me, I won't do the synopsis it's due justice but it was unlike anything I've ever heard.. that Jesus disappoints us! yep thats right, Jesus disappoints us because He doesn't do things that make sense to us, we want him to be different in reacting like WE would react and not to require of us what he expects us to do with our lives. So we live in the tension of what we want, and knowing we should do what he wants. The wrestling is what he wants us to do, know we are loved, loved, loved by him but also that he wants us to know we aren't okay in how we're living our lives. We don't like to be told the truth by those who love us, we want them to tell us we are okay... Amen!

After lunch at home of homemade soup and sandwiches, we watched a bit of the football game between Dallas and Pittsburgh.. I couldn't keep my eyes open and so thought I'd head upstairs and just "rest" for awhile... well, it turned into an implosion as I slept for about 3 hours If Greg had not come up to let me know the dinner he made was ready - his dinner of infamous goulash - I probably would have just crawled under the covers and stayed there the rest of the night, like rip vanwinkle for whom at times I think I share in common his ability to sleep.... well, the long sleep did nothing for the headache which not much does affect it. Tonight after dinner, I attacked the box of ornaments that were haunting me the last few days sitting next to the tree needing to be taken care of. So now it's is done and looks tremendous and only took a little over an hour to accomplish. Now for the christmas cards! hmmm, maybe next week

Tonight Ashley and us were texting back and forth and she asks was dad serious that I could quit, Yes, Yes, YEs, she put in her two weeks notice to disneyland.. Jan 2nd is her last day, unless they don't give her the Christmas weekend off and than it could be much sooner. YEA! After 5.5 years there it is long overdue and she is set to finish her one last semester and we want it to be free from the distraction of working. She has her student loan set up and it will be repaid when she is accepted into the "job" she has applied for and will know in January of her acceptance. This being her last Christmas at home for some time with us, makes it one we would like her to be able to spend with all of the family get-togethers planned. I will write about ner new Job at a later time.

I'm sure that I will be able to sleep tonight regardless of the nap, and the alarm to walk goes off early... so goodnight.

another day at the races..

The last couple of days have been a constant flurry of activity and rushing.. I just sat down at home on my bed to breathe for the minute and turned on the USC/UCLA game we had been listening to on sirius radio. I think if I sit here for more than just a minute before I have to jump in shower I will easily fall asleep, but we have to leave again shortly.

Friday, I worked a short day starting at 5am and than hustled out the office door to get to a 10am dr appt.. accomplished that quickly and than met as scheduled a friend for lunch. Always lots to talk about and so had to hustle home at 1pm for a quick shower and out the door with Greg to Pasadena Community college 3pm watching Fullerton JC in volleyball state championship series.. Daughter of family friends Michelle Jansen plays for them. They won against Feather River college in four games.. Greg and I stayed around and watched Irvine Valley play Santa Rosa, than headed for downtown Pasadena and ate dinner at Ruth Chris's Steak house.. paid a small fortune for dinner and than headed home having missed the traffic jam of the friday get away because it was now late! Hit the sack at 11:45.. yep I was exhausted.

This morning when alarm went off at 6am, I'd like to say I jumped up but laid there until the last possible moment and jumped up frantically at 6:30 with the rush to get it together and out the door for the day... 12 minutes and out the door... nope, it wasn't anything special, but it wasn't bed head either.. I met with my friends for the study we are doing together Beth Moore "A Womens Heart" and than got to the next study group at 9:40 late that I help with where we are doing Beth Moores "Living Beyond Yourself" on the fruit of the Spirit.. Amazing they both tie together very well for learning... both of them ran late today and so I got home at 11:50 having gotten a text msg from Michelle that they lost their first game against Fresno City and were playing at 1pm (had they won it would have been 4pm) so Greg and I hustled out there and unfortunately they lost in three games and finished 5th in state of 85 teams in there school size.. so outstanding even in the less than desired outcome.

Arrived home at 3:30 and we will be going with friends Frank/Virginia to the 7:30 football game of Chapparal vs Centennal Corona CIF football game in Corona (45 minute drive). A son of river friends Steve and Lauri's Jacob and old church friends is a junior on the team. The friends we are going with are avid football'ers from watching our sons. Virginia and I walk every morning together, so we love to watch sports.... and whenever theres someone we know, we will go. Heck gas is only $1.71 so you can afford to go again...

oops, time has gone by and now I need to hustle once again into the shower cuz this body needs to be woken up and bed head redone!

Wednesday whispers

Well, after two nights of adding a second walk in the evening of 2.2 miles to the 2. miles in the morning I already do... tonight I/Greg took a break as the ankle is pretty bit sore, ahh not a surprise but not going to let it get out of control either. One more night left this week to get in the extra exercise.

So I used the night to get the tree up and lit. We have a tub of the stuff (what is it anyway, in our fridge) called "I can't believe it's not butter" And so in light of that, on Saturday we went out shopping for and purchased our replacement "I can't believe it's not a real tree" at Sams Club after an exhausting hunt for "realness vs price" at many establishments.. We saw everything under the sun to choose from "that didn't look like it qualified as a tree", to "WOW for a couple of $1000 bucks it should be a real tree from a forest!" So the tree we got was one-a great price and second-it tooks fantastic! Last night Greg loved the part that it is pre-lit with 1500 lights he doesn't have to untangle, and/or find that burnt out bulb causing havoc, just unfold it.. so tonight was actually turning it on and "fluffing it out to look perfect"... Now I'm considering "hmmm do we really need ornaments" okay, sure, it does (ugh) but not tonight, since they need to be brought in from the rafters of the garage. I think the boys are planning a rock paper scissors contest as to who has to help dad drag all the decoration containers to the house. Greg has already decided that this tree is not going into it's provided narrow storage bag after scrunching it up to fit after Christmas. I will instead be buying a king size sheet (or donating ours) and drapinig it over and tying it up and setting it in the 3rd garage as it looks now.. That does sound like a great idea.. I mean the part about using our sheet so I can get new ones! always an angle if you look for it.

Well, I need to get some study work done, as much as I'd love to continue watching "lost worlds" on the History channel and the archealogical digs and finds of ancient cities. Amazing the technology they used to build the enormous structures down to ivory cups.. It's also one way to travel to places you couldn't possibly ever do on your own, although I'd like to see some in person. I am thankful for the History channel.

conversing on employers

Today at the office we were discussing employer types, pros and cons of working with and for them. We shared instances;

One type is the employer with no people skills, has angry encounters in dealing with situations, lack of integrity, poor business practices, and yet expecting you to show up for work with a terrific desire to make them successful while incurring demeaning comments, degrading reviews.. The adult acts like a bully and the young adult doesn't react well to it. Toxic. Desiring you to want to excel beyond what they train you to do or are allowed to perform and than they degrade you for not being there yet.... This individual claims to be christian, yet they do not exude any bit of Jesus. Pay remained minimal, which went along with being told your replaceable, worthless..... After the end of the relationship, they still are out to slander you to future employers with complete untruths and to acquantances. But they seem the worse for wear in that they have a life that is bitter and sad and not so profitable. The ex employee struggles afterward for awhile, but is relieved it's over.

On the other hand, a different employer in the same line of work.. Lays out what is expected of you, treats you respectfully, pays you a terrific wage and a look into what the future could hold for you in the long run. You work hard and are rewarded quickly in pay. They than ask if you will purchase some of the tools for yourself for the job to be a lead, consider a bigger truck to pull a trailer and than give you a payraise toward this end. Will you work 8-12 hour days - yes gladly, sometimes weekends- yes gladly. They teach you every skillset you are not strong in presently, they train you to do more skilled craftsman features like staining wordwork, building vanity furniture, tiling.. overall, they make you a better employee by bringing you along for the future of yourself and for the success of their company. They hold business dinners, including you in discussing how well they/you are doing, new jobs they have coming up and that they want to help each of them to make a good living and are very pleased with the way they all work together. The bonus is that they are Christians who model Jesus in every area both on the job and in private life. They mentor and encourage, hold a weekly breakfast bible study with the employees. This same individual is a better person, and is highly motivated to do better in every part of his life. And the company he works for is completely blessed by the Lord.

We all have Jesus name on us, do we wear it well and reap blessings.. or do we wear it poorly and reap despair? It is our choice and an important one for many of the fruit of the spirit; joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, self control..

Monday musings

alrighty, as the day is winding down, for me it's been a busy stressful day in-between the wakeup alarm melody at 5:30 & the foggy walk of 2. miles and the ending walk with the hubby of 2.2 miles after his dinner.. I've been walking daily (minus a few must miss days) for about 2 months now and had lost 15 lbs, eating lean cuisine for lunches, and avoiding the vending machine and fast food... I than put 5 of them back on and so am now stepping the exercise up a notch and will add some variety in the garage using the punching bag and weight bench... Looking to get back into "fighting shape" for middle age life creeping up on me...

The Christmas season at my office only had to make moderate changes for peak season that started today for the fluctuation of post Thanksgiving shipping and will continue for the next three weeks. So it's a bit busy today in getting the appropriate materials created over the last two weeks posted for employees to route the brown boxes to the correct destinations and computer training re-worked... So ship UPS we are ready to handle your packages no matter what you need BROWN to do for you!

I received a voice mail from the surgeons office today, that they had received the denial letter. She said they weren't surprised, usually denied once. The Dr. will be dictating the appeal letter and the negotiations will begin. She said hang in there, there are confident that they are this far with it.. and will let me know when it is completed and sent out.

and now a shower and crawling into bed are the only things left on the agenda! good night

Sunday afternoon

Well Sunday is never just another morning started with bland worship. We are very fortunate at ERC and blessed by the worship service of music which is where we can pour out our gratitude of a thankful heart and one that is surrendered to growing closer to our Lord and Saviour. And than the pouring in came when, Pastor Bill brought part two of the two part series "firm footing in a falling economy"... The economy has brought on instabilty in jobs, housing, investments.. Last week In Luke 11 we read "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples", when you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, Give us this day our daily bread..... Pastor Bill, telling us that hallowed means "to be made sacred, to be holy" that the Lord puts his name on us, do we wear it well... do we trust him that his kingdom must be first and that he will provide us our daily bread? with no worries, no fear, no anxieties. God is commanding us to ask for our daily bread, and he promises to answer us.

Today Pastor Bill read from scripture: Acts 14: 21-22 "strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God". WHAT? it's actually in the bible that life won't be easy... Yep, that in order for us to lean in to the Lord, we will be challenged, and built up in our souls by the trials of hardships. That we MUST go through them, not around them in order to mature. Have you ever just felt that your always facing the same thing over and over again... Are you needing to face up to a wall that you prefer to go around doing the same thing, but than the wall just keeps appearing... Is it time to face it, rather than be bloodied by running into it? Can you not see the new thing he is doing? YOU CAN see the kingdom of God while here on earth in our homes, our families, our relationships, our work, our ministry when we are strong in our faith? Pastor Harold also encouraged us that "hard times are heavenly times, for God to work in us and teach us" - that refiners fire of taking away that which hinders us in life from experiencing Gods best..
http://www.erc.la/ and you can always hear any sunday sermon.

What I'm Thankful for

Today I was reading a blog and he had a list of who and what he was thankful for. And I decided to come up with a list as well. Often we "lump" our blessing together as generalities of thanks.

• I am thankful for my parents who grounded me with love and generosity in Christian faith as the example to follow in my own life.
• I am thankful for Greg who has stuck with me through the for better and the worse, and who could not be a more loving, attentive husband, father to our children, loving son, and friend.
• I am thankful for my daughter Ashley and sons Brian & Shane who could not make this mother any prouder and blessed.
• I am thankful for two sisters who love me just as I am.
• I am thankful for in-laws, cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews who provide the richness of family in my life.
• I am thankful for Bonnie, Susan, Cassandra, Nancy & Virginia who offer me their friendship and encouragement as they also hold me accountable for the choices I make in my life. There unconditional love and wisdom helps me seek to become a better woman, wife and mother.
• I am thankful for Bill, Patsy & Eliseo, Tanya & Shane, Brent, Gary, Penny, Ana, Jackie & Joe, and all the many friends in my life, both male and female, who offer me a loving community. They are who gently encourage and challenge me to be the person I was created to be. And who graciously allow me to serve alongside of them in ministry.
• I am thankful for my church family at Emmanuel, and whose members provide me with the unmeasurable blessings of friendship, accountability, support, grace, and love.
• And last but certainly not least - I am thankful to God who offers his unconditional love and grace to me in spite of what my sinful nature would have me deserve, and who continues to mold and shape me into a unique individual for his own good will and pleasure. His example of sacrificial love for me and forgiveness from my wrongdoings, is what I am called to give to others.

Who or what are you thankful for?

on a funny note!

With the economy slumping and well, the uncertainty of future earnings.. our 401K so methodically managed in good times seems like it's a possible 201K plan currently. While away for the weekend, we came across a funny possibility of a flash back for a "retirement home" should we come upon hard times.. This is a definite fixer upper!

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

it does rain in So Cal.. yeah!

Well, tonight is the first real rain here in so cal in a long time and it comes at the start of our rainy season which is good news. For this I am thankful. The forecast is for quite a bit I've been told. After taking a road trip up north recently and having seen the reservoirs just so depleted of resources, it needs to rain hard and snow deeply this year and for many years to come. The picture shows where the water line should be (near trees) and where it is.. this is what all of them look like in CA. And for those of us who live in this cement jungle of suburbia where water is in short supply for the demand we have created in the sprawl of overdevelopment. Water is a valuable resource we could be out of quickly. I cringe EVERY day as my elderly neighbor wakes up early and hoses down the entire length of her patio and driveway which is perhaps 100 ft long and it just pours out into the street and goes nowhere. Now I like a cleaned off driveway after a dust or ash storm, but have come to appreciate that less often is more and I'm not going to be eating off of it. Apparantly my neighbor is prepared for just such an occurence of feasting at the shrine of her cement drive.

Unfortunately for those who just recently had fires raging, it is going to be a tough go to keep the mud at bay. But steps are being taken by individuals, communities and state forestry fast and furiously to add ground cover sprayed over the landscape, those big hay bale looking snakes and diversions to keep the flow from overtaking residents.... but in some regards, it's a cycle that can't be avoided with the urban sprawl where "people" have desired to creep into the hillsides, wilderness and build into its landscape. You can't win when mother nature is your adversary.

So certainly we need to pray for rain in moderate amounts at a time so that it doesn't run off, and for those who are in for a fight to keep the mud from invading there living space we pray for them as well.