Steadfast at Home

Motherhood Is a Calling (And Where Your Children Rank)

2012-01-23T18:39:00.000-08:00

Succinct and honest . Read here. Motherhood Is a Calling (And Where Your Children Rank)

Doing nothing is a mistake

2012-01-10T01:03:00.001-08:00

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little. ~Edmund Burke

Share Christmas with one person

2011-12-25T00:48:00.000-08:00

"Lord Christ, You have no body on earth but ours, No hands but ours, No feet but ours. Ours are the eyes through which your compassion must look out on the world. Ours are the feet by which you may still go about doing good. Ours are the hands with which You bless people now. Bless our minds and bodies. That we may be a blessing to others." St. Theresa of Avila

Today on Christmas, someone will wake up hungry, cold and hopeless. A widow will mourn the loss of her spouse, a parent the loss of a child, an orphan will wake up without family. It will be especially lonely today of all days. Somewhere in both the United States and in far away places like Africa, Ukraine, India, S. America and all over the world a child will wake up without anything under the tree and nothing in the house to eat. An international student spends another holiday alone in their dorm as all their classmates are home for Christmas. A refugee family wishes someone would talk to them. An elderly woman sits forgotten in a nursing home, a parents heart is rent in two not being able to provide for their child, a foster youth feels alone. A family is sleeping in their car, A child just died from lack of clean water, hunger or a preventable diseases. In the busyness of family celebrations, church services and holiday activities please stop for one moment and ask the Lord a question. "Who would you have me to love today?" "Whose life would you like to touch in a tangible way through me?" "How can I be your hands and feet in this moment?" I know Lord that faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26) so how can I use the resources, talents and time today in this moment to bless those who are broken and hurting?"

While celebrating with your family consider those without family. This could be the orphan who may have never known even a stitch kindness, love and a mothers touch. It could be a foster youth that has aged out of the system and like I often did, will spend Christmas and New Years alone feeling unloved, unwanted and purposeless. Invite them over. Thank you Brenda and Virgie for always having us over for the holidays. Thank you for being Jesus with skin on.

Google adoption photo listings and you'll see something truly heartbreaking. Foster youth that are 19, 20 and 21 years old still longing for a family, a place to belong on the holidays. Have you seen this?
I read about a 21 year old medical student that earned numerous awards for academic excellence. He was interning at a hospital, earned many scholarships, lived on his own but still strongly desired a family, enough to put himself on a national photolisting along with 132,000 other adoptable US foster youth. I used to pray someone would adopt him. He Isn't there anymore. I wonder, did he finally find a family or just get too old to be listed? Can you visit the senior citizen in the convalescent home that hasn't seen a visitor for quiet some time.

Have you ever encouraged a prisoner who is persecuted for his or her faith. Send a letter to officials on their behalf, Mail them a christmas card, a scripture, a note. Heb 13:3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them,
It could be that you invite international student to your home for dinners, activities etc like International Student INC. They come to America to learn about our culture but rarely leave their dorms to learn what life is like, unfortunately during the holiday many students go home leaving these students lonely and isolated. Meet new people from different cultures. What about the family/friend/coworker that moved here and has no family in which to share the usual traditions. Are they lonely away from their parents and siblings? Know any latchkey kids? What about the military family who moves from place to place. Or the military wife whose spouse is deployed?

As you are shopping and opening gifts think of the single mother who could barely put a roof over her child's head let alone purchase a gift or two for her child. Single fathers have it even worse. Sponsor a child, drop off a toy for an Angel Tree kid ( whose parent/s are in prison) Help foster child. Get a few friends a visit a group home. Go tell a kid to have hope, things will be better, that they have a purpose and were destined to do great things! That they have a FATHER who loves them and is the perfect parent when their earthly parents fall short. Tell them that "though their father and mother forsake them the Lord will take them up. " http://bible.cc/psalms/27-10.htm I'll never forget the postal workers who came by and dropped off gifts for us kids at the group home when I was a teen. I'll never forget the christmas as a child when my mother was arrested. The officers found out I didn't have anything and one went out and got me a cabbage patch doll. No kindness is ever wasted.

You can give a micro loan through Opportunity, Hope International, World Vision, Five Talents. give medicine, animals, farming tools, school tuition a school uniform to a person who may not otherwise get help. Friends of mine recently bought a gift for a homeless child that I adore. One mentioned that it was no big deal to her as her kids spent that much just on snacks and fast food that day. Can you forgo some small convenience to bless someones life, help an orphan find a home, alleviate a burden, meet a need? Touch a heart.

When decluttering to make way for your new items coming in your home consider the refugee who comes here with nothing. Even used items you may throw away would be a blessing to them. Many of us hoard all our many items when there are people in our own neighborhoods with nothing sleeping on the foor and without sheets silware etc yes, here in the good ole USA. One friend provided childcare to help a refugee who was expected to find work but couldn't afford a sitter. Often they don't speak English and don't know how to even begin making a life for themselves. Many mothers feel isolated due to the language/culture barrier. They've experienced terrible persecution and personal tragedy. Love, a smile transcends language barriers.

Take a meal, mail a card, buy a toy, invite someone over. Buy a bible ( Bible League) for those who can't afford one in their language. Mail a package to a missionary, donate to a fundraising adoptive family. Pay a bill for someone in need. Offer your trade (car repair, plumbing, accounting, etc) Call a friend who might encouragement, bless a family going through a hard time. Go say "Hi" to new neighbors. Mother Teresa once said "I want you to be concerned about your next door neighbor. Do you know your next door neighbor?"

There is so much that can be done to give hope and encouragement in the coming days and year. We can do so many little acts of compassion that will spread ripples reaching into eternity. Thanks be to Jesus, for giving the perfect gift, Himself. May we give of ourselves, "Spend ourselves ( Isaiah 58:10 ) on behalf of those in need. May we be known by our love, the irresistible, compassionate, radical, self denying love of Christ that compels us to advocate for the greater good of others. That is the gospel. That is the Jesus, the Word made flesh. Merry Christmas! Peace and Joy in Jesus Alida & Rodriguez family.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first. The birth of the
baby Jesus stands as the most significant event in all history, because it has meant the pouring into a sick world of the
healing medicine of love which has transformed all manner of hearts for almost two thousand years... Underneath all the
bulging bundles is this beating Christmas heart." -- George Matthew Adams

"Rejoice, that the immortal God is born, so that mortal man may live in eternity." [John Huss]

"When we ask our children 'What do you want for Christmas?', we are asking a question that breeds selfishness. In order to develop selflessness we should be asking 'What are you going to give?' Christmas is the celebration of God's great gift giving -
'For God so loved the world that he gave...'(John 3:16)" [Robert Flatt]

"It is the Christian belief that much of what is wrong with the world today is moral and spiritual. In other words, the spirit of Christmas is absent." [Handel H. Brown]

"Best of all, Christmas means a spirit of love, a time when the love of God and the love of our fellow men should prevail over all hatred and bitterness, a time when our thoughts and deeds and the spirit of our lives manifest the presence of God. "
[George F. McDougall]

There is always time enough in a day to do God's will. -- Walt Witman

Blessed is The season which Engages the whole world in a Conspiracy of love.-Hamilton Wright Mabie

Christian Books

2011-11-23T02:17:00.000-08:00

Now that Christmas is upon us I just wanted to share about Vision Forum, a wonderful Christian company. Vision Forum is where I was first introduced to wonderful cd's books and toys all dedicated to holiness, righteous living and godly homemaking and more. The first cd I purchased and listened to was Voddie Bauchams "Centrality of the Home. I was so blessed. Great selection, great Christian Books available at Vision Forum. http://www.visionforum.com

How To Make A Budget & Other Finance Links

2011-09-08T09:46:00.000-07:00

Bringing Home KADEN! Adoption RAFFLE for the COX family

2011-07-03T01:46:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends,
Meet the Cox family. Steve and Annette.

They have 4 fabulous boys! Steve teaches over at Orange Coast Community College, in Costa Mesa CA. The lovely Annette is an awesome homeschooling mother to four precious boys and was adopted. http://thejourneytokaden.blogspot.com/They are fundraising to bring their little son 5 year old Kaden home from China. You may remember him as Solomon's bestest little bud at the orphanage that Stacy Richards was advocating for a while back. The Cox family needs money and FAST! To help them we are holding a RAFFLE! We have some FANTASTIC prizes donated and will be adding more in the next few days. PLEASE signup via email (that nifty little button on your right hand side) to get updates on new items added. Becoming a follower would be nice as well! ONLY $5.00 a ticket. You have terrific odds of winning SOMETHING. Raffle ends July 15th, don't delay, get your tickets TODAY!
______________________________
Here is a note from Annette...
Folks can mail us a check in order to enter the raffle and also send us an email at ourfivetreasures@yahoo.com letting us know that they are mailing a check, how much the check is for and what raffle items they want to enter. We still need to raise about $13,000 and $9,550 of that is due as soon as we receive our TA (Travel Approval), which should be in the next 3-4 weeks. Thank you so much!! Love, Annette

Purchase tickets by mailing a check to:
Steve Cox
c/o Orange Coast College
2701 Fairview Road
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

There is no ChipIn available for this raffle, because under PayPal's "Acceptable Use Policy" they will not allow us to use PayPal / ChipIn to send or receive payments for activities that involve an entry fee and a prize, such as raffles, drawings or lotteries. If you have any questions, Please email me atBeautyForAshes5@att.net Together lets BRING KADEN HOME! Alida w5

HELP! Deadline approaching/MUST WATCH VIDEO!!

2011-07-02T04:18:00.000-07:00

If you want to grow in your walk with the Lord, please watch this video. It is the best eye opening 7 minute video I've seen. It.will.change.your.life! I promise. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWHJ6-YhSYQ
Depraved Indifference

Dear Friends,
Thank you to the many who have generously donated toward my fundraising goal! I am in the final stretch of fundraising and need to hit my goal by July 5th. (3 days) I have an urgent prayer request. My heart has been moved, my spirit has been stirred. I have recently been diagnosed with a very serious very chronic disorder. It's called O.O. D. ( Obsessive Orphan Disorder) Sufferers of O.O.D. typically suffer loss of sleep thinking about the153 million children without parents, lack of appetite thinking about the many children that wondering where next meal will come from, and heart issues when feeling led to do something about it! There are several courses of treatment for O.O.D. 1) Is to go personally and "Visit orphans" ( James 1:27) This temporarily alleviates the Symptoms. The only real cure for O.O.D sufferers is adoption. I've dreamed of going to Africa to assist orphans since I was a little girl in fostercare. I've been given the opportunity to go w/ Ordinary Hero to ETHIOPIA in 2 weeks! (TWO SHORT WEEKS!!) It seems totally illogical and even CRAZY given our present circumstance. I am stepping out in faith that God will provide every single penny needed to go! I am ALMOST FULLY FUNDED! I need just a bit more. Brittany Buttram and I need about $1500 between the two of us! The TICKETS have been purchased. If we don't come up with the remainder needed by July 5th, ( 3 days) Brittany and I don't travel! Please help us help ORPHANS and donate today!!! THANK YOU, Alida w5
To donate visit https://www.visitingorphans.org/donations/donate.aspx It will ask "Would you like to designate this donation to a specific team member?" PLEASE REMEMBER to click "YES" and type in "ALIDA RODRIGUEZ" then shoot me an email letting me know you did! Many thanks for your prayers and support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!

We also appreciate supplies for the children such as;
*warm clothing,
*light weight jackets,
*toothbrushes/toothpaste,
*tylenol,
*diaper cream,
*formula,
*close toed shoes,
*clothing for children ages 10-15. (older kids can sometimes be forgotten)

Father's Day Blues?

2011-06-20T23:44:00.000-07:00

Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat. Mother Teresa

Father's Day can be incredibly painful or a totally blase holiday to those of us who've had deadbeat, uncaring, dysfunctional, irresponsible uninvolved abusive fathers. At a young age I was gifted with discernment. While I desperately LONGED for a loving father figure, I knew not to expect it or desire it from my own. Many of my friends had loving doting fathers to guide them through life and provide for them. At times, it was difficult seeing all that I lacked. I'll never forget meeting him again once I became a grown woman. I was 17 years old, living on my own. I never inquired why he never contacted me or sent ANYTHING to provide for even my basic needs. Perhaps feeling guilty, he felt obligated to offer some sort of an explanation. He told me "I meant to check on you, see how you were doing, but you know, outta sight outta mind. You know how that goes."

Nope, I don't know how that goes. I love my children more than I love air. I can't imagine not being able to see them, hug them, kiss them, watch them grow. I can't imagine life not knowing who these incredible kids are. I can't imagine not feeling my little ones arms around my neck as I carry them to bed or missing out as my bigger children tell me their hopes & aspirations, listening to their giggles and jokes, hearing them pray. Both my father and mother abandoned me. Drugs, alcohol and various other things all apparently way more important than I ever was. Many of you share my upbringing in some way or another. Perhaps you too are among the walking wounded. ;-) Oh how I love the words of David in Psalm 68:5 "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling." Mother's Day is not my favorite holiday either. However, I take comfort in knowing in Psalm 27:10. I enjoy looking at different versions of this passage.

"When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up."
"When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me."
"Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close."
"Aunque mi padre y mi madre me dejaran, Con todo, Jehová me recogerá."

I take great joy in knowing that each of us has a purpose. Each of us is cherished, loved, cared for, ADORED by our Heavenly father. Some of us were nothing more than a brief after thought to our earthly fathers. I grew up feeling "forgotten." NONE of us are forgotten by God! Though your earthly parents may fail to care or meet your needs our Abba Father is the PERFECT parent. He is El Shaddai, the all sufficient one. He can meet every need. He can heal every hurt. Come to Him fill the deepest longings of your heart, the vast void in your soul, your unquenchable thirst for love and acceptance. He'll cleanse the wounds in your spirit and give you perfect PEACE! Happy Heavenly Father's Day.

Isaiah 49:15 "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! "

Jeremiah 31:3 Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Psalm 139 :17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!

Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

Now, print this out and give this to someone in your life that is Fatherless.
http://www.fathersloveletter.com/Media/FLL_single.pdf

Father's Love Letter
http://www.fathersloveletter.com/kids/FLLkids_poster.pdf For Children

Video here.
Father's Day Blues?

Tough decisions! Adding Uganda??

2011-06-10T11:21:00.000-07:00

I am so thrilled to overflowing and blessed! It is AMAZING to me how the Lord has moved MIGHTILY to bring me nearly all the funds needed to travel! In such a short time. It's quite miraculous to me. When I first sought the Lord about going on a mission trip and after my hubby encouraged me and gave me the go ahead, I was suddenly overcome with doubt! I allowed a few negative people to put doubts of the Lords provision in my mind. What if I shared my goal of going and the funds didn't come in? Wouldn't I look foolish? Wouldn't I be SO humiliated and embarrassed? It caused anxiety even thinking about asking for help with funding. After all, you can't embarrass yourself if you don't step out in faith. It really took me mustering up alot of courage, laying down my pride and getting over my immense hurdle/fear of failure. Many hearts were moved and now I am nearly at my goal! You may say "of course Alida, where God guides He provides." However, though I've walked with the Lord for sometime, I still at times, struggle with trusting Him to provide for ALL of my needs. I also struggle with feeling protected by Him. ( childhood spent in foster care) I sometimes feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop or for some awful thing to befall me, because they do tend to. Rather than seeing all that I go through as things He's rescued me and saved me from, I some times think "Lord what awful thing is next? (even though He has proved Himself to me countless times) This stems from trust issues dealing with my upbringing and abandonment issues I'm still working on. I believe that He wants to radically HEAL, deliver me and give me FREEDOM in this area and wants to use this trip to do it. I look forward seeing how He'll grow and mature my faith in areas like this!

A NEW incredible opportunity has presented itself for Brittany Buttram (AMAZING homeschool graduate/college student) & I to visit ETHIOPIA AND UGANDA to volunteer!! ( a HUGE dream of BOTH of ours) I'm praying the Lord's direction and will AND funds to needed ASAP to travel. Because we'd be visiting two countries we'd need slighly more funding. $3600-3800 instead of the $3200. I'd need about $1000 or so more and Brittany would need about $2000. It's difficult to decide. It's a few days longer but it's the trip of a lifetime. I doubt I'll have an opportunity like this again.
In Uganda, our team would spend one day working at Amazima Ministries with their feeding program and with the children of the Karamajong tribe. We'll meet physical and financial needs by bringing supplies and donations from the U.S. We will spend several days with the kids at Canaan Children's Home and several days at Return Ministries. In Ethiopia we'll work in partnership with Project 61's ministry which reaches out to the children who live and work in the city dump. We will also visit children in orphanages throughout Addis Ababa.

Please pray for wisdom on if we should pursue this route. We'd need funding within the next couple days! Also, if possible, and if you so feel lead, please donate. Every penny over my total goes directly to Brittany. Remember it's completely TAX DEDUCTIBLE! We appreciate it. Thank you, Sincerely,
Alida Rodriguez

I need help getting to Africa

2011-05-26T21:05:00.000-07:00

Hi,
Alida here. Growing up in foster care was far from easy. Not having parents (for various reasons) and making my own way without support was extremely difficult. For years I carried around an orphan spirit of rejection, abandonment and hurt. I suffered many hardships and lacked purpose. I'm blessed because even through all that, friends became family and someone always took me in! A persistent Aunt always called to check on me. As broken as the foster care system was, they made sure I had food clothing shelter, medical care, and an education. Youth services like shelters gave me the tools to help me survive to adulthood. I now have an incredible family. :-)

Sadly life is so incredibly bleak and hopeless for millions of orphans worldwide. In Ethiopia in particular, there is no "foster care system," no food, medical or educational programs available. Many have to resort to terribly degrading inhumane ways to support themselves to survive often begging, digging through trash or prostituting themselves in order to survive.

Picture your child, sibling, grandchild niece/nephew alone, cold malnourished, hungry, frightened and not receiving medical care or education. Picture this child completely and utterly alone. Can you imagine an orphaned 5 year old caring for siblings. I heard about a 12 year old girl that cried herself to sleep nightly as each day she had to decide which of her hungry crying siblings would eat that day. I can't imagine that. I can't imagine my little ones fending for themselves HERE let alone in the dusty streets of Africa. If it were your child or someone you love, wouldn't you want people and organizations to help?

Hi friends, I am so grateful for all of the opportunities I've been given. It's always been my dream to work with abandoned or orphaned children. This July I plan on going to Ethiopia with a WONDERFUL group called Visiting Orphans and Ordinary Heros. We'll visit widows, orphans, outcasts, those infected with HIV living on the streets and at the Korah dump in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. We'll establish goals for working with the people there and access how we can help them long term. To get there I need your help and FAST! The deadline is approaching and V. O. needs $1100 to purchase my ticket to travel by May 31st. I have I also need an additional $1300( that isn't due until July) ( Total trip is $3100, I've raised $1000) Anything over that amount will help an amazing young lady Brittany Buttram get to Ethiopia with me. She'll be the next generation of youth caring for orphans. She needs the same amount. ($3100)
IF YOU'VE ALREADY DONATED.. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Did I mention that this is TAX deductible? Would you happen to know of anyone or businesses that could sponsor me? PLEASE email me if you do. It would make a great write off and is for a great cause. Every little bit helps! Thank you being a part of my support team. I can be reached at CauseOfTheOrphan@gmail.com call or text me: (714) 335-0434. PLEASE HELP ME HELP ORPHANS visit https://www.visitingorphans.org/donations/donate.aspx It will ask "Would you like to designate this donation to a specific team member?" PLEASE REMEMBER to click "YES" and type in "ALIDA RODRIGUEZ". Then shoot me an email letting me know you’ve done so. To follow my journey visit http://thecauseoftheorphan.blogspot.com/

Here's a clip that speaks about some of the work we'll do there among the Ethiopians. I love how Samuel says in 3:48 "They think the children and people here are cursed and unimportant, But we ARE important!"
http://www.youtube.com/user/Session7Media#p/u/5/f4pgQvgdNqs

____ I will call Visiting Orphans and make a payment by phone at (866) 683-7554
____ I will donate to Visiting Orphans on your behalf online https://www.visitingorphans.org/donations/donate.aspx
(remember to specify this is for Alida Rodriguez thank you)

What does it take to help orphans? Any amount helps me get to $3100!
If 620 people/businesses/organizations donated $5.00 = $3100!
If 310 people/businesses/orgs donated $10.00= $3100!
If 155 people/businesses/orgs donated $20.00= $3100!
If 103 people/businesses/orgs donated $30.00= $3100!
If 62 people/businesses/orgs donated $50.00= $3100!
If 31 people/businesses/orgs donated $100.00=$3100!
If 15 people/businesses/orgs donated $200.00=$3100
If 10 people/businesses/orgs donated $300.00=$3100
If 6 people/businesses/orgs donated $500.00=$3100
If 3 people/businesses/orgs donated $1000.00=$3100
If 2 people/businesses/orgs donated $1550.00=$3100
You get the Picture!
Thank you for any donation of ANY amount! Bless you. Alida w5

Homeless Chicago Man Donates Thousands to Down-On-Her-Luck Banker

2011-05-19T14:07:00.000-07:00

Chicago - A year ago, everything was going right for a woman we'll call Sandy.
She had a good job at a bank in the suburbs. She and her 10-year-old son had a safe home. But then the world came crashing down around the 39-year-old. She lost her job. She lost her house. And she and her son moved into her truck. Police found her and DCFS threatened to take away her son if she didn't find a safe place to stay.

She moved into a hotel with the help of a social worker who paid for a few nights stay with her own money. That's when Sandy's knight in shining armor showed up. And he's kept showing up, every day, paying her hotel bill, so she and her son can stay off the streets. But Sandy's Good Samaritan isn't a Chicago big shot. He isn't living in a Loop highrise. He doesn't even have a job.
Sandy's Good Samaritan is Curtis Jackson, who's been homeless since 2004. He pays for Sandy's hotel room because she used to treat him with dignity and kindness when she did have a house -- and he pays for it by panhandling and giving the money to her.

"All I can do is get out there and put a sign in my hand, or put a cup in my hand and ask people to help me out, and everything I get, except maybe bus fare and something to eat, I give it to her," Jackson said as he stood at the corner of 55th and Harlem.
Jackson pays the nightly bill by pouring his bucket of change on the hotel counter. Since December, he's raised $9,000, and he's given it all to Sandy. He said sometimes 40, 70, a hundred cars go by before someone gives him a few pennies or a few bucks. Sandy can't believe it. "I've donated to charities, I've helped other homeless families -- never realizing that one day we'd be in this situation," she said. "So thank God that we did have an angel waiting for us."

Jackson said he's a man of faith; homeless, but not hopeless, and he's got some words of wisdom for the people he sees bustling by every day. "I have God. I'm one of the richest men on this earth, 'cause I have God," he said. "Money is not my master. That's what's wrong with this world: money is its master." Sandy said she doesn't think she'll ever be able to repay Jackson, who's become like a brother. "I'm out here for a purpose: to help someone, and that's all I'm trying to do is help someone that needs help right at this moment," he said. "And once she doesn't need help anymore, I'll move on to something else."

Homeless Chicago Man Donates Thousands to Down-On-Her-Luck Banker: MyFoxCHICAGO.com

Village of Korah

2011-05-13T12:18:00.000-07:00

Here is a clip that speaks about some of the work we will do there among the Ethiopians. It's about the Village of Korah, the leper colony & Korah dump. It's dwelling place of widows, orphans, lepers and other societal outcasts. Many lives were changed just from some that came on a mission trip similar to the one I hope to go on . Many lives have been transformed with sponsors, schooling and uniforms, medical care etc. Let's bring the Hope of Jesus to those that feel unimportant and forgotten. I love how Samuel says in 3:48 "They think the children and people here are cursed and unimportant, But we ARE important!" http://www.youtube.com/user/Session7Media#p/u/5/f4pgQvgdNqs Thank you for watching. Please pray I'll raise all the needed funds by May 31st! Be Blessed! Alida w5

Date has been changed!

2011-05-10T23:16:00.000-07:00

Hello Precious friends,
First I wanted to THANK Those of you that have donated to Visiting Orphans on my behalf! I and my team certainly appreciate your gift! Thank you for helping us help orphans!

Friends, I need your help! Many of you are aware I was previously scheduled to go to Ethiopia in April with Project Hopeful. PH has received much needed publicity as an organization with many magazine artilces, TV & radio interviews that they wanted to use those opportunities to raise awareness on how we can help HIV orphans. The trip has been postponed. I am going with another beloved group "Ordinary Hero" hosted by Visiting Orphans in JULY!!! (God willing) It is my hope that the Lord will use this trip to bless orphans and widows and to advocate for those who without a voice. I pray that my heart will become broken with that which breaks His heart. I hope to share in the fellowship of his suffering and bring hope and joy and the power of His resurrection to those in need.

After much prayer I am stepping out in faith for provision for this trip. I have less than 1 week to raise $1600 needed for the flight ( May 31st) and after that I'll need to raise $1500 more. We hope to also bless the orphanage with an item such as a stove, water purification system or playground.

Please pray for me and my team. Pray that we would be fruitful and productive during our time there. Please also consider donating to help me get there! May 31st is the deadline! The GREAT news is that IT'S TAX DEDUCTIBLE!! Would you happen to know of any organization or businesses that could sponsor me? PLEASE email me if you do. It would make a great write off and is for a great cause. Every little bit helps! Any money raised over this amount goes blesses ORPHANS with items like either a new stove, water purification, or playground.

To donate visit https://www.visitingorphans.org/donations/donate.aspx It will ask "Would you like to designate this donation to a specific team member?" PLEASE REMEMBER to click "YES" and type in "ALIDA RODRIGUEZ". PLEASE, HELP ME HELP ORPHANS, and get a tax break to boot. :-) If you have any items you wish to get rid of, I'd gladly pick them up to help raise the funds needed to travel. Thank you so much for your help and your prayers! Alida w5
Feel free to share this post!

What does it take to help orphans? Any amount helps me get to $3100!
If 620 people donated $5.00 = $3100!
If 310 people donated $10.00 = $3100!
If 155 people donated $20.00 = $3100!
If 103 people donated $30.00 = $3100!
If 62 people donated $50.00 = $3100!
If 31 people donated $100 = $3100! You get the Picture! Thank you for any donation of ANY amount! Bless you. Alida w5

Through a tree

2011-03-22T14:55:00.001-07:00

Through a tree we were made debtors to God; so through a tree we
have our debt canceled.

-- Irenaeus

Redlight: Harrowing stories of child sexploitation

2011-02-16T12:14:00.000-08:00

Redlight: Harrowing stories of child sexploitation
Wow terribly tragic.

I'm Going to AFRICA!!!

2011-02-04T01:44:00.000-08:00

Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work. Mother Teresa

James 1:27 "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."

Dear Friends,
I have an urgent prayer request. Please HELP!!! The past year I have seen God move in amazing ways. He’s brought us through hospitalizations, healed my son Josiah of a life threatening illness, and carried us during numerous trials. Jesus has been so faithful. God has broken my heart with a deep unquenchable desire to bless orphans.

IN APRIL, I’M GOING TO E. AFRICA (God willing) with Project Hopeful& Visiting Orphans to visit HIV orphans in Ethiopia and Uganda. We'll visit children in the Mother Theresa Orphanage, visit the outcasts at the Korah leper colony, bless children living & working in the dump, love on the fatherless HIV children and tell them about Jesus. Then it’s off to Uganda to share about HIV prevention and work with local children ministries. It seems totally illogical, CRAZY even downright foolish considering our present circumstance. However, I know that God takes the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. ( 1 Cor. 1:27) He equips the called. I am stepping out in faith that if Jesus formed this deep conviction to care for orphans in me, He'll provide every single penny needed. I can think of 100 reasons not to go. In the natural it seems impossible but NOTHING is too difficult to God. I want to be bold and attempt great things for Jesus. Wouldn't it be neat if I met my children there? The kids we're supposed to adopt?

There is an African Proverb that says "Pray, but when you pray, move your feet."

Please pray the funds will come in. Please also, if possible, consider donating to help me get there! I need to raise $3600, half needed ASAP to book my ticket. Any money raised over this amount goes directly to bless ORPHANS with items like either a new stove, water purification, or playground. To donate visit https://www.visitingorphans.org/donations/donate.aspx It will ask "Would you like to designate this donation to a specific team member?" Please click "yes" and type in "Alida Rodriguez". Not only will you help me help ORPHANS, it's also TAX DEDUCTIBLE!!!!! If you have any items you wish to get rid of, I'd gladly pick them up to help raise the funds needed to travel. Thank you so much for your prayers, support and for loving "the least of these." I know we may not all wish to go overseas, but we can always support those who do! Bless you,Thank you. In Jesus, Alida w5

"The journey of 1000 miles ( or in this case 9108) starts with a single step!!!" Chinese Proverb
"Growth demands a temporary surrender of security." Gail Sheely
Isaiah 6:8 "Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom will I send? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me!”
Isaiah 1:17 "Learn to do what is right! Promote justice! Give the oppressed reason to celebrate! Take up the cause of the orphan! Defend the rights of the widow!

Interview with MOTHER Teresa: A Pencil In the Hand Of God

2011-02-04T01:43:00.000-08:00

Interview with MOTHER Teresa: A Pencil In the Hand Of God

Outreach to Street kids

2011-01-27T02:16:00.000-08:00

Friends,
Did you know that here in the US everyday 13 kids die on the street everyday? Below is my experience with Stand Up for Kids. Follow the link if you'd like to donate hygiene products, food products, bus passes, First Aid products, phone cards, gift certificates, new or gently used clothing (you can make bags as a group or family) I'd like to keep food & hygiene bags in my van to pass out during the outreaches. Bless you, Alida w5 http://www.standupforkids.org/news/videos.aspx?video=4

http://www.standupforkids.org/about/default.aspx Watch this

Tonight I went to my first street outreach with SUFK (Stand Up For Kids, a nationwide organization) to help homeless street kids. If interested, Go to http://www.standupforkids.org/ to find a group in your area to volunteer (or donate).
"Volunteers go to the streets in order to find, stabilize and otherwise help homeless and street kids improve their lives. Our focus goes beyond street outreach and extends to deterrence and resource programs that we provide in schools and via the internet. But all facets of our mission are guided by the mandate that our volunteers shall tell kids they care about them and then, at every point, prove it."

These kids are incredible. It's heart breaking listening their stories. The volunteers are some of the most compassionate people I've ever met. I'm so impressed by them. I hope to learn from the knowledge they've gained. It takes a special person to do what they do. These kids are sweet but can be a little rough around the edges. I was feeling pretty nervous about attending. A really neat thing for me is that we met at a coffee shop right in front of the same apartments I lived at after my mom kicked me out on the street at 17. The coffee shop used to be an Irish bar. Now it's a coffee shop we met at to bless homeless youth! The way the Lord wove all the details together is so amazing. I can tell you that at 17 on my own trying to hold on to what little hope I had, I never imagined that 13 years later I'd be OK and helping out kids in my same situation. The main kid I spoke with uses the same bus I used to. I knew EACTLY how he feels knowing that you are responsible for every single thing in life. There's NO ONE to help or to catch you if you fall. NO ONE to lean on, NO ONE TO HELP, NO ONE TO CARE if you end up a doctor or an addict, a criminal or a scientist. I've been there. I remember how it felt being rejected and abandoned. I'd work 50 or more hours a week and go to school full time and at times wondered what the point of it all was.

S shared his story with me. He was in foster care and adopted by a family at age 6. His mother went to jail for being on drugs when she had him and he remembers visiting his father in jail. Unfortunately when he turned 18 he was kicked out onto the streets. He hasn't yet even graduated. ( my husband later shared that he had many friends that were adopted or fostered but were kicked out on the streets right when they turned 18 too!) I wonder what these parents think that says to these children. The sad thing is that many of these kids are 18 physically, overly mature in other ways, but they are often years behind academically from being moved from home to home, school to school. They tend to be behind emotionally and often cognitively as well. Its' hard enough for children in a loving home to go out into the world without falling back on their parents a few times before they can finally stand on their own two feet. Imagine how hard it is, the immense difficulty it takes to make a life for yourself with being behind, having nothing to fall back on, having no support whatsoever. Add to that many of these kids get tickets for BEING HOMELESS! ( can you believe it)? They call it loitering, a crime.

The counselor asked me to share a bit since our upbringing was similar. I told S that it dawned on me one day that "I DIDNT HAVE TO DO THE SAME THINGS MY PARENTS DID. Just because my parents were criminals didn't mean I was going to be. Just because they did drugs didn't mean I had too." S admitted that he did try drugs occasionally. We encouraged him to consider the future and to ask himself before he did anything if it would help him accomplish his goals. I told him about not letting the past or a bad mistake cause him to get off track but to do the "Next Right thing." He agreed he would try though he said that is difficult in his situation. There are 3 main ways a person survives on the streets. 1) selling drugs, 2) stealing, 3) prostitution, begging as well. That doesn't help you meet whatever goals you may have. The consequences of such actions often times puts you at odds with the life you hope to make for yourself. This dashes any chance you may have of a future when you are in survival mode and just struggling to make it day to day. S is a hero to me because even though he lives ON THE STREETS he stays in school. In HIGH SCHOOL. His parents didn't even wait until he graduated before they kicked him out. Do you remember how high school was? How mean kids could be? How hard it was to fit in and figure out who you were? Imagine doing this all while not ever having enough food to eat and sleeping in a park! Picture it being cold, rainy, frightening sleeping out in the elements. Anyone can attack you as you sleep. Do you think you'd go to school well rested and ready to do your best all while having a grumbling belly? Folks, this isn't Africa or South America, or some street kids in Russia, this is here in the USA.

As "S" began sharing with me his struggles and his dreams for the future ( to join the army) and how he really needed to pass each and every final he had this week I can't help but be proud of him. Many kids would have given up. I also worry for him. He has a daunting task ahead of him. There are the life goals, his dreams, then there is the stark reality of all that is needed to accomplish this dream. He HAS to pass every single class and he hates his school, kids can be cruel. He lives outside, at times he gets in trouble as he runs with the wrong crowd. That wrong crowd does drugs. Everything is hard for him as he lives day to day without basic necessities. He's birth certificate is at one place, his clothing and school books are at another persons home. He has a job. He holds up signs to attract business to his store. To even pick up the check is an hour walk or so. SUFK will provide him with a bus pass from the donations he receives. They also give him a couple fast food cards, a hygiene bag and food bag. The one he got before had soup that needed to be microwaved. He shared he was unable to eat it as he doesn't have access to a microwave. He has a court date tomorrow at the same time as his finals for a ticket he couldn't pay. If he doesn't go to court he'll have a warrant, if he misses class he'll fail the final. It's January now. "S" will have to have incredible discipline and not make any mistakes to make it until June to graduate. He'll have to work exceptionally hard. Harder than most. I admit it seems impossible and even unfair. But something tells me not to count him out just yet. God worked wonders for a broken little 17 year old girl 13 years ago, He can do it again... with a little help.

Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Alaska & Washington

2011-01-24T15:59:00.000-08:00

Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Alaska & Washington
A beautiful girl with amazing talent!

Should I have been aborted?

2011-01-22T21:21:00.000-08:00

Today, January 22, America will memorialize the 38th anniversary of the unjust Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that imposed abortion on all 50 states — opening the way for the deaths of more than 53 million babies and the wounding of millions of women and men. I'm sharing my story because it is my hope that the church would wake from it's indifference to this holocaust and actively try to end abortion. I think some "christians " overlook this tragedy because they figure maybe its better for babies to die than to "suffer a difficult upbringing." I hope to encourage women in difficult situations to "chose life". You have NO IDEA how your child might be used to bless the world. Please look past your circumstances and allow your child to experience the gift of life. All the joys and the pain. Life is precious. I want to give HOPE to those that assume all children born in poverty will be only a burden or criminal.

Our Story
My name is Alida Fiametta Rodriguez. I've heard every excuse in the world for why abortion is a right and should remain legal. I know many situations women find themselves in that can warrant the "need" for an abortion. I am also a living example of the blessing of "choosing life" despite all of them. I was born prematurely I'm told, to an unwed teenage mother. My mother ran away from a group home, aged out of foster care. She eventually ended up homeless and with my violent drug addict father who severely abused her and beat her so badly that hat he broke her ribs, and various other body parts. I was raised among prostitution and women exploitation. I have been told in the past that I was a product of rape and would have been aborted if a clinic would have been closer. Both of my parents were criminals and addicts. I was abandoned most of my childhood and spent portions of my childhood in foster care, in a domestic violence shelter with my abused grandmother and in various group homes. I was kicked out of the my mothers home at 17. For all practical purposes I was abused, unwanted, unloved and had no future apart from repeating the generational cycle of substance abuse, sin and violence. Many would say that I should have been aborted as I likely would have become a drain on society. Many might say that it would have been kinder to kill me than to allow me to suffer through my difficult upbringing. I say we need to stop trying to play God. Who can say what amount of pain and discomfort predicted warrants the ending of a human life. My husband was also born to a heroine addict, abandoned by his father and raised by his grandmother.

God has a funny way of making good things come out of even the most hopeless of situations. NO, life hasn't been all roses and neither my husband or I were born with a silver spoon in our mouths but our lives have VALUE. Our lives are PRECIOUS and have been REDEEMED! I am not perfect and I make mistakes as much as the next person. But, my husband and I are the first generation in our families to have a loving, stable, healthy marriage. I'm a great mother. I don't use drugs or alcohol. I'm not a criminal. My children are not in foster care. Our home is a haven. My motto is to "leave the world better than when you found it" and I live my life with the goal of Job 29:11-17, Isaiah 58:6-11, and James 1:27. My Family and I serve the community in many ways. We've visited convalescent homes, pack food for and feed the homeless, volunteered at the local birth center. We as a family participate in numerous pro-life outreach activities. I recently became trained in an organization that helps local homeless youths get off the street called Stand up for Kids. I have been a "big sister/mentor." I volunteer at the local children's home. I've been a speaker for foster youth empowering them to make positive life choices. I was recently invited with other foster alumni to speak with those working in the Foster care system on ways to reform the system and how to help youth! Beauty For Ashes! Only God can do that. I was able to volunteer on the same hospital floor my son received treatment on(oncology). We've volunteered at the Ronald Mc Donald house, frequently do our own little neighborhood cleanup. We sponsor children, serve as a family. We are in the process of adopting. I'm currently fundraising to go on my first mission trip to East Africa in April with Project Hopeful and Visiting Orphans to bless HIV orphans to show them the love of Christ. Huatzin is an amazing father, husband and friend. He's coached Special Olympics for over 10 years, along with www.S4EA.org (similar to S.O) He now coaches for a Christian High School varsity Team. He has done Civil War and Spanish American Reenactments, loves Jesus and blessing others. We are not boasting in ourselves, only in the GOODNESS and REDEEMING POWER of JESUS. We only wish to show how good can come from the most difficult situations. You will never know your childs potential if you destroy him or her through abortion. Life isn't always easy but like Maya Angelou, "I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now!"

We pray daily that we will be called into full time ministry internationally to serve in or start an orphanage. I'd like to start a non profit "sets the solitary into families" (according to Psalm 68:6) connecting " the solitary" (young adults without family, pregnant teens, homeless youth and former foster alumni ) with adults and families to mentor them. (teaching life skills, cooking, homemaking, budgeting, homemaking, career planning, interacting, inviting them to dinner, having them over for holidays, attending graduations, baby showers, being available to call about parenting questions, modeling and allowing them to experience a FAMILY!) I am so blessed by those who took me in (and still do) for the holidays and encourage me. Praise Jesus for the Segura, Christy and Buttram Family. I'd LOVE to match pregnant teens with mentoring Titus 2 moms to show them how to tenderly care for their children. I'd love to focus on the benefits of attachment parenting, breast-feeding, baby wearing and positive discipline. All in His timing.

Every child is wanted by SOMEONE! I have so many friends who wish to be the ones that raise a child about to be aborted. We would be overjoyed and love any child any color and would be blessed to give a child a good home. I have many friends who would love to adopt special needs children. They say as many as 90% of special needs children are aborted in this country EVERY SINGLE YEAR!!! Organizations like CHASK www.chask.org/ can easily match pregnant mothers with families that will adopt their special needs child. One thing to consider, I have known many many women who've had abortions that regret them. I have yet to meet anyone who regretted their decision to give birth to their baby. Yes this includes even in the act of rape. A best friend in high school was raped and considered abortion. She gave birth to an amazing little boy who is on the honor roll today. I became his godmother. Once you get an abortion THERE IS NO TURNING BACK! It is UNCHANGEABLE!! You can not bring a life back that has already been destroyed. I speak from experience. Not only does abortion extinguish life which is sacred, it increases your chances of breast cancer, depression, suicidal thoughts and can have multiple adverse health consequences including sterilization and death. You can google for the many stories of women harmed from complications from abortions and clinics shut down due to patient death. Choose Life for your baby! You'll be glad you did! Should I have been aborted? Should ANYONE? Of course not. Check out www.40daysforlife.com/
The Facts-
* If you were born after 1972, one-third of your generation, ONE THIRD - has been brutally murdered.
* That’s over 3,600 babies killed EVERY SINGLE DAY... in the United States alone.
* Minority women constitute only about 13% of the female population (age 15-44) in the US, but they underwent approximately 36% of the abortions.
www.blackgenocide.org
* In America alone, a nation that was founded on an unalienable right to life, endowed by our Creator, more than 1,200,000 innocent children are killed by abortion each year.
Quick Test
A. There's a preacher and wife who are very, very, poor. They already have 14 kids. Now she finds out she's pregnant with her 15th. They're living in tremendous poverty. Considering their poverty and the excessive world population, would you consider recommending she get an abortion?
B. The mother is pregnant again. Her first child died in infancy, her husband — has a history of alcohol abuse and mental disorders which frequently causes him to abuse his other children. She has tuberculosis. Should abort?
C. A poor black family in the South is expecting a child. This family, because of its skin color, already has difficulty receiving help and are already at the bare minimum poverty level. Should she get an abortion?
D. A teenage girl is pregnant. She's not married. Here fiancee is not the father of the baby, and he's very upset. He is worried for her sake and for their repution in their community. This child could put a serious strain on their relationship and on any future children. Abortion?
E. A white man raped a 13 year old black girl and she got pregnant. If you were her parents, would you recommend abortion?
F. You are a bright 18 year old girl unmarried college student, you discover the father of your child has wife and child in another country. Abort?
G. A runaway foster youth teen is pregnant by an abusive drug addict pimp. She has no family support or education and no way of supporting herself. Should she abort?
H. You are an addict, you are pregnant, your boyfriend will probably bail on you. Should you abort?

Okay, everybody finished? Here are the results:
A. In the first case, you have just killed John Wesley. One of the great evangelists of the 19th century.
B. In the second case, you just aborted Ludwig Van Beethoven!
C. If you answered Abortion for C, You just aborted Martin Luther King, Jr.
D. If you answered Abortion for D, You, my friend, have just aborted Jesus of Nazareth.
E. If you answered Abortion for you have killed Ethel Waters, the great black gospel singer.
F. If you answered Abortion for you F, you have killed Barack Obama First Black President!
G. If you said yes my friends, You KILLED me. Alida Blessed mother of 5, Adoption advocate, community servant, homeschooling volunteering mother of 5!
H. If you said yes, you aborted Huaztin Rodriguez. Loving father of 5, civil war re-enactor, Special needs coach and lover of orphans and JESUS!

His little Feet Concert!

2011-01-19T23:49:00.000-08:00

The family and I went to see His Little Feet perform. His Little Feet’s Children’s Choir travels the United States, being the voice for orphaned and vulnerable children worldwide. The purpose of the tour is to bring the awareness to the millions of children around the world in need of care, as well as facilitate opportunities for Americans to respond to the needs of children through giving, sponsoring, going and adopting. Oddly enough, the missions group they promote is the same organization I hope to go to Africa with in April!~ www.visitingorphans.org

We had a lovely time seeing all those gorgeous Haitian children sing with their beautiful proud voices. It was hard for my children to learn that each and every one of the children were orphans. Real life orphans. It was harder yet to see that the 9 year olds were the size of my sized 6 year old. These kids were TINY compared to my kiddos. I explained to my children that it often is the case with orphans that may not have had healthy amounts of fresh food to be smaller in appearance than those that are well taken care of from birth. My children could hardly believe their eyes! It was moving to hear accounts on how even teenagers can help change the world for 1! The most uplifting moment for me was listening to these precious Haitian children sing "Blessed Be the Name of the Lord." I'm sure all of us know the hardship affecting so many Haitians right now. These JOYFUL children sing of God's goodness even though they are without parents. I'm sure they get asked all the time if they are available for adoption! Huatzin wanted to take the two 9 year old's Falencia and Johnson home. ;-) Please consider going to a His Little Feet event, or booking a HLF event in your area or at your church.
http://www.hislittlefeet.org/Tour_Schedule_1.html

Sunday, January 23, 2011
9:00 a.m. & 10:45 a.m.
Coastline Church
2215 Calle Barcelona
Carlsbad, CA 92009

Wednesday, January 26, 2011
10:00 a.m.
Faith Christian Academy - School Chapel
450 W. Elm St.
Coalinga, CA 93210

Wednesday, January 26, 2011
7:00 p.m.
Faith Fellowship Church
450 W. Elm St.
Coalinga, CA 93210

Saturday, January 29, 2011
5:00 p.m.
South Hills Community Church
2585 S. Main Street
Corona, CA 92882

Sunday, January 30, 2011
9:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
South Hills Community Church
2585 S. Main Street
Corona, CA 92882

Wednesday, February 2, 2011
8:20 a.m. & 9:45 a.m.
Capistrano Valley Christian School - Chapel
32032 Del Obispo Street
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Thursday, February 3, 2011
6:00 p.m.
Capistrano Valley Christian School - Family Night
32032 Del Obispo Street
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Sunday, February 20, 2011
6:00 p.m.
Calvary Church
2101 Gay Street
Longmont, CO 80501

Sunday, February 27, 2011
10:00 a.m.
The Life Connection Church
1015 West Main Street
Jenks, OK 74037

Wednesday, March 2, 2011
7:00 p.m.
Victory Church
4300 N MacArthur
Oklahoma City, OK 73122

Sunday, April 10, 2011
9:00 a.m. & 11:15 a.m.
Tower Hill First Presbyterian Church at Red Bank
255 Harding Road
Red Bank, NJ 07701

Wednesday, April 13, 2011
7:00 p.m.
Word of Faith Fellowship
3871 Heritage Parkway
Dearborn, MI 48124

Sunday, April 17, 2011
5:30 p.m.
Canaan Baptist Church
5409 Baumgartner Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63129 tiny.

Don’t just pretend to love others..

2011-01-06T00:12:00.000-08:00

Romans 12:9-13 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

2011-01-02T15:04:00.000-08:00

Graham Cooke expresses my heart (and the heart of so many I minister with).

Decisions that Define Us

We've decided that teaching the Gospel without demonstrating the gospel in not enough. Good preaching, good doctrine, being good people is not enough.
We've decided that having a good church club is not enough. Good fellowship is not enough. And just being a member of that club is not enough.

We've decided that having good Bible studies is good, but not good enough. That just making it to heaven is not our goal, and that knowing about God without truly knowing and experiencing God is meaningless.

We've decided that having good programs is not enough; that change without transformation is intolerable. And that staying the same is not an option.

We've decided that gifting without character is futile.

We've decided that singing songs without worshiping is hollow and having meetings without God showing up is pointless.

We've decided that having faith without works is not enough and having works without love is not acceptable - that our function comes out of our relationship first with the Father and second with each other.

We've decided that reading about the book of Acts without living the book of Acts is unthinkable.

We've decided that confident faith is good.....bold faith is better.

We've decided that hearing about the Holy Spirit without experiencing Him..... is silly. That believing in His presence without seeing it manifested in signs and wonders......is hypocrisy. That believing in healing without seeing people healed......is absurd. And that believing in deliverance without people being delivered.........is absolutely ridiculous.

We've decided to be Holy Spirit filled, Holy Spirit led, and Holy Spirit empowered - anything less doesn't work for us.

We've decided to be the ones telling the stories of God's power - not the ones hearing about them.

We've decided that living saved, but not supernatural is living below our privilege and short of what Christ died for.

We've decided we're a battleship not a cruise-ship! An Army not an audience! Special Forces not spectators! Missionaries not club members!

We've decided to value both pioneers and settlers - pioneers to expand our territory and settlers to build on those territories - but we are not people who take up space others have fought for without improving it ... we are not squatters.

We've decided to be infectious instead of innocuous. Contagious instead of quarantined! Deadly instead of benign!

We've decided to be radical lovers and outrageous givers.

We've decided that we are a mission station not a museum.

Therefore:

We honor the past but we don't live in it.

We live in the present with our eyes on the future.

We see past events - the successes and failures - as stepping stones not stop signs.

We pursue learning in order to be transformed, not learning in order to know.

We are people of engagement not observation.

We focus on what could be - not on what is or has been.

We are not limited to the four walls of this building - our influence is not restricted by location. Not even the nations are out of bounds.

We are more concerned about how many we send out into the world then how many we convince to come into the building. This building is meant to be filled and it will be - but it will NOT be the measure of who we are or the measure of our effectiveness.

We raise-up world changers, not tour guides. We train commandos, not committees.

We are a people of our destiny, not our history.

We've decided that it is better to fail while reaching for the impossible that God has planned for us than succeed in settling for less.

We've decided that nothing short of His Kingdom come and His will be done, in our world as it is in Heaven, will satisfy.

We've decided that we will not be satisfied until our world freaks out and cries out, "Those who have turned the world upside down have come here too."

These are some of the decisions that define who we are as a community and how we live our lives.

These decisions are not destinations - but rather a journey - a journey along an ancient path - we've not found some new way - but rather rediscovered the path as old as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The same path followed by Moses, Joshua and Caleb - Paul, John and Peter.

The path followed by the first century church - a church that revolutionized the culture of the first century and beyond.

It's a path that will impact the world we live in today. It's a path of Bold Faith - believing that what God says is really true and acting on it.

It's a path of Outrageous Generosity - giving our life away in order to demonstrate His Kingdom.

It's a path of Radical Love - loving God with EVERYTHING in us and our neighbor as ourselves.

This is a path of liberty, freedom and healing.

On this path - you will find significance, purpose, and destiny.

It is a path less traveled however - it's not a path only available to a select few - but to whosoever will ... they may come.

It's for people of EVERY nation, tribe and tongue - for those in any occupation or vocation.

No matter where you are in your journey - there's room on this path for you.

Listen

2010-12-22T02:28:00.000-08:00

A Great post from Christian HomeKeepers Network.

Listen
At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge,” said the gentleman, taking up a pen, “it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time… We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices.” – Charles Dickens

Have you ever been walking by, or driving by a place minding your own business when suddenly you are struck with the knowledge that you could do something specific to help someone?

Did you listen? Did you act? Did you allow yourself some sentimental feelings and then go on to the next thing?
Did you convince yourself that it was too much, too difficult, not needed and not realistic? Or, did you listen… to the voice of the Spirit calling you to be Jesus’ hands, feet, mouth, arms, ears?

So many times I hear Christian women say that they thought they heard the voice of the Spirit talking to them, telling them to help someone. But they didn’t obey because it was awkward or strange, or difficult…and the next time the Spirit spoke, it was more difficult to hear, harder to obey.

Listen.

This is the season when want is felt more keenly, when gestures of kindness are appreciated more deeply. Let it be your way of life long after Christmas is gone. Let abundance rejoice all year!

Lord of the destitute and forgotten ones, open my heart to feel pity but more than that, open it to pour out mercy and love.
Let my attitudes and actions speak for me. Let me reflect your beauty to those who have lost what it is to be cherished and cared for. Love through me this Christmas and bless through me. Amen. Article by Sylvia Britton

She doesn't know it yet

2010-12-19T01:06:00.000-08:00

She doesn't know it yet

A Movie Worth Changing Plans For

2010-12-14T16:15:00.000-08:00

A Movie Worth Changing Plans For new made-for-TV movie slated to air on January 8 explores adoption, sacrifice and life priorities in a way very few films today do. “Change of Plans” tells the story of a young, jet-set couple whose all-too-perfect lives may be irreparably altered by four orphaned children. I had the chance to preview the director’s cut this week and came away inspired and thoughtfully challenged.

When Sally Danville’s (Brooke White of American Idol) best friend from college dies in tragic accident in Africa, she leaves behind four children—three of them adopted from countries around the world. Sally and husband Jason must now grapple with choices that will shape the rest of their lives. Step by step, the couple realizes that for every inch they open their hearts and home to the children, the plans they had mapped out for themselves will likely be lost forever.

The film gets its strength from the underlying story and real-world decisions it represents for each of us. The acting, music and script are not Oscar quality, but still solid. The widows the story offers into the potential challenges of adoption and foster care are perhaps understated, but not absent: it’s clear that to welcome a child into our home is not a cost-free choice. Many adoptive families and others involved with kids in the foster system will likely see parallels with their own stories as well.

Refreshingly, this movie earns its “family friendly” identity not merely by cutting out sex and violence, but by delivering a thoughtful challenge to some of the great lies of our era. Most narratives today, from commercials to movies, implicitly argue that fulfillment is found in getting what we want. “Change of Plans” points in the opposite direction, helping us see that real life is only found by embracing the inspiring-but-costly invitations God puts before us.

If your evening January 8 is not already booked, I’d encourage you to spend it enjoying “Change of Plans” with your family and perhaps a few friends. Doing so sends a message to TV producers and advertisers that there is, after all, a market for quality programs. More importantly, the story just may provoke a change in your plans as well.

Rodriguez Party of 9

2010-12-03T02:27:00.000-08:00

Having 7 children was fun, interesting, tiring, exciting. The kids were great, it was their crazy parents that were truly difficult. Both parents share inappropriate things with the children. The father is the worst. I finally ended up banning him from coming over and told the mother that if she wanted him to see the children she wound need to supervise visits. The dad came over upset that I wouldn't let him stay with us. Why I would let anyone with a criminal past, on drugs stay in my home with my precious little ones that I've protected and nurtured. It makes sense, If "I" don't do drugs, don't expose my kids to bad things, what makes him think he can? I never cease to be amazed at the constant stream of expletives exploding out of his mouth at any given moment. Obviously he isn't allowed into my home swearing and speaking in a totally vile way in front of my children or any children in my care. I insisted he leave when he then tried to work the 10 year old up into hysterics with how mean I am for not letting him stay with me. He started telling them vulgar things about their mother. He mentioned how he was going to be sleeping out in the cold and on the streets. Then he wanted to take his daughter with him! Enough, He had to leave. I told him that if he tried to take her while on drugs I'd be calling the police. I told him that it is totally irresponsible to tell the kids all that he does about their mother. That sort of thing needs to be between the two of them. You don't include children in that. He started saying that I'm siding with their mother. The truth is, both of them behave worse than their own children. It really is difficult. I told him in the nicest way possible to "man up." Even if you were sleeping under a bridge you don't tell that to your children so they can worry about you and get them all hysterical." That's totally cowardly and beyond selfish. Besides that I've offered many times to drive him to a mens shelter, he was just to prideful to go. Not sure why, he seems to like the lifestyle. He basically said and was trying to get the girl to misbehave. She started saying she wanted to go with him knowing that he's homeless.

That was it. I packed his stuff (we're storing the family's stuff in our garage) and he isn't allowed back. His behavior was totally bizarre, selfish and crazy and I'm not having it. Another time He showed up at the school before I could get there to pick the 10 year old girl up. I asked what they talked about and she told me that he is on the streets. I asked how she knew, she said "because he told me." I said "so he showed up and told about how he is on the streets and homeless?" She said "yes" and started crying. What kind of a person does that? He feels miserable that he is on the streets (because of his drug use and unwillingness to work) and he wants EVERYONE else to be miserable too. EVEN his own children! It bothers him that they are all comfy in a nice warm home when he is outside. I'm so disgusted I could vomit. I have no respect for men that don't act like men. I've prayed for this family again and again. I'm waiting on a miracle because at the moment change doesn't look likely. The dads is going into a court ordered treatment so I pray it works and He gets right. Unfortunately I'm not overly optimistic.

Going from 5-7 children!

2010-12-02T17:06:00.000-08:00

Have 7 children isn't all that difficult. I'm good with my own but I'm awesome with other peoples kids. I seem to have higher expectations for my own. With other peoples kids I can be more laid back, grins, giggles and fun. I had to be strict as these children went from raising themselves to now needing boundaries set. We did have to be super cautious and watchful as these children have been exposed to a crazy home environment and I didnt want to leave any opportunity for any of that being relived in our home. It did feel at times a huge hassle getting 7 children all dressed and out the door to two separate schools on time and then having to homeschool my 5! That part was a little crazy. I think when we adopt we will only take in younger children because that was a juggling act for sure. When I dropped off the tween at high school I looked out at all of those children and wondered "which of these kids is also homeless? " "which of them is in foster care or living with relatives?" Which of them didn't have relatives to live with in similar circumstances.

High school is such a critical point in life anyway. It's such a time of searching, seeking and coming into your own. It's the period of figuring out how to make your way in this world.. Add to the confusion of adolescence, homelessness and family turmoil, all while trying to fit in, be normal, and get good grades. These kids have had a lot to bear. I can relate to their struggle. The boy is bright and witty, he is parentified and has often times had to take care of the parents, who act startlingly enough, like children. The girl concerns me more as she will do anything to fit it in. Not unlike the chameleon that changes with it's environment. She is sweet and has so much potential. She too, is older than her years. It's sad to me that she is only a year older than my own. Yet she knows far to much about a great many things, much more jaded. I see a bit of myself as a kid in both of them. I tell them they are not their parents and that they can do great things if they let God use their lives. They respond well to boundaries and for the most part listen. It is a relief I'm sure to be able to just be children. They seem very (and this is what they tell you in the foster classes NEVER to expect) surprisingly GRATEFUL! This song reminds me of the children.

Three in the morning and I'm still awake
So I picked up a pen and a page
And I started writing just what I'd say
If we were face to face
I'd tell you just what you mean to me
Tell you these simple truths:

Be strong in the Lord and never give up hope
You're gonna do great things, I already know
God's got His hand on You so don't live life in fear
Forgive and forget but don't forget why you're here
Take your time and pray
These are the words I would say

Last time we spoke, you said you were hurting
And I felt your pain in my heart
I want to tell you that I keep on praying
Love will find you where you are
I know 'cause I've already been there
So please hear these simple truths:

From one simple life to another
I will say, come find peace in the Father

Be strong in the Lord and never give up hope
You're gonna do great things, I already know
God's got His hand on You so don't live life in fear
Forgive and forget but don't forget why you're here
Take your time and pray
And thank God for each day
His love will find a way
These are the words I would say

How we added 2 more children to our family

2010-12-02T16:34:00.000-08:00

So a family member called us at around last month 1pm explaining to me that they were getting evicted. AGAIN! They needed boxes and to store "a few things in our garage." I was hesitant as we still have stuff from LAST time they moved out... over 3 or 4 YEARS AGO!! They also needed help moving it. This made me apprehensive because I KNEW they would end up asking if they could stay with us. I KNEW they would try to manipulate us (again) and try to bring all that they are, dysfunctional, drug addicted, self consumed, and crazy, into our peaceful home. I called several friends for pray and advice. (Proverbs 15:22"Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellers they are established.") ALL agreed not to jeopardize my family with taking in the adults. I prayerfully considered offering to take the children. (an offer I've made before)

It stressed me out because I pictured the children on the street. It hurts to see the children bear brunt of suffering from the foolish mistakes of their parents. I knew I'd be forced to say NO. I am by nature a DOER, helper, a rescuer. Present me with a problem and my mind immediately begins thinking about how to solve it. 9 times our of 10, I've either been through that particular trial or situation, knew someone how has, have read an inspiring book or resource about it (to point you to) or will find someone who has and get their advice for how to conquer whatever this situation is that needs fixing. I am a servant. A good portion of my life is spent serving others and training my kids to do the same. We feed the homeless, visit the elderly, bring meals to the sick, care for the widow and most especially advocate for the orphan. It is who we are, IT IS WHAT WE DO! However, I have long since been gifted with knowing the difference, the thin line that can easily cross over to enabling. I have seem over and over in my life and in my family what happens when you bail out the drug addicted. We have family members going into their 60's that have never had to "grow up" as they always had someone to take care of them and face the God given consequences of their choices. It's actually quite cruel when you consider the turmoil that follows when those that bail them out pass away. They'll have grown OLD and have to face a LIFETIME of consequences that should have been dealt with in youth or early adulthood. A life wasted not learning to yield to the natural order of life. It's not pretty... In fact it's downright ugly. Lord knows I am who am today because I had to sow that which I reaped, both the good and the bad. My heart is to point others to Christ, but not to become someone's crutch.

I remember telling this family member years ago that if they didn't let go of this activity and repent of their sin that it would completely destroy their family. I'm not psychic, I just know God's word! They mocked and berated me. Since then I've seen them dragged lower than dogs. It's heartbreaking. It's hard to explain to my children in an honorable way. For a long time I'd withhold the information from my children. Now I've decided I will share it. I'd rather my children learn what consequences follow sin and how to avoid it.

Anyhow, sure enough this family asked if they could stay with us for a "day" until they get their check. (which they already admitted wouldn't be there for about a week) I told them no but that we'd be willing to care for the children until they got back on their feet. They were shocked, more blaming. She asked again when I arrived and then told me she's not sure how I could do that to her. She earlier told me how she would never do the same to me which is funny considering my childhood. She would and she did. However that is not the reason I said no. For the sake of my own family I stuck to my guns. I have worked long and hard to have a peaceful godly home. I don't swear, drink or do drugs, heck we don't even watch TV! I certainly won't invite people who do those things and lack every bit of common sense of self control into my house. When I arrived the police were there and their belongings were all on the sidewalk curb. One of them was arguing, swearing with a roommate. I was going to say no to storing their stuff but I figured it would be less traumatic for the children if I moved it into my home. I remember when I was young my mother had all of our belongings in storage and didn't pay it. ALL of our things were lost. Every photo, every thing! I only have 2 photos of my childhood. (Sadly, This is true of many foster youth) My children ask me what I looked like as a baby and if they look like me. I have no idea! I took all 5 of my children and made many trips back and forth all day moving their belongings to my home. It was late into the night when I finished. I took the their kids to Walmart and got them school supplies needed for school the next day. I explained to the children that we love them and they could stay with us as long as they wanted. I explained that in our family we don't fight or do drugs so we couldn't allow that into our home. They nodded in agreement and enjoyed going from sharing a house full of addicts, strippers etc. to having their own rooms in a stable home. We went from 5 kids to 7 in an instant. My children were excited and the kids seemed excited as well My husband and I, feeling up to the task and feeling certain that this is God's will.

December 1st World AIDS Day

2010-12-01T13:43:00.000-08:00

Enable Education (Don't forget to pause the music on playlist so that you can hear the videos)
Dec 1 is World AIDS Day-Consider how you can help the millions of children orphaned by AIDS! Please watch, read, share and pray for ways to help. (James 1:27)
Watch the video below and educate yourself about the TRUTH! Also, please grab the Dec 6 issue of People magazine and read about an amazing adoptive family (Kiel & Carolyn Vetter Twietmeyer )!The Truth Pandemic World AIDS Day Campaign is part of an ongoing educational initiative to encourage public awareness about the facts regarding HIV transmission and orphans living with HIV/AIDS. Project HOPEFUL believes that education is key to addressing the needs of orphans with HIV and families/individuals who would seek to adopt them. Truth Pandemic - Learn the facts about HIV/AIDS and Adoption, How you can get the virus and how you cannot. Help spread the Truth Pandemic video by sharing it with 5 of your friends. www.ProjectHopeful.org

How can YOU help for World AIDS day?
http://www.hopechest.org/5for50/ There are 5 things that every one of us can do to help the 50 million people in our world suffering from HIV/AIDS. Here’s how it works:
Give 5 minutes a day to pray for those suffering from HIV/AIDS.
Give 5 hours a week to fast for those suffering from HIV/AIDS.
Give 5 dollars a month to the Five for 50 Fund and support worthy causes.
Give 5 days a year to travel overseas and help alleviate poverty and suffering.
Give 5 people an opportunity to join you on your journey.
This is a way everyone can participate and be part of the solution to a world crisis.

A few HIV Adoption Resources
http://www.projecthopeful.org/resources
http://www.positivelyorphaned.com/

HIV Adoption! Oh yes you can!

2010-12-01T01:50:00.000-08:00

People sometimes ask me why on earth we would ever consider HIV adoption when there are perfectly healthy children that need a home. Why on EARTH would I ever subject my children to something as scary as HIV? Am I CRAZY or just plain irresponsible? Usually it's just that they have old school notions on how the disease is spread. They don't know the facts about HIV adoption. Truth is there are only a few ways to contract HIV. There has never even been a single solitary report of ANYONE getting infected just from living in a home with some one who has HIV or AIDS. That includes sharing drinks, kisses, hugs, sharing utensils, bathing , swimming together. I'll elaborate more on that later. The main reason I wish to adopt an HIV or AIDS orphan is because well, SOMEONE has to. Those millions of people dying in sun shara Africa, and in many other parts of the world often times have children. Those children still exist after the parent passes on. I have prayed from childhood that God would allow me to adopt the children that would otherwise perish. I have seen how these poor children deteriorate if they do not have access to proper food and medication.

Honestly though, the idea of HIV adoption occured to me years ago in Junior High. I remember I was in the Principals Office for misbehaving. ( I was a bit of a hand full, heck, still am) There was an article in a magazine or newspaper about a young little orphan girl that was dying of AIDS. She had no family to care for her, to love her, pray with her, to whisper sweet words of comfort to her in her final hours. She didn't have anyone to show a mothers tender care. It spoke of how she died in some hospital type setting unnoticed. There at 11 or 12 years old my heart broke at the thought of a child slipping into eternity without ever being LOVED. No one to wipe her forehead, no one to hold water to her parched lips. No one to make she she was comfortable or held and rocked and sang to as she took her last breath. The injustice of it all tore at my heart and flooded my soul in anguish. I vowed to either adopt children like that or to start an orphanages or children's home to take care of children like that. Here we are years later and I can't get the image of of my mind Sadly this is all to common for many HIV AIDS children. JUST READ THIS STORY ABOUT THE 6 year old that is shunned by the community because he is an AIDS orphan. http://master.dailychilli.com/news/7638-the-lonely-life-of-a-six-year-old-boy Who will look after him when he becomes to weak to care for himself. I look at my 6 ear old daughter and picture her living on her own by herself... Does that break your heart open yet? Selah HIV adopted daughter of the Twiet-meyers says " Children aren't dying because people aren't helping. the need families like mine. Read her compelling story HERE. http://positivelyorphaned.org/2010/11/27/hiv-adoption-article/
Worldwide, 42 million people are estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS. Of these, 3.2 million are under 15 years of age. In the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control, there were 816,149 reported cases of HIV in the United States. Of these, 9,074 cases of AIDS were in children under the age of 13In 2010, the number of children worldwide who have lost one or both parents to AIDS is expected to reach 25 million :( In sub-Saharan Africa alone, over 15 million children have been orphaned by the pandemic. This is the first video I ever watched on HIV Adoption. Please watch it is SO informative and inspiring. It will open your eyes to the suffering of these precious little ones. You;ll probably learn a thing or two you didn't know before.
HIV Adoption, Oh YES YOU CAN! http://www.facinglife.tv/episode/season_3/episode_7/episode_307_video_full.htm
Ezekiel 34:16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak…I will shepherd my flock with justice!

A Hole In Her Throat

2010-11-13T01:11:00.000-08:00

Wow! read this! A Hole In Her Throat

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2010-10-25T11:17:00.000-07:00

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Daughter Date with Anaiah

2010-10-19T18:56:00.000-07:00

I went on a Daughter Date with Anaiah. We went to a mommy & me girls bible study/craft. God allowed my path to cross with a sister saint that I have not seen in quite some time. It was such a blessing to my heart to fellowship with her. (and her lovely little daughter) It's so amazing the way the Lord works. Anaiah is such a beautifully sweet precious child. I Iove when she confides her dreams and thoughts to me. It is such a privilege being her mommy. I will make this something we do a lot more often. They grow up so fast. I don't want to miss a moment of this time God has given me to train, love, nurture and influence this little princess. I remember slinging her not to long ago. Where on earth did the time go?

Is the Orphan My Neighbor?

2010-10-14T18:21:00.000-07:00

Is the Orphan My Neighbor?

Heidi Baker - Father's Heart

2010-10-13T02:23:00.000-07:00

Let this settle into your spirit! I just LOVE Heidi Baker!

Our first homestudy meeting

2010-10-01T09:21:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, we had our very first home study meting. It was a very chaotic day. I went back and fourth between whether or not we should cancel. We had issues with childcare and all sorts of urgent things that needed to be taken care of the same day. I also signed up to bring a meal to a friend that had a baby. I felt such opposition. I pondered whether this was an attack from the enemy to keep us from adopting or the Lord saying it isn't time. We considered adopting the siblings of a friends sons from Ghana. I prayed to the Lord and said " you know I don't want to inconvenience anyone and I don't want to go outside of your will. If you want us to adopt you'll help me find childcare for my children with someone I trust." ( which isn't a whole lot of people) Finally, miraculously my friend called saying that she would love to watch my children and to have them over. Our kids were able to play with her dog, chickens, a bunny and pet horses nearby. They had a blast. Huatzin and I discussed that if this meeting went bad or if something didn't feel right we'd go ahead and pull the plug and try to adopt from Ghana instead. I cooked the meal for both families, stopped at the store, dropped off the kids, dropped off the meal, and got to our appointment with 2 minutes to spare.

The meeting went really well. I really like our social worker. ( I didn't think I would) She left us feeling very hopeful which is something they don't do in the classes. They always tell you worst case scenario and overestimate everything, especially timeframes. In the classes they told us it could be anywhere from 12-18 months or more to get certified. She told us it could be as little as 4 or 5 months or less depending on how quickly we got everything turned in. Our social worker was very optimistic and down to earth. There aren't any siblings matching our preference at this time. ( Black or Asian, or any HIV orphans) She did mentioned that with our flexible preferences of 0-5 any ethnicity, willing to accept siblings, drug exposure and some special needs we probably wouldn't wait long to adopt. YAY. A really total God thing happened. 2 years ago our entire family fell in love with a sibling set. They were so "perfect" for our family in every way. I told her how we used to pine over a sibling set on the heart gallery. She asked us which one. I mentioned their names. She KNEW them. I have asked around all over the "system" and had just given up hope that I'd ever know what happened to them. She told me that it was such a shame I didn't contact her sooner. I wish we wold have considered her agency first instead of Olivecrest.
( we had a HORRIBLE, TERRIBLE AWFUL experience with Olivecrest, ( I've since met many others who have also) which eventually led to us not getting a sibling set we desperately wanted, and kept a sibling set from ever being ADOPTED into a loving home. Our family might have looked very different than it does now. I will keep them in prayer for as long as I live. They are on my wall and in my heart forever. When I pray my my own children I pray for them. We have not since then, seen any other sibling group that matched our preferences so perfectly. The Lord at least gave a bit of closure.

I am so excited at what the Lord is doing in our family. I am bubbling over with anticipation to on getting licensed to adopt. I DREAM of the day they call us saying " we have a match for your family." I await especially for the moment when we hear " "these children are now fully and legally YOURS!" I long for the day He uses our family to bring joy, hope, love, rest and closure to orphans. I pray we will be able to rescue, redeem and ransom little ones on the brink of destruction. We want to be the ones that bring stability and peace to them. We want to show them the love of a father and mother, to lovingly point them to the Christ.

Psalm 68:6 "God sets the solitary in families: he brings out those which are bound with chains"
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you received a spirit of adoption in which we call out, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children. And if children, then also heirs heirs of God and coheirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him in order also to be glorified with him. (Romans 8:14-17)

I hate helping one person at a time

2010-09-20T03:08:00.000-07:00

Read this. Really gets you thinking, and praying! This is by Ashley Higgins

i had the privilege of traveling to dublin, ireland last week. my squad-mate andrea made the trek for the second annual world race awakening. there were nearly four-hundred people who came to ireland for the event. current racers, alumni and guests gathered together for four days of worship and teaching. the lord showed up in a mighty way during our time there.

toward the end of our week we had an afternoon free so andrea and i decided to explore the city a bit. we had both been to dublin since our squad launched there just over a year ago. we were wandering around town without much of an agenda. we prayed, rather flippantly, that the Lord would give us a divine appointment.

be careful what you ask for.

as we meandered the temple bar area i noticed a young woman who was wandering aimlessly. she looked lost, confused, tired, needy. i struck up a conversation with her and offered to buy her some food. we walked to a nearby cafe where all she wanted was a smoothie. i tried to get her to eat a muffin or something more substantial, but she insisted that a small drink was plenty. we sat and talked with her as she told us her story.

jackie lives on the streets of dublin. she goes from shelter to shelter every night looking for a place to sleep. she was violently raped ten years ago in an murky alley where she was trying to rest. as a result of this atrocity, jackie refuses to sleep outside. she hadn't slept in four days when we met her last week. she could hardly keep her eyes open she was so exhausted. it was only terror that willed her small, fragile self to stay awake. we tried walking her to a hostel but she could hardly stand up straight, let alone walk the many blocks it would have taken to get her there. as people walked by gawking, jackie began to cry. "why do they look at me like that," she asked as tears streamed down her face. "i would never hurt anyone and i am just as good as they are." "i'm a person, too." i had no words to offer. any christianeese answer i could have mustered up would have done me no good, anyways. there are no answers.

we finally stopped. we sat in the doorway of some hoity-toity business with suited money-makers coming in and out. they didn't have to say anything for their disapproval to speak volumes. we sat with her and prayed. it was a simple prayer. a prayer of protection, hope, and comfort. i gave her all of the cash i had, just ten euro.

and then we walked away. we walked away and made our way to quaint little irish coffee shop where we sipped on our caffeinated beverages of choice. we asked questions and said the 'it's too bad's." we fed ourselves justifications and rationale as we devoured our banana-caramel dessert. we made our way back to the conference and we worshipped our hearts out.

and then normal life just kind of carried on. and we rode a bus and hopped on a plane. and now i'm sitting back in my comfortable bed in my nice, american apartment. i'm in need of nothing, really. i'm surrounded by dozens of jesus-loving people. i have food in my pantry, clean clothes in my closet and money in my wallet. i feel well taken care of. i have a supportive family and network of friends all around the world. i feel safe and secure. i won't lose sleep tonight from fear of being abused.

but somewhere on a dark, irish street corner jackie is sitting.
alone. cold. hungry. tired. terrified. hopeless. depressed. rejected.

and it's just not okay with me. it's not okay with me at all. but i have no answers. i don't know how to fix it. there is no remedy. and i don't want nice christian answers about how i did everything i could and now i just have to trust that the lord will take care of her. there is truth in that, absolutely. but i don't find comfort in those justifications. it's not good enough for me, anymore. i'm not looking for solace or commiseration. i don't want well-intentioned condolences anymore.

because there are millions of jackies in our world. millions.
millions of orphans. millions of women being sold into sexual slavery.
millions of people living in inhumane conditions because of poverty.

and, i know. i have to believe that what i am doing is helping. that licking stamps and stuffing envelopes; reading blogs and projecting numbers is actually changing the world. but today, it's hard to believe that. it's hard and it doesn't seem like enough to sit behind my desk. because i want things to be different. i don't want to feed one hungry person, i want to end hunger. i don't want to bring comfort to just one woman who has be dejected and abused. i want to abolish modern-day slavery and start a jesus revolution beginning with the pimps and sleazy men who prey on the helpless women and children. i don't want to hold one orphan in africa. i don't want there to be orphans in my world at all.

call it idealism. call it naivety. call it impractical, unrealistic, stupid, ridiculous, foolish, crazy, or a waste of time. call if whatever you want.

i'm going to call it kingdom. and i'm going to fight like hell to make it happen.

as much as i hate it most of the time, i'm going to keep loving the one in front of me. i'll keep buying the jackie in my life a smoothie. i'll pray my simple prayers. and i will keep searching and crying and fighting my guts out and asking questions...until the earth looks just like heaven.

because jackie is somewhere in ireland, sleep deprived and void of hope.
and i refuse for that to ever be okay.

Sept 2010 Rodriguez /Josiah update

2010-09-16T03:37:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to give an update on what's been going on with us. We have had some really great things happen and some heart aches as well. Such is life.
1) We have been trying to get caught up financially from all of this craziness of having a sick kiddo, medical bills, hubby trying to catch us up from being out of work for over a year. We REALLY wanted to help bless a dear friend Stacy Richards and her family adopting 4 year old Solomon from China. It was my goal that we'd be able to donate a very huge amount to help them adopt their son form China. Well the Lord knew we would not be able to do it personally. He did however give us the idea to hold a raffle that brought in about $3000 to help them. It is totally the ALL the Lord. That is way more than I would have been able to donate. She is in China RIGHT NOW showing him the LOVE of a mother and father for the FIRST TIME in his life. They are preparing to come home soon. The Lord blessed such feeble efforts and I am rejoicing in His provision. Many of you KNOW how much we are pro-adoption and have wanted to adopt for years. I live vicariously through the experiences of my many amazing adoptive friends. Thanks to the many that prayed and participated. This is an example of how the Lord CAN use you to help orphans even though many of us are struggling financially. We may not all feel led to adopt but we can ALL help regardless of our circumstances. James 1:27 "TRUE religion is looking after orphans and widows and keeping oneself unspotted by the world. " Follow them here if you want to see how the Lord miraculously provided to bring Solomon home. http://mycupoverfloweth.blogspot.com/
2) We have attended an Above Rubies www.aboverubies.org retreat FAITHFULLY for years. It is our annual family "thing" that we look forward to. Last year we couldn't go because Josiah was still going to the hospital constantly, my husband Huatzin didn't have a job and we couldn't afford it. I was very disappointed. We hoped to go this year but layoffs began at Huatzin's work and we couldn't justify the money needed to go even if we camped nearby AND brought our own food. The Lord supernaturally provided above and beyond what we could dream or think. Some compassionate and generous person paid for our entire family to attend the whole weekend. I almost didn't accept it as I figured "wow that is too much money." The retreat coordinator informed us that our family wasn't even the largest family they paid for! I am blown away. It was JUST what I didn't know we needed. We were SO blessed and refreshed. We made some great memories. I asked the Lord "is this respite from the past year or the calm before the storm?" He told me just to "trust Him and Be still, and that I don't need to know how every little thing is going to turn out. "

3) Huatzin got laid off. The Lord prepared our hearts for it. At least with construction /new plumbing you sort of KNOW when it is about to happen as the work dwindles. Huatzin is always one of the last to go so he can see when it's coming. I think that is better than being surprised and caught off gaurd. It gives you time to prepeare your heart and lets you kow how to pray. We hope they remember him for the foreman position coming up in a few months. Think of us when you ride the new Little Mermaid ride ( Disneyland) in May. My hubby helped put the plumbing in. This also means that our home-study will probably be put on hold. Must not be His will right now. Not my will but Thine.

4) Josiah has had a cold and began getting bruising. The enemy wanted me thinking he was relapsing. I rebuked him as I feel the Lord has healed my son. One of meanings of Josiah's name is "Whom God has HEALED!" I called today and was told that Josiah's labs were back and his platelets we 145,000!!!! His Hemoglobin, red blood count and white count are fine. He is only 5,000 short from being somewhat NORMAL!!! Can you BELIEVE IT!!!! When we went in last year he only had 8,000 platelets and was in serious danger. Now he is fine. You can look on my blog at the 12 children with his same diagnoses (Aplastic Anemia) ALL of them have had to undergo either Bone Marrow Transplants or Immune Suppressive therapy. God healed Josiah with breastmilk and prayers of many saints around the World!!! You have truly witnessed a MIRACLE!!! Nancy Campbell asked me to write about how nursing helped him. The Lord has SAVED MY SON! Many people prayed that the Lord would show up MIGHTILY on our behalf and He did in a huge way! Yay Jesus! Huatzin is out of work again but last year we had a son that was diagnosed with a serious life threatening blood disorder and our options were bone marrow transplant, or a therapy that can have fatal results. Our present circumstance seems so minor in comparison. I can REJOICE I can PRAISE him because He has made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places, surely I have a delightful inheritance! Bless you, THANK You for sharing in my joy. I can't STOP PRAISING HIM thanking him falling on my face in worship and gratitude!!! In Christ, Alida w5

Psalm 16:5 Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.

7 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the grave, [fn3]
nor will you let your Holy One [fn4] see decay.
11 You have made [fn5] known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Alida, blessed wife to Huatzin. Mama of 9 y.o twins Canaan & Elijah, Anaiah Grace 6, Josiah Valor 3, Hezekiah (Ki) 1, born at home in water. Awaiting many more by way of adoption.

What Wondrous Love is this?

2010-09-15T04:14:00.000-07:00

This song is a family favorite. Michelle Tumes sings it beautifully. Love, In Jesus, Alida w5

Lyrics from The Hesperian Harp, 1848, by Dr. William Hauser (no. 234)
1. What wondrous love is this,
O my soul! O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
That caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse,
For my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse, for my soul.

2. When I was sinking down,
Sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down;
When I was sinking down,
Beneath God's righteous frown,
Christ laid aside his crown,
For my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside his crown, for my soul.

3. Ye winged seraphs, fly!
Bear the news! bear the news!
Ye winged seraphs fly! bear the news!
Ye winged seraphs fly! bear the news,
Like comets through the sky,
Fill vast eternity
With the news, with the news,
Fill vast eternity with the news!

4. To God, and to the Lamb,
I will sing, I will sing,
To God, and to the Lamb, I will sing;
To God, and to the Lamb,
Unto the great I AM,
While millions join the theme,
I will sing, I will sing,
While millions join the theme, I will sing.

5. Come, friends of Zion's King,
Join the praise, join the praise,
Come, friends of Zion's King, join the praise!
Come, friends of Zion's King,
With hearts and voices sing,
And strike each tuneful string,
In his praise, in his praise,
And strike each tuneful string in his praise.

6. And when from death we're free,
We'll sing on, we'll sing on,
And when from death we're free, we'll sing on;
And when from death we're free,
We'll sing, and joyful be,
And through eternity
We'll sing on, we'll sing on,
And through eternity we'll sing on.

7. Yes, when to that bright world
We arise, we arise,
Yes, when to that bright world we arise—
When to that world we go,
Free from all pain and wo,
We'll join the happy throng,
And sing on, and sing on,
We'll join the happy throng, and sing on.

What does love look like? Arms wide open

2010-09-11T20:09:00.000-07:00

Be sure to click the music off on my playlist so you can hear this beautiful spirit filled song. The little girl seen with Heidi Baker ( Iris Ministries) on 4:25 of this song was found by Heidi as a toddler raped, bleeding, diseased, and abandoned on the side of the road. God used Heidi to rescue, ransom and REDEEM her life and she has joy, love and peace in Jesus! I have the movie about Heidi's ministry if you want to see it! What does love look like? is the question Ive been pondering... Close your eyes, lift your hands and worship Him!
This is how I know what love is.
This is how I know what love is. Love, Alida w5

Arms Open Open by Misty Edwards
"What does love look like? is the question Ive been pondering
What does love look like?
What does love look like? is the question Ive been asking of You
Once believed that love was romance, just a chance
I even thought that love was for the lucky and the beautiful
I once believed that love was a momentary bliss, but love is more than this
All You ever wanted was my attention
All You ever wanted was love from me
All You ever wanted was my affections to sit here at Your feet and tell me
What does love look like? is the question Ive been pondering
What does love look like? If all of life comes down to love then tell me
What does love look like? is the question Ive been pondering
What does love look like?

Then I sat down a little frustrated and confused
Your fire of life comes down to love. And love has to be more than sentiment,
More than selfishness and selfish gain

Then I saw Him there
Hanging on a tree, looking at me
I saw Him there
Hanging on a tree, looking at me
He was looking at me looking at Him, staring through me
I could not escape those beautiful eyes
And I began to weep and weep

He had arms wide open, heart exposed
Arms wide open, He was bleeding, bleeding.
Arms wide open, heart exposed
Arms wide open, He was bleeding, bleeding
Loves definition
Loves definition, was looking at me
Looking at Him. Hanging on a tree
I began to weep and weep and weep and weep
This is how I know what love is.

And as I sat there, weeping, crying, those beautiful eyes
Full of desire and love. And He said to me
You shall love Me..You shall love Me.
With arms wide open, heart exposed
With arms wide open, bleeding, sometimes bleeding
You shall love Me.. You shall love Me..

If anybodys looking for love in all the wrong places
If youve been searching for love, come to Me. Come to me.
Take up your cross. Deny yourself.
Forget your fathers house and run. Run with Me.
Cause you were made for abandon your heart and listen
Cause you were made for Someone greater, Someone bigger, so follow Me.
And youll come alive when you learn to die.
And He said to me

You shall love Me. You shall love Me

With arms wide open, heart exposed
With arms wide open, bleeding, sometimes bleeding"

How do I say this nicely...

2010-09-10T03:11:00.000-07:00

Or perhaps, what I should have titled this "What I SHOULD have said!" Alright I'll just come on out and say it. A raffle takes a good deal of work. Distributing prizes does as well, especially as I am in the middle of preparing my home for homeschooling. If I travel all over all day delivering prizes with my 5 children (including my baby that hates the car and lets every body know it via an often times deafening ear piercing, glass shattering shriek/scream/WAIL) and I get to your door and you look out your window and refuse to open your door because you see a (minority) lady with a Kia full of kids that you don't recognize... I will not stand there at your door answering 20 questions trying to get you to open your door to deliver packages that I've gone out of my way to hand deliver to you and about 10 other people. I will not beg and plead. If you don't answer or don't want to open the door because you want to know who I am, what I am doing, how do I know you, What do I have, where I'm from, who the raffle is for, how I know the person from the raffle is for etc... ALL from your closed door, etc I'm LEAVING. I have dinner to make, children ( 5 of them) that need tending to, and I still have to sit in traffic to get home. It is both insulting and rude to a person that has been busting her behind to help others. (you) Obviously if you are to terrified to open the door your neighborhood is bad enough that I can't just leave your packages there. I will instead drive back home and you will have to descend from on high from your nice little neighborhood to my home....in SANTA ANA mind you, to pick up your prize.;-)

One person was somewhat apologetic. I won't even get into details. I was thinking" gee I know a few verses I could underline for you. " You know the ones about not showing partiality. The ones about The mark of a Christian being their LOVE for others. Jesus said we are to "GO out into the world and make disciples.. I'm thinking that is pretty hard when you don't even open your door to someone based on appearances. What if I was a neighbor needing sugar? What if I needed help and was in danger? What if I was lost? What if I didn't know Christ and saw how this person treated others? Which leads me on my soapbox. I believe that true character is how you are to people that don't go to your church or look like you. It's about how you treat the non english speaking person, the waitress, or the homeless person that greets you, the person who comes to your door with a question (or stuff you may have won from a raffle! ;-) True character is who you are when you don't think anyone (or anyone you know, or anyone you work with or attends your church) is around. I then had to explain to my kids (that were helping me deliver prizes as to the reason that people heard us knocking but wouldn't answer the door. AWESOME! Did they think we ( My 9 & 6 year olds) would rob them. Doesn't He own the cattle on a thousand hills? Isn't everything God's.

And what about this verse Hebrews 13:2 " Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. " OK, Off the soapbox. Most people (almost EVERYONE ) were VERY sweet and appreciative. Only a couple gave me a hard time. Thank you for not making life any harder than it has to be you wonderful saints that were kind and thankful. I appreciate your decency. Alida w5

Just SAY YES

2010-09-10T01:27:00.000-07:00

Paul, Stacy and Solomon UNITED!

2010-09-06T11:40:00.000-07:00

Paul and Stacy were able to hold their little ( 4 year old) Solomon for the first time. I can only IMAGINE how this must feel. I told my children to lay down and close their eyes. I told them to picture in their mind that they live in an orphanage surrounded by many many other children. You belong to the state and not a real family. Imagine that they have NEVER known a mother or fathers touch. That they've never had someone make them a special meal just the way they like it. They've never had someone to tuck them into bed, never had someone pick the up and love on them and cuddle them with kisses when they've skin a knee or are hurt. Never had anyone to comfort them when they are scared or have had a bad dream. Never had anyone tell them I love you son. No one to pray with you and teach you about Jesus. No one reads a special book, sings them a special song, tells them stories, dreams with them, hopes with them. NO ONE to tell you how special you are. At times the sadness and loneliness is so unbearable for your little heart. Deep down you are scared and in survival mode. You always long for a family like other boys ad girls. You hear stories of what it must be like to belong in a family and wonder what it must be like. the orphanage is all you've ever known. You long for something different, something better. How do you feel?

Now imagine that for the first time in your little life, a mama and daddy come for you to bring you into their family. They hug you, kiss you, and LOVE you, and tell you you BELONG! How do you feel? I shared with them that it's the needed of over 150 MILLION orphans. Many of those children will never get to experience the joy, bliss and comfort and peace of mind that Solomon has. The feeling of rest. I asked them never to forget how that felt and to remember as God tell us the orphan. I asked them to never lose their heart for the orphan and to always thing of ways they can help the fatherless and the widow. They prayed that God would help them. I believe He will. Look at these photos. Doesn't Solomon look so peaceful! It's because he he is LOVED. He knows who his daddy is. His earthly father will point him to his Heavenly father.

Look at how he adores his mother. Can you imagine having a mother and father for the FIRST TIME IN YOUR LIFE? This is God's heart for EVERY family. His desire is that all would have a home. Romans 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."
You can stay updated through her blog http://mycupoverfloweth.blogspot.com/

We raised nearly $3,000 for the Richards Family!!!

2010-09-03T01:33:00.000-07:00

Go Jesus, we raised around $3,000 helping the Richards family bring Solomon HOME. We I say "WE" I mean each and every one of you that prayed, spread the word, donated or purchased tickets. ALL of you helped a beautiful boy get home to His forever family. You helped rescue an orphan from an institutional setting, a lifetime of loneliness and brought him into a loving, godly family! Praise the Lord, you helped with a mighty work but don't stop now! There is so much more to do. There are 153 MILLION orphans needing help of some kind. Please earnestly pray and see how the Lord would use your life to help the fatherless.

“and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.”
Isaiah 58:10

Adopting the Waiting Child

2010-09-02T00:40:00.000-07:00

This is so good. I just HAVE to repost!
Watch this sweet short video. You'll be glad you did. Then share it with others.

Master cleanse 27 days!

2010-08-30T23:32:00.000-07:00

I made it to 27 days on the cleanse and was fully prepared to go to 40 days but went camping and forgot all of my cleanse stuff at home and ending up breaking my fast for the sake of saving my pocketbook. I will rest my body for a week or so and finish out my remainder of the cleanse. I should mention that I got really sick not ending the cleanse gradually. I won't go into the TMI details of HOW sick I got, but suffice it to say, it wasn't pleasant! Many MANY days of a sick tummy.

On a side note, I am down 30 lbs and look and feel really good! I would still like to lose about 30 more before my 30th birthday. But I'm willing to do that via a vegan and /raw lifestyle. I can't stop talking about the benefits of the master cleanse!

Day 20 of the Master cleanse! Down 24 pounds

2010-08-20T01:49:00.000-07:00

I am on my 20th day of the master cleanse. It is hard for me though as I did a 10 day cleanse before this almost back to back. I really feel I should have waited longer between cleanses. It's like I've done 30 days of the cleanse!

I am down 24 pounds though I did not do this at all to lose weight. This is getting hard. I am tempted to quit at the 21 day mark... the taste of the lemonade is getting pretty repulsive. I typically forget to drink it because it's getting to be a pain to make the lemon/syrup concoction. (which in turn makes me feel weak. Also, this may be TMI but because your detoxing, you kinda SMELL funny. I take multiple showers now or take my shower right before I go anywhere. I also try to use a nice smelling lotion. They say you've cleansed well when you get the white coating on your tongue, and later on it turns back to pink. I have not yet had that happen. My asthma is gone. I have not gotten to that really energetic clear thinking stage yet, but I have not been getting enough sleep. Maybe that has something to do with it. I'll take it day by day.. I was originally hoping to make it a 40 day fast but that seems far off. I ran out of my gallon of organic maple syrup. This means I am buying those super expensive tiny jars from Trader Joe's that last only every other day and lemons are getting expensive. This cleanse is really eating into our budget. I will say though, I was going out the door, when I looked down and my skirt fell completely off! It's too loose. Dangit. I really LOVED that skirt. :-) But that seems like an ok problem to have. Ok I sound really whiny right now huh. I'd like to get to that feeling of enlightenment many speak about so maybe I just need to persevere. ;-) UG, pray for me. On the brighter side, My hubby can't stop telling how darn awesome I look. :-) He's a cutie. It is REALLY encouraging because I have started meeting tons of people who have done the cleanse! This is great because I heard lots of negative comments so it's good to hear about many NORMAL people giving great feedback about the benefits and the legitimacy of this cleanse.

Safe Families Model!

2010-08-20T01:48:00.001-07:00

The Safe Families Model
What a beautiful alternative to foster care! I ended up in foster care because my mom herself was in foster care lacked support as a teenage single mother. Things like this could provide the Titus 2 mentoring support needed to keep families together, share Christ and keep children form becoming orphans.

Raffle for Adoptive Family/GREAT PRIZES &Curriculum

2010-08-18T03:09:00.000-07:00

HOLD IT! STOP THE PRESS! Please do not buy any curriculum until you check out our raffle! We have almost 60 different donations from many well known organizations and ministries. Many items for non homeschoolers too! HELP AN ORPHAN GET HOME!!! James 1:27 PLEASE HELP US MAKE THIS THE BIGGEST BEST RAFFLE EVER!!! ONLY $5.00 a ticket!!! REALLY FABULOUS PRIZES!!! The Richards family only has a few weeks to raise the remaining funds needed to bring their son home from China!! http://bringingsolomonhome.blogspot.com

Items available...
Gift Certificate from Apologia, Blackbird & Co.
*TWO $200.00 gift certificates to Rainbow Resources Center Inc.
*A Carole Joy Seid Seminar Gift Certificate! www.carolejoyseid.com
* 2 CD's and a Soap Gift basket from Generation Cedar! http://www.generationcedar.com
* The Hole in our Gospel * A brand new parallel amplified bible *Stylish back pack bag,
*Joshua The Warrior Action Set
*Who is God and can we really know him by Jon Hay and David Webb.
*3 separate “Milestone Reading complete reading programs.”
*Write-shop Primary book A and Activity Worksheet Pack
*The well Planned day, *The well Grounded Middle schooler
*The well guided high schooler
*Melissa & Doug Pirate Puzzle and tiger puppet/.
*The Latin Road to English Volume 3!
*Destined to Soar by Gospel For Asia.
*Jean Wells Worship-Guitar Class Vol 1.
*Christian Heros Vol 1-5 from YWAM
*Eat your way around the world. by geomatterS
*Infrared Alien flying remote control set
*TWO copies of “They sold their souls for Rock N Roll www.goodfight.com
*7 Copies of Let us Highly Resolve: David and Shirley Quine.
*The Gift of dyslexia
*A journey Home DVD by Franklin Springs Media.
*Original Intent from Wall builders
*T Shirt by BJU, Homeschooler do school anywhere and everywhere
*Jacket from generation Joshua.
*Art supplies by Miller Pads and Paper.
*Prima Latina Teacher & Student manual
*Accelerated learning by global learning strategies.
*God your real dad
*History through literature 3 books. 5 in a row, Augustus Cesar, by Beautiful Feet
*Fun and Educational Places to go in Southern California 8th Edition.
*Gentle babies, growing healthy
*CD lamp & quill bible resource
*Our Time Together Complete set from Full Amour Ministries
* Book from Circle C Adventures.
*Classics for Children
*Gift Certificate from Apologia
*Books from Creation Research institute!
*Building A BIBLICAL WORLD VIEW CD
*Why the Bible?
*1 Don’t Waste Your Life Study Kit, and 2 Illustrated Job books. from John Pipers Desiring God Ministries
*1 copy each of Preparing To Be A Help Meet, Created To Be A Help Meet and Good and Evil.
*2 Raising Godly Tomatoes books
*7 copies of Highly Resolved. * Gift pack from Institute of Creation Research
*College Prep Genius class DVD and booklets
*Classics for Kids by The Boston Pops & Arthur Fiedler
*Homeschooling at the Speed of Life by Marilyn Rockett
*  Managers of Their Homes http://www.titus2.com/ecommerce/products/prod_listing.php/1100
And much much more! VISIT http://bringingsolomonhome.blogspot.com Donations from these Sponsors
Beautiful Feet Books, BJU Press, Blackbird & Company, Carole Joy Seid, Carolina Christian Book Fairs, Circle C Adventures, College Prep Genius, CollegePlus Store
Cornerstone Curriculum, Desiring God (John Piper), Drills, Skills & More, Franklin Springs Family Media, Full Armor Ministries, FUN Places Publishing, Generation Cedar, Generation Joshua, Generations of Virtue, Geography Matters, Good Steward Books GoodFight Ministries, Gospel For Asia, Great Products Online! Growing Healthy Homes Institute for Creation Research, Ladera Reading Solutions for Dyslexia
Lamp & Quill International,Mad Dog Math, Memoria Press, Milestone Reading
Miller Pads & Paper, Passing the Baton International, Picture This Bible
Rainbow Resources Center, Inc, Raising Godly Tomatoes, Schola Publications(TheLatinRoad), The Well Planned Day, Titus2.com, WallBuilders
Worship Guitar Class, WriteShop, YWAM Publishing
The more donations we receive the more you can win! Also, if you have a good working vehicle you are not using, I can put you in contact with a WONDERFUL mom in need. We may not all be able to adopt but we can ALL help an orphan get HOME! Alida w5 http://ransomedredeemed.blogspot.com/

Yes you heard it, we are IN PROCESS to ADOPT!

2010-07-21T04:06:00.000-07:00

We have taken the classes we have finished the paperwork... We are handing in our application tomorrow! We are praying for a minority sibling set of 3( I prayed that the Lord would double us back when we only had 4!) I heard him say He would make me the JOYFUL fruitful mother of MANY children. I want 8 kids before I turn 30. Not much time if you ask me! We want to help keep a sibling set together. My heart quickens and is stirred every time I see beautiful black children. My heart does the same when i see little Asian children as well. I have always wanted at least a few noticeably black children. My children are on the lighter side. Though they are beautiful as well. I always wanted to have a little girl with braids, beads and various hair accessories. ;-) Our family could definitely use a bit more melanin up in here. ;-) Along with Asian, Asian Indian, Native American, Arab, and Caucasian children too. We'd just prefer a black or mixed with black sibling set first. However, we are open to other ethnicities as well. Though I don't want to limit the Lord in whatever type of children He has for us, so we are listing our preference but open to His leading.

I remember watching on either dateline or 20/20 when I was a teen, a BEAUTIFUL Christian family of about 20-22 children. They had children of every single color and ethnicity. They were such a close amazing family. I remember thinking that must be what the Kingdom of heaven looks like. I wish I could find the clip or blog of them online. (please pass it along if you find it) By George I'd like to see families on earth as it is in heaven! We are praying for at least 1 girl, 1 baby and 1 toddler and a 3 4, or 5 year old. We'll accept accept drug exposed etc. My heart has been flung open and far for children with blood disorders and other medical conditions from this whole situation with Josiah. At the present time I have a huge heart and burden for special needs and most especially, HIV orphans... Please keep us in prayer! Love ya'll. In Christ. Alida w5
To learn about HIV adoption click here

http://www.projecthopeful.org/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leslie-goldman/hiv-adoption-its-happenin_b_374762.html
http://www.positivelyorphaned.com/
http://fromhivtohome.blogspot.com/
http://www.adoption-link.org/chances-by-choice-program.aspx
http://heldts.blogspot.com/2007/01/raising-hiv-positive-child-hiv-and.html

A very neat family that I respect and love!

Sharing at the Children's Home! Things I wish someone would have told me (Part 2)

2010-07-14T17:31:00.000-07:00

My handout to the Children's Home teens

Things you should know ( Things I wish someone would have told me)

You will need to purpose not to let your circumstances destroy you! Do not let anyone or anything deter you from reaching your full potential! It is up to YOU to make something of yourself. I purposed not to let my present situation ruin my life or my future. You can too! 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. There will be those who say you can’t meet your goals or call you names but please remember the wise words of Madea. “ it ain’t what they call you, it’s what you answer too.” ;-) Learn to flourish wherever you are. Bloom where you are planted.

You are not an accident! Some of you are walking around feeling defeated and feeling like you are an accident, a mistake. This self defeating thinking brings about self destructive behaviors and suicidal thoughts. (by the way, with suicide- I realized one day that if I killed myself, the people who hurt me might feel bad, or they might not, but they would go on with their lives, I wouldn’t! ) Jeremiah 1:5 tell us that “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” Before the foundations of the World were created he knew you and knew how long you would live and everything about you. Matthew 10:29 says “the very hairs on your head are numbered!”

God LOVES you! For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved (Ephesians 2:4-5). "…the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it." Matthew 13:45-4 Sweet sister you are that Pearl of great price. He died so that you might live.

He has a plan for you and your life! Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” It doesn’t mean life will be easy but it does mean that if you let him He can use your life for good. That good things can come from evil the most terrible, painful situations that you have. Your pain and hurts are never wasted with God! He may even use your life to help others going through the same things you have. He holds your tears in a bottle. Psalm 39:12. Give Him your hurt and don’t let it destroy you.

God is the perfect parent! When your father and mother let you down, remember that He is always there for you. I remember feeling so abandoned, unwanted and unloved. Until God showed me Psalm 68:5 “A father to the fatherless,a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” Psalm 27:10 “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.” Jesus said in John 14:18 "I will not leave you orphans." He is El Shaddai “ the All Sufficient One.” He is capable of meeting all of my needs and yours.

Set goals. Aim high! Then revisit these goals weekly or monthly. A quote I love is “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.”Philippians 3:13 “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

You are not your parents- Just because they did drugs, were criminals, did ________(insert whatever is applicable to your situation here) doesn’t mean this is you have to! You have a choice to make. Follow in unhealthy footsteps and generational dysfunction or walk a higher path. I chose the latter! Drug addiction ends here! Violence ends here! My children will have a good heritage!

On Forgiveness- Corrie Ten Boom, a Christian woman who survived a Nazi concentration camp during the Holocaust, said, "Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to realize the prisoner was you." You will have to forgive those who hurt you to heal. This doesn't mean you pretend nothing happened, but release the anger and hateful feelings and thoughts, forgive them and move on. For some this means forgiving but never being around that person who hurt you because they will try to take advantage of that forgiveness, but releasing yourself from the hate, hurt and burden!

On Choosing wise friends. I kept falling into sin and making foolish choices, then the Lord showed me that I it was because I was hanging around FOOLS! My friends dropped out, partied did illegal and immoral things and it wasn't long until I dabbled into the same things. I learned 1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be misled, for "bad company corrupts good character." Proverbs 13:20 “ He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” The secular version of this would be “birds of a feather flock together.” Chose friends that inspire you and encourage you on to great things, also try to become a friend that “ Hebrews 10:24 speaks about. ” And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Read your bible. The Holy Bible- I couldn’t figure out why I kept falling from the commitment I made to the Lord of repenting from sin and I realized I wasn't reading His word. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." It doesn't happen by osmosis. Read and learn wisdom and discernment. I recommend most especially PROVERBS! I would have saved myself lots of heartache and gained much had I read Proverbs as a teen! Some like to read the proverb number that coincides with the same day of the month. So Proverbs 1, for the 1st day of the month read Proverbs 2 for the 2nd day of the month and so on.

It may be bad, it could be worse! It is hard to hear I know. You may feel stuck in this place and maybe you don't feel like other kids/teens. It doesn't seem fair. One thing I learned is that God never mentions ANYTHING about being "FAIR", (you won't find that ANYWHERE in Scripture) He does say however, that He is JUST! I thought I had it rough, then I read about orphans in Liberia, all over Africa, China, Mexico and places like Russia, India and many other countries. It helps me to pray for and support or sponsor these children because it reminds me that most of the world is struggling to survive. Most live on less than $2.00 a day in abject poverty. It doesn't mean that my situation doesn't matter, it just shows me that there are others who are deeply hurting too. Look for ways to bless them.

Being a Christian isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Nor does it make you perfect. Just because you come to Christ doesn't mean life will suddenly get easy and everything you ever wanted is going to happen for you. John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” God uses trials to refine and make you stronger and more like Him. Surrender to it and embrace it.

Take advantage of the resources you available to you! Accept help. Many of you have access to transitional housing, free college, counseling, health insurance and an whole host of opportunities. Realize that MOST of the worlds population do not. Now make the most of it and use it to do great things with your lives. Please don't squander this opportunity. it is HARD trying to make it all on your own! Trust me!

Do not take revenge-This is helpful in many situations in life. Just thought I’d mention Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Apply this verse to any situation you may have. You’ll be blessed and see much fruit.

Learn to set boundaries. There is a book called boundaries and boundaries for kids /teens that is amazing. You will need to learn to set boundaries of what is acceptable to you and what you won’t tolerate then enforce them. You’ll need this skill in all areas of life. Get the book if you can. I’ve had to learn to set boundaries with both family, friends, boyfriends, employers, coworkers, teachers, and now in parenting etc. "The purpose of having boundaries is to protect and take care of ourselves. We need to be able to tell other people when they are acting in ways that are not acceptable to us. A first step is starting to know that we have a right to protect and defend ourselves. That we have not only the right, but the duty to take responsibility for how we allow others to treat us."

Family is what you make it- Your birth family might not be the greatest. That doesn't mean you have to subject yourself to people who belittle you, criticize you, squash your dreams, hurt you, discourage you, or want to see you fail. Chose people to be like family to you. I prayed for a godly mentor and got 7! We celebrate holidays and special occasions with people who love us unconditionally and want what's best for us. Recognize that you can chose family that meets your needs and that loves you for who you are! (newly added) This doesn't mean you have to totally discard your biological family either. Often times my biological family is just not capable of interacting in a healthy loving and kind way. Try not to take it personally. ( difficult I know) When this happens I lovingly enforce the boundaries I have set, and take a break from them until our relationship can be healthy and my personal space and peace of mind aren't being violated. I have my extended support systems/family type relationships that I can turn to so I am not waiting around for change or a relationship that may never happen. This frees your heart to still bless and be blessed by loving others and frees your bio family from being able to blame you for their short comings. It also models what healthy give and take relationships are all about.

Do the NEXT (right) Thing- (By Elizabeth Elliott whose husband Jim Elliott was martyred in the Amazon, based on the movie End of the Spear ) We all make mistakes, it’s part of learning and growing. When you make a mistake, learn from it, repent and move on. Don't let it drag you further into sin or cause you to give up! Stop and do the NEXT right thing!

I want to leave you with this wonderful verse
Isaiah 43: 1"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze, For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

I want you girls to begin thinking about what changes you can make that will bless or better you and your future! I leave you with these words. One Life to live, twill soon be past, “Only what’s done for Christ will last. “
_________________
Poem by C.T Studd Only One Life
“Two little lines I heard one day,Traveling along life's busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart; Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;  Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat; Only one life,'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice. Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God's holy will to cleave; Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears; Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;  Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score; When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say; Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep; Faithful and true what e'er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life; Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn; Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne; Only one life, "twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say,"Thy will be done";  And when at last I'll hear the call, I know I'll say "twas worth it all";  Only one life,'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.”

Sharing at the Children's Home! Things I wish someone would have told me

2010-07-13T15:06:00.000-07:00

I was asked to speak again to the teen girls over at the Children's home. When I came to Christ years ago, I asked the Lord to use the suffering in my life for good and to help others. I didn't want my pain to have been without purpose. Even though it's only about 10-20 girls at a time, it is the Lord answering the deepest desires of my heart. I am always SO blessed and excited when I get to share what the Lord has done for me. I It sounds silly but to me it feels as though I am walking on holy ground! I know that what He has done in my life He can do for others. It is my prayer that seeds are planted, hope is restored and that lives can be redeemed and souls are brought into the kingdom in the lives of the foster youth here in the US.

I shared a bit about my upbringing. I told them how I used to be in foster care. My father was in and out of prison and on drugs. I lived with my grandparents and how my grandfather was violent and my grandmother and I fled to a domestic violence shelter. I spoke of the abuse from my father, neglect from my mother.. I mentioned things like the shoot out at a gas station when I was about 4, followed by a high speed chase on the freeway by the police and my mother being arrested on Christmas day, and how the police gave me a doll because they realized I didn't receive anything that morning.

I spoke about my stay at CASA and CSP youth shelters, and how it changed my life even though my mom was on drugs. I spoke about finding needles in our home and being kicked out when I was 17. I shared all the things I've learned along the way and what I wish people would have told me. Included in Part 2 next post) I gave them the print out of what God taught me along the way and we took turns reading it together as a group. Most of it was straight scripture!!! Some of the teens were blessed and some it was hard to tell. Unlike the other other time I spoke and the response was huge. I included The Fathers love letter. I ALWAYS bring along either this letter or the kids comic book letter. It's words have transformed my life!

One of the girls was so excited that we both lived in the same shelter. I was surprised to hear that some of the workers and counselors there would try to crush the hopes of the girls wanting to have faith in Christ with snide remarks and sarcastic comments. Some of the very people that should be helping them are some of the biggest faith killers and dream destroyers. One made a comment that "they only visit so they can get credit." Ok well, I'm not in school and I am a homeschooling SAHM of 5. I don't think any of the ladies were there to get credit! I can't figure out fir the life of me, why ANYONE like that would get a job working with children! Especially broken hurting children! It reminds me of Matthew 18:6 "but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." Anyway, I think our group did good. All we can do is offer our meager efforts to the Lord like the boy with the loves and two fishes and leave the cultivating and multiplying of the fruit up to Him. I am confident that if we show up, He'll do the rest. Watch this and let it settle into your spirit. Let it transform your mind and spirit in Christ. Be blessed as you set your mind on things above and know who your daddy is and who you belong to! Love, Alida w5

Results from the Bone Marrow Donor Testing/Josiah Updates

2010-07-09T14:51:00.000-07:00

Update on Josiah!

Ladies, Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I try not to dwell on his diagnoses much but I realize that keeps a great many of you praying saints out of the Loop. Forgive me. I wanted to share. Josiah is doing GREAT! He hasn't needed a transfusion since February! His platelet numbers just keep climbing and climbing. He is not near normal but he isn't transfusion dependent or hospital bound so that works for me! I believe he is HEALED! I believe the turning point for us is we had the AMAZING team from Bethel lay hands on him. We also prayed for healing at an Arthur Blessit event. ( we got to touch the cross that has been ALL OVER the WORLD! I just needed to be around people that had hope the Lord would heal him. I need encouragement that He could and would heal Him. I really feel that the Lord has given me the prophetic word that he would be healed by the simple fact that Josiah means -whom God has healed.

THE RESULTS
As you recall our WHOLE Family went in to get tested to see if any of us were a match for Josiah. ALL SEVEN of us. I was saddened to learn that not one single person is a match for Josiah. Can you BELIEVE it? I couldn't believe it! I actually asked her if she had the wrong paperwork, because I couldn't see HOW it was possible that none of us were a match AT ALL! Each child has a 25% chance of being a match. The only match within our whole family is Canaan with Hezekiah. They are complete matched with each other, but Josiah does not have a single solitary match among any of the members of our family. I am told that unrelated donor matches are RISKY. I was pretty down about it. I felt as though the wind were knocked out of me and was paralyzed by the result. Until I realized that God had removed my plan B. As in my prayers went from "God PLEASE heal my sweet darling son, and if you chose not to, we'll do the Bone marrow Transplant." To the same fervent prayer of desperation that most of the world does that doesn't have the medical care that we do. The "whom do I have in heaven but you," only YOU can make my son well. By the power of your precious blood Jesus please make my son well and cause his bone marrow to function properly and remove whatever is in his system that is causing his bone marrow to be destroyed. Lord restore his body to perfect health."

I am such a planner and a striver. The Lord removed that weight off my shoulders that thinks I can somehow scheme and fix it. I then rebuked the results the doctor gave us. The enemy wanted me to get focused on the fact that he doesn't have a donor when my son is already healed! So we just praise the Lord and thank him daily for doing such great changes in our son and refuse to let anyone or any circumstance rob us of our joy in Jesus. I am overcome with joy thinking about how free we have been though this whole ordeal. My son has only been hospitalized TWICE! This is UNHEARD of in the Aplastic Anemia community. If you read the posts of those on my blog with this disease they are constantly quarantined, hospitalized, sickly. I just read of a sweet boy with AA that passed away. My son is happy, healthy, full of energy and blessed. I do not know how the Lord will use this experience for His glory, but I know he has ordered my steps! I know that there is a purpose for ALL of it and my job is not to understand or figure it out, but simply to TRUST! The Lord is so good! Huatzin has been working for about 1 month now. We are trying to budget again ( which was impossible to do when he wasn't earning ANYTHING!) Now to get back into the Dave Ramsey style gazelle bill paying/saving emergency fund. On to trying to save up for a house AGAIN, and a 15 passenger van or turtletop bus, along with paying off our MOUNTAIN of medical bills. He is able to do abundantly above all that we can asked or think! Thank you for the love, support and encouragement and prayers! YOU and all the saints are what has kept my sweet son out of the hospital! (along with extended nursing) Bless you, In Christ, Alida w5

National Afro day! Happy 4th!

2010-07-05T03:22:00.000-07:00

Here I am rocking my fro!

Here are some lovely ladies Rockin' theirs!

Doing the Master Cleanse/10 day fast

2010-07-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

Hi,
I am TAKING back my health and taking charge of my body. Over the last few years I have had what I believe is a very big struggle with my thyroid. I have gained quite a bit of weight over the years. Quite a bit in my stomach area, which is odd as I have ALWAYS had a great slim waist. ( anyone remember my Janet Abs?? Now I'd be hard pressed to even FIND my abs. ;-) I eat much healthier than I ever did before ( green smoothies, raw dishes, salads etc) ( I don't know ANYONE other than strict raw foodists that eat Kale, yes RAW KALE as I do! I am often very sick, tired , irritable and in a mental fog and always craving unhealthy things. I don't think this is a "oh you just have 5 kids issue." I think it is a spiritual and physical. I have also used food as a coping tool when stressed or instead of running to Christ Jesus. I have had many online buddies that were totally blessed and transformed by doing the master cleanse. It tends to free you of the urge to self cope with food, releases you from addicted cravings, clears your body of built up toxins and waste and gives a overall renewed sense of purpose, peaceful feeling and clear headed mind. Perhaps this is why the Bible and many cultures speak so much on fasting. After this fast I hope this will lead to a mostly vegan/vegetarian diet, at least 75-80% or more. (Hallelujah Acres www.hacres.com ) ( Green Smoothie Gir Raw Family I do this for the sake of my children. They deserve a mother than is healthy, energetic, clearheaded and joyful. I want THEM to be able to eat the way God intended us to. I want my HUSBAND to have his youthful gloriously energetic well figured, joyful adventurous healthy wife that he married back. The Lord has led me to this because I feel that unless I make drastic changes now, very serious consequences could occur. I have prayed over many mothers this year that have passed on to glory or are battling cancers and all sorts of disease. I believe that unless my family deviates totally from the (SAD diet) Standard American Diet, one or some in our family may be among those. I can do ALL things through Christ who Strengthens me." I am also nursing two children. From what I have read I believe they will be fine.
Here is my journal of how things have gone so far.

Phili 2:3for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. 14Do all things without murmurings and questionings: 15that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world.

Day 1)
This wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I didn't have the Grade B maple syrup so I had to use black strap molasses and it was GROSS! To me anyway... I was nauseous for a bit in the evening but fine soon after. I could stomach it though as I knew it would help my journey. I think I had 10-12 servings of the lemon/maple syrup/cayenne pepper drink. Went and got 3 books from Sprouts on "The Master Cleanse" to cheer me on from many who have detoxed from this. I thought I'd be STARVING and crabby by honestly the lemonade concoction seems to fill me. I wasn't crabby which is weird for me when I don't eat. I even watch two different families kids along with my own including ALL the neighborhood kids. I had energy to make play dough for each of them to take home. It is HARD to make food for the kids without eating. Huatzin baked and even ate cookies right in front of me. I refused to give in. Alida Rodriguez.. STEADFAST and IMMOvable! YAY! Day 1 down

Day 2)
I have felt a little cranky. I have been using this as a time to pray and seek the Lord. I pray this makes me closer to him and helps to create in more of Jesus and the fruits if the spirit. I do feel very tired, kinda irritable, slow , sluggish. I am craving cooked foods. They say to tell if you are hungry, ask yourself, do yo crave meet, dairy, cooked foods or do you crave an apple, salad or fruit, If yo crave cooked foods it is a craving, if you crave green healthy good foods it is hunger. Also whatever you are craving is probably what is detoxing out of your system. I am craving cooked foods. The thought of a veggie sounds gross, so does fruit. I feel a bit foggy. All detox symptoms.

Day 3)
I am still slow moving today.. I have heard that usually day 3 is one of the hardest then it gets better. I don't desire food but man I miss chewing something. I am getting really irritated having to juice lemons all the live long day. I bought a little hand held lemon juicer that is making it so much easier. Cooking for the family is hard but I do it as unto the Lord and am blessed. I am pleased with my progress. My friend said i look like a ghost faced vampire. I take I'm looking pale! :-) I feel fine, can't wait for the energy that comes form doing the MC kicks in.. Still able to do what I need to though. I am concerned because I haven't had the major detoxing symptoms many others have had. The more you have the faster you are detoxing. I will consider extending this fast beyond 10 days if need be. The thought of going 20 or 40 days intrigues me...

Day 4)
Not much going on. I breaking out a bit on my face which rarely ever happens. ( sign of detox) I am a bit listless but fine. My milk supply is fine, I am staying super hydrated. ( and I am nursing a 1 year old and a 3 year old quite a bit) They seem fine and they don't have any side effects. The first day they were going to the potty quite a but but that was just day 1. I am getting stuffy. ( runny nose) another sign of detox. Honestly though this is the first day in a long while I haven't needed to take my inhaler! Neat. I have lost about 5 lbs but I am not doing it for that reason. I researching more raw food support and a raw vegan diet more in detail. I am super excited. Today I was hungry. I was craving apples, watermelon, apple pears, anything. I made food for the kids and licked the food to see if I seasoned it well, but can honestly say I haven't nibbled on a single solitary thing. AS unto the Lord. ;-) I realized this fast will go all the way through July 4th BBQ's, and even my little girls birthday. Possibly even my sons if I extend it enough. My hubby teased me but I am actually relieved. No falling off the wagon from raw if I cant eat. :-) Would love to see more elimination of the stored waste from years of SAD. I bet there is waste blocking the nutrients form absorbing in my body. to it I say OUT! Your body will create new fat cells to keep toxins from out of your blood stream. This would make sense as to why I have had tons of weight gain even though I try to eat well.

Day 5)
I am so excited. Hunger pains for the most part are gone. Half way there to the 10 day. My lungs feel so clear. My nose is still stuffy. I want the clear mind to come as I am a bit foggy, can't focus right. I miss my green smoothies. The craving for food is less strong. Not really eliminating tons of waste. I actually don't mind the drink with maple syrup. I like the spiciness of the cayenne. I admit I have not been focusing on the Lord the last day or so. That needs to change. I am not as temperamental. It is nice. This must be why the Lord says to fast. It makes yo more peaceful. The normal things my children do that bother me aren't as irritating. Processed foods make me so moody. This is great. Still waiting for some radical changes in how I feel health wise.. I am considering very heavily the 20 day fast. I think it may be necessary. I need to invest in quite a few more lemons and a ton more organic maple syrup. My family doesn't really know it right now, but they are about to become a mostly vegan fam. I am now about to go out to a BBQ both today AND tomorrow with my little gallon of juice. We'll see how I hold up! SoLi Deo. To God be the glory.

HELP! Items Needed for raffle! Adoption fundraiser & vehicle for single mom

2010-07-03T16:00:00.000-07:00

HELP AN ORPHAN AND A SINGLE MOTHER!!! James 1:27 style!

Hi Folks,
Alida here. I am friend of two 2 very terrific families in need. One is my friend Stacy Richards. They are adopting their 5th beautiful babe from China and have only 2 short months to raise up around $10,000 needed to bring him home to his forever family. http://mycupoverfloweth.blogspot.com/ The Second is a friend Laseanda. W. that is a single hardworking mom/ veteran that loves serving others. She desperately needs a vehicle for her and her son.

We are trying to do a fundraiser to raise money to meet the needs of both families. We are looking for things like gift cards, gift certificates, CD's, DVD's, New or near new books and/or other items people would really want.. things that could be sold on Ebay, they even did an Ipad raffle before. Homeschooling items, anything of value is welcomed. Get any gifts that aren't your style? Donate them for good! Do you have a business or home business? Know of a company or people who would want to help? Do you make things like clothes, accessories, diapers, slings, aprons skirts etc?? Things like an item or gift card/certificate from WHATEVER type of business you have would be greatly appreciated. We'd also welcome any donation from HOME businesses Like Etsy, Ebay businesses, Pampered chef, tupperware, melaluca, shaklee, cookie lee, discovery toys, etc. Now you can bless a family with an item or certificate and promote your business at the same time! If nothing else, check out their family blog and donate if you feel led and pass it on to others. Stay Tuned for at MY blog for what is available!!! Please keep them in prayer in the upcoming months! If you'd like to get the kids involved you could do a bake sale, lemonade stand, recycle cans, collect change in baby bottles car wash etc and donate the proceeds! It's the summer and kids love helping others!
Items we already have...
* A Carole joy Seid Seminar (of your choice) Gift Certificate!! Wahoo!
* 2 CD's and a Soap Gift basket from Generation Cedar!
* A gift certificate to Mother Wear ( nursing clothing)
* The Hole in our Gospel
* Brand new parallel amplified Bible
* New stylish back pack bag,
* Vision Forum CD
* Gift certificate to Starbucks
* Solomon Beads (see HERE! )
* Managers of Their Homes from Titus2 Ministries
* Hoping to get a Solomon Shirt
And we are JUST GETTING STARTED!!! The more donations we receive the more you can win!

Also, if you have a good working vehiecle you are not using, I can put you in contact with a WONDERFUL mom that is in need. ( Laseanda)If you have a reliable vehicle you want to sell for supercheap, please let me know and I'll see if we can raise enough to get it for her.

Check out the Richards family blog. http://mycupoverfloweth.blogspot.com/ We may not all be able to adopt but we can ALL help an orphan get HOME! Thanks so much! Pass this on to anyone you think would be interested and/or participate! These items will be sent directly to Stacy Richards.

Alida w5
http://ransomedredeemed.blogspot.com/
____________ _________ _________ _________ ___
Some items we HOPE to get are...
Anything by the Botkin ladies, Kay Arthur, Sally Clarkson, Stacy MacDonald, The Harris Family, Voddie Baucham, Ray Comfort, Sm Davis, Wayne Israel, Chuck Smith, Stormie Omartian, Nancy DeMoss, Beth Morre, John Piper, Richard Wurmbrand, Usborne Books,
Any and all gift cards.
Barnes and Noble, Borders, Etc.
a pampered chef gift certificate,
something from Vision Forum,
A Lamplighter book,
perhaps the Noah Websters dictionary,
restaurant gift certificates etc...
Itunes gift cards
Electronics
Jewelry
A free class of anything
Something from Dream Dinners
Gas Cards.
A Certificate to Christian Book.com
A Certificate to Timberdoodle Open to Suggestions

One year ago today

2010-05-27T03:47:00.000-07:00

One year ago today, my life instantly changed forever. My sweet 2 year old son, Josiah Valor, was hospitalized at CHOC. I was told that our son had either cancer or a serious life threatening blood disorder. So much has happened since then. We will never be the same. Thank you all for walking this road of faith and uncertainty with our family. A huge heartfelt thank you for the many prayers on our behalf, childcare help during delivery, doctors appointments and transfusions, the meals, support, packages, homeschooling curriculum, in the mail, groceries, phone calls, texts, emails, letters and cards, christmas gifts for my children, and for sharing our story and prayer needs with so many thousands of people. I know I am terrible about sending thank you cards and haven't always been able to respond to every single email (especially with our previous phone and computer problems) Please don't think for a moment that we are not grateful. Words could not express how much we appreciate each act of love, kindness and encouragement. Thank you so much for helping us through such a difficult year! We pray that the Lord will repay you for all the ways you have helped lightened our load. Though we don't have family to help, we have felt so loved and cared for by the Lord and by all of you. Thank you for your compassion and thoughtfulness.
Love you all, In Christ our Glorious REDEEMING Savior!
Alida, Huatzin, Canaan, Elijah, Anaiah, Josiah Valor & Hezekiah

"The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal gory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." 1 Peter 5:10

" God has a fixed time and an ordained purpose, and He who controls the limits of our lives also determines the time of our deliverance." L.B. Cowman

The little troubles and worries of life may be as stumbling blocks in our way, or we may make them stepping-stones to a
nobler character and to Heaven. Troubles are often the tools by which God fashions us for better things. - Henry Ward Beecher

"Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley." The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers

Recent labs

2010-04-02T15:27:00.000-07:00

The last two times we had labs drawn up for Josiah have been good. He's hemoglobin and platelets have been slowly and steadily increasing. ( first it was 21,000, then 28,000, then 44,000) I almost broke down crying on Wednesday when they told me his platelets have gone all the way up to 63,000! (ok, its still really low, but he hasn't needed a transfusion in over one MONTH! (since Feb.20, 1010 to be exact)

We have gone to three different healing services for prayer and his counts have started climbing since then. Some may say that is just coincidental, but we are trusting in the Lord that he has in fact healed my sweet little son.

HLA Typing COMPLETE!

2010-03-21T00:33:00.000-07:00

We were finally able to get the HLA Typing COMPLETE for each member of our family. It was QUITE the ordeal! For starters, we arrived some time around 11. I got a bad feeling when the gentleman that checked us in told us to "get comfortable as we were going to be there A LONG TIME!" True to His word we were there for about 5 hours! Apparently paperwork for HLA typing for a family of 7 is quite extensive. Lots of waiting around, and waiting... sheesh, you'd think we were The Duggar's! :-) ( we had to actually be admitted into the hospital, not the simple quick and easy blood test I originally thought it would be)

We told to go to a special part of St Joseph that deals with Donor Type issues.

I was abit irritated when we arrived. One employee took one look at us and said in the most irritated, inconvenienced, exasperated voice he could muster. "WHAT! YOU MEAN WE HAVE TO DO ALL OF THEM? The WHOLE FMILY? There's SO MANY OF THEM! (along with a sighing and eye rolling) We were of course within ear shot. I'm thinking 1) Isn't it, you know.. your JOB to take blood? It's what you DO FOR A LVING. What does it matter if we are all from ONE family or from several. Just take our dang blood without complaining for Pete's sake! 2) I'm thinking, in THIS economy do you really want to have such disdain for the people that are providing yo with work? That was so irritating and really concerned me about how the rest of the procedure would go.

Fortunately all went really well. I wasn't really up for "why aren't the kids in school." Honestly, I didn't know how the kids would react to it all and wanted to see how well they would do before I mentioned that we homeschool. Gotta represent ya know! :-) Once we got inside we had the NICEST sweet nurses/phlebotomists ever. They all came in to compliment how well teh kids did. So many of them seemed quite amazed at how many children we had and how well they each behaved. We heard over and over again how impressive they were. ( it helped that I gave them all candy during the procedure) My very sensitive son that I expected to wig out did great, all of them did. I was most impressed with Anaiah as she has tiny veins and I watched as they rooted ALL around her arm looking for the vein. I wanted to totally GAG, but she was just her normal smiley self.

The only one who cried was Hezekiah. He really took to the nurse ( she was pretty) and he smiled and smiled at her flirting and smiling.. His little face showed concerned when she put on the mask. HE WAS LIKE " HEY WAIT AN MINTUE.. WHAT'S GOING ON... Then she pinned his little arm down and he all out panicked!

Here you can see him look totally betrayed almost as if to say " I thought we had something special! Elijah does great here. I wanted to take photos of everything because if we have a match it really will be special. I told them that we are all taking one for the team. TEAM RODRIGUEZ! :-)

Huatzin was the only one who complained. He doest like needles. I told him he needed to man up a bit. I had to get my blood drawn all while holding a very angry crying baby that was also trying to rip the needle out of my arm to taste it. As we were leaving the nurses were full of raise for the kids and 1 lady that had to know Jesus told me that my family/children were such a blessing. I then felt comfortable telling them it was because we homeschool. :-) To which they all agreed had to be the reason. ;-) ( could ALSO be the candy! ) We had a couple of other issues/adventures, such as losing keys and searching all over CHOC for them. Getting Josiah's blood drawn and realizing they didn't draw enough. (they wanted us to go back.. no can do! ) having a REALLY rude receptionist as I was trying to figure out how to drop off the lab( I carried around blood vials with 5 children alone while Huatzin went to look for the keys and was terrified I'd break them. For the life of me, I cannot understand WHY anyone that dislikes people would get a job at CHOC of all places. I almost want to tell her that she might consider a job at the DMV... where people actually EXPECT you to be rude and to be treated poorly.. but CHOC seems like a place you'd work if you generally LIKE INTERACTING WITH others! ;-) Thankfully other employees were much more helpful. All in in, the whole thing was covered in prayer and went better than expected. We were tired but happy. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers! Alida & Fam

HLA typing for the WHOLE family!

2010-03-16T23:18:00.000-07:00

Can you all PLEASE pray that the Lord would supernaturally heal Josiah.. Like NOW? There is a position with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Kenya for teaching/caregiving Missionary children and they would consider taking us 5 kids and all.. But, I can't very well be living out in the bush having an Aplastic son that needs platelets and blood transfusions with a serious life threatening blood disorder in an area where HIV is highly prevalent now can I?" ;-) Plus it's just nice to have healthy kids. We like him and we kinda wanna keep him around. ;-)

I am amazed at how many brothers and sister in Christ I have. Many people, that we don't even know that pray for my family. It is so encouraging. Many I won't get to meet this side of heaven.

In other news our whole family of 7 is going to get HLA typing done in the TODAY Wednesday in the AM to see if any of us are a possible match for Josiah if he ends up needing a bone marrow transplant. We are praying the Lord will heal him supernaturally and if not that at least 1 of us would be a match. Please oh please Lord. Praying they'll easily find a vein in our 9 month old Hezie's tiny little arm and for 1 of my sons that is so phobic and panicky. Lord knows, you have NO IDEA how grateful I am that it isn't this particular son that has aplastic anemia. This isn't all roses but at least Joyful Josiah goes with the flow and is so easy going. I'm making my concerned phobic son go 1st so he doesnt work himself and his siblings up in hysterics. I'm hoping he'll " take it like a man." We shall see. :-) Love you all. In Christ, my GLORIOUS REDEEMING SAVIOR! Alida w5

Aren't these quotes just BEAUTIFUL?
Don't be afraid for tomorrow. God is already there.-- Ethel Löfgren

Faith says not, 'I see that it is good for me, so God must have sent it,' but, 'God sent it, and so it must be good for me.' Faith, walking in the dark with God, only prays Him to clasp its hand more closely. -- Phillips Brooks

It is impossible for that man to despair who remembers that his Helper is omnipotent.-- Jeremy Taylor

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.-- Corrie ten Boom

Wycliffe Bible Translators: World Missions for Unreached People Groups
www.wycliffe.org

5 reasons you need to do the World Race!

2010-03-14T17:31:00.000-07:00

5 reasons you need to do the World Race!

Remarkable News from Colorado

2010-03-06T01:39:00.003-08:00

Remarkable News from Colorado

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Remarkable News from Colorado

2010-03-06T01:39:00.001-08:00

Remarkable News from Colorado

Posted using ShareThis

There is only one relationship

2010-03-04T23:17:00.000-08:00

There is only one relationship that matters, and that is your
personal relationship to a personal Redeemer and Lord. Let
everything else go, but maintain that at all cost, and God will
fulfill His purpose through your life. (This includes meeting
the needs of your heart.) One individual life may be of
priceless value to God's purposes, and yours may be that life.

-- Oswald Chambers

Transfusions & Airsoft Party!

2010-02-21T22:26:00.000-08:00

So Friday after seeing the doctor Friday, they drew blood for labs and the PNH test. I kept calling back to see what time they wanted us back for a transfusion for Josiah.
I KNEW he needed a transfusion. I can ALWAYS tell when he needs either blood or platelet transfusions because he just behaves different. He's not than his normal happy content joyful easy going self. He is more cranky, clingy, uncontrollable, unreasonable, irrational, all around difficult, and sleeps alot. The past several days he'd sleep for hours all day long, wake up for a half hour and sleep again for HOURS longer, then take naps throughout the day and still go to bed early It breaks my heart to see him like this. It concerns me a great deal. He also cries and cried about his legs hurting. The doctors mentioned giving his leg a bone scan. Anyway for the PNH test they took 8 yes EIGHT vials of blood. The phlebotomist was all "8 vials? Isn't this kid anemic???" ;-)Turns out they lost the vials! I kept calling and calling and they kept saying they couldn't find the labs on file! ARG! FINALLY at 4 they located them and told me he needed a transfusion. "Great I'll bring him right over then." They mentioned how the Outpatient Infusion Center wouldn't take us that late which irritated the heck out of me since I had been calling since 2 trying to get him over there. They wanted me to come in on a Saturday at 10:30. I responded with NO we made plans and if we have to come in it will need to be earlier. So we made it for 8 am. It typically takes around 3 hours to receive blood. They actually had to admit us into the hospital We were admitted into the same room he had when we were at CHOC on January 8th! Weird. It took way longer than 3 hours. 6 to be exact.At least I got to rest/nap a bit while we were there.

EVERYONE was charmed as usual by Josiah and how easy he is. I hear all the time comments on how they wish EVERY patient was as easy as Jojo. It's because I named him Josiah Valor!;-) I got to speak to another Hematologist Dr. Buchbinder. I told him " you know we need a doctor like Dr House, would that happen to be you? " :-) He replied that NO, He's not house. He advised me to make sure we immediately got the other children tested to see if they are Bone Marrow Transplant matches for Josiah. he mentioned that each child of mine has a 25 % chance EACH (not combines as previously thought) of being a match. He said "you don't want to just keep on transfusing him because, we'll you just don't." I asked him "can you tell me the statistical data on graft vs host disease in exact sibling matches? Is the incident high or low?" He mentioned that it's hard to say because each case is different.
I am a planner so I want to know cold hard statistics. I want to know the odds on my son beating this disease. I asked if it is unlikely and improbable he'd get GVHD and he said "No it isn't rare, you really just never know why certain people get GVHD" I explained to him how disappointing this was to hear. I was really hoping for assurance that if we elected to go that route that our odds are good to have a positive outcome. I longed to hear him to say that the odds of Josiah suffering GVHD was minuscule. I appreciate Dr Buchbinder being a straighter shooter and answering our questions honestly. All the more to take this burden to the Lord. and to lay it at his feet.

When we FINALLY got out of there SIX HOURS LATER the airsoft party had already begun. Of course people were pretty understanding. It was SO wonderful, to be able to fellowship and see so many friends and their children enjoying themselves! My little lately lethargic Josiah was bouncing off WALLS with his new and improved hemoglobin levels. :-)
Here are just a few of the highlights.

Jojo Update 2/20/10

2010-02-20T23:06:00.000-08:00

My awesome friend Brenda went with me to take Josiah to see the doctor. She helps prick the doctors mind to think of every possible question to ask regarding treatment for Josiah. It was an especially important appointment. We finally got results of the bone marrow biopsy & aspiration. ( did you know that they drill a hole to get that ginourmous needle into your body? the needle is HUMONGOUS!!! Do you know when they do it to adults they keep you awake! MAJOR GAG!! )

Each doctor and nurse practitioner seems to have a different opinion on how Josiah is doing, what to do, and when to do it. We were told his bone marrow cellularity is up... almost 30%. To be Very Severe it would need to be around 10%. To be normal it would need to be around 50-70%. In November he was 16% so an improvement. Aplastic Anemia has 3 levels, Moderate (MA) Severe (SAA) and VERY Severe (VSAA). At the moment, Josiah is Moderate Aplastic Anemia. The nurse practitioner seemed to take the approach of "oh well, let's just keep transfusing him as he's not low enough for treatment." He has needed transfusions every 2-3 weeks. THIS ISN'T NATURAL, or healthy! Consider this.. "My son cannot survive without getting blood and platelet transfusions. How is this OK? Here is where a second opinion, me calling an expert in the field of Aplastic Anemia will come in. I will make my trip down to UCLA ASAP. When the actual DOCTOR came in I asked "so what are the negative consequences of receiving so many transfusions?" ( I mean come on, there has to be SOME consequence to receiving bi weekly transfusions) I'm REALLY GLAD I ASKED as she mentioned that the more transfusions you get, the more you antibodies you get from the wide range of people who donate the platelets. So if He's received 20 transfusions of platelets and each of those people have antibodies to certain things, then JOSIAH gets all those antibodies. The issue comes if/when he needs to get a bone marrow transplant. The more antibodies he has in his system and that he's exposed to, the more of a chance his body will reject the donor marrow. (Graft vs Host Disease) If your child has just been diagnosed with a Bone Marrow Failure Disease, please take this into serious consideration!

So, it is much better for Josiah to get platelets from only 1 or 2 people than it is from many. There are people who have offered to donate platelets for Josiah. We will need to accept the offer as it will give my son a better chance at survival than if we continue to do what we have been. It can NOT be a member of our family because if we donated the body would become familiar with our DNA and might develop antibodies to our DNA when /if he receives a BMT! (Bone marrow transplant) It gets tricky as we'll need to time it around times he is more likely to need a transfusion as platelets only last about a week. So we are kind of at the wait and see if he gets better or worse phase... yet AGAIN. They did mention getting the others kids tissue typed for a BMT just in case.

One really weird thing that happened was that me being the adoption advocate that I am, I was trying to persuade my friend who loves all things medical to foster a medically fragile child. She is a great mom and so loving and not at all freaked out by medical stuff that would gag most people. I told her how this whole thing with Josiah makes my heart break and more tender for those without parents and that have a chronic or life threatening diseases. Just then a little boy walks by and I immediately recognized him. He is one of the sibling sets i have PRAYED for! HE and his brother ages 4 and 2 are from the heart gallery. I have prayed for an adoptive home for them and asked the Lord to open doors if we should adopt them. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT I WOULD PRAY FOR THESE BOYS AND THEN SEE THEM and recognize them in the same section of CHOC where my own little boy is getting treatment! A HUGE God thing, so either the Lord wants them in our family or we are to fervently continue praying for a home for them. Aren't they CUTE!!!

More medical stuff

2010-02-17T10:14:00.000-08:00

It is so hard to know when to take Josiah to the ER, when he is sick or when he is having a discipline issue. When he is ill he is quite a pill. He has been sleeping quite a bit and really clingy so that concerns us. We find out the test results on Friday. D Day. I am having a hard time waiting. Take every thought captive, take every thought captive! They did the HLA typing. Now ...to get the family tested for a possible donor match. Friday will mark the beginning of treatment decisions! YIKES. This REALLY IS HAPPENING!! SO MANY decisions, it's crazy. Praise the Lord that He loves my son even more than I do or I'd be really panicking right now! ;-) Please pray for wisdom and discernment for which doctor and treatment options are best.

I have heard that even with having 4 siblings, he still only has a 30% chance of finding a match. I find that hard to believe. I wonder if we should somehow start doing blood, and donor drives like the many other blogs I have been following. I am in quite a few groups and the homeschooling community is pretty amazing. I'm sure we could get many people to sign up to donate blood, marrow plasma, platelets if needed. So many thoughts, so many decisions. Please pray for us, so many needs, so few resources, ONE huge AMAZING God who cares about even the smallest details and loves us with an everlasting love.
______________
Quotes that bless me:
You'll never realize Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you've got. --Mother Theresa

We can do nothing, we say sometimes, we can only pray. That, we feel, is a terribly precarious second-best. So long as we can fuss and work and rush about, so long as we can lend a hand, we have some hope; but if we have to fall back upon God -- ah, then things must be critical indeed! -- A. J. Gossip

God does not give His grace as He gives His sunshine - pouring it out on all alike. He discriminates in spiritual blessings. He gives strength according to our need. His eye is ever on us in tender, watchful love, and what we need He supplies. -- J. R. Miller

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith; and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety. -- George Müller

There is nothing, indeed, which God will not do for a man who dares to step out upon what seems to be the mist; though as he puts his foot down he finds a rock beneath him. -- F. B. Meyer

The flower that follows the sun does so even on cloudy days.-- Robert Leighton

All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen.-- Emerson

The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us.-- Author Unknown

Maxwell's Conference... AGAIN

2010-02-13T23:37:00.000-08:00

Isn't this BEAUTIFUL. It's made from all wood! I'd love this in my home with a different verse and bit smaller. Maybe one of my boys will one day excell in woodworking. ;-)

A photo with Teri Maxwell.

The whole family drove down to Fallbrook for the Maxwell Conference. This amazing family's website is over at www.titus2.com. The Maxwell's have wonderful resources, including a newsletter that you can sign up for. Some of their resources are "Managers of their Home," "Managers of their Chores" "Keeping our Children's hearts" and "Homeschooling with a meek and quite spirit." We attended their family conference with Exploring Homeschooling back when they came out a couple years back. With all that has been going on with Huatzin being out of work, Josiah being sick, doctors appointments, homeschooling and trying to be keeper of the home with lack of funds, resources and bill upon bill coming in daily without the ability to pay them, I've been quite frustrated. I have been edgy, stressed and STARVED for encouragement. I was SO blessed to attend this right before Valentine's Day.

Maxwell family bus! How neat to travel cross country Sharing Jesus.

I found this little refresher to be a huge reminder of many areas that I have grown lax on in the past year. From allowing ungodly media into our home, (in the past we held the standard of "is it educational and/or godly? Then went on down to "is it amusing and will it give me a moment to myself.YIKES!) to becoming lazy with ungodly influences, to the destructive fruit of anger. I was blessed by Teri's talk on Depression. Most of all the Lord pricked my heart with little ways where I had fallen lax with nurturing my marraige and reverencing my husband. It was all so timely. I was surprised at how much worse off I was then when I first heard them speak years ago. I don't believe that having a period of difficulty (in my case a whole YEAR) is excuse to sin or become lazy but all the more reason to SHINE for His Glory and reflect light in darkness. I have heard it said that just as you go to the doctors (assuming you can afford to) for a physical checkup, so you should even more so do occasional "spiritual" check ups. We were all blessed. Huatzin included. We spent the drive home talking about how we plan on implemeting these pricipals, It was wonderful. I LOVE my husband. Here are some very neat pictures I took while at the little church in Fallbrook.

A Firsthand Report From Haiti

2010-02-13T23:05:00.000-08:00

This is so beautiful! read to the end.

The Family Room archives - FamilyLife.com

My son has Aplastic Anemia

2010-02-09T15:01:00.000-08:00

OK, this is sort of a vent here.
My son has a serious life threatening disease!!! MY SON has a serious life threatening disease!!!
This is something I never thought I'd have to say. This is something no parent ever wants to hear. Many of us spend our days waiting for the other shoe to drop. We wait for calamity to befall us, and so it seems (and at the present moment feels as though) it has. I am taken aback by surprise, feeling as though the wind is knocked right out of me. My eyes blink away the tears even writing this. I can't believe this is our life now. I have seen alot of things and lived through some pretty terrible situations, child abuse, foster care, living in a domestic shelter with my grandmother, youth shelters being homeless as a teen, etc. They all pale in comparison to this... None of the things I have been through come close to this. My son, my sweet little huggable, exuberant, hilarious, amazing, joyful,silly affectionate, cute, daring, adventurous, spunky little son has a serious life threatening disease.

Here are some facts about Aplastic Anemia.
·Aplastic Anemia is rare with a worldwide variable annual incidence cited between 2 and 6 cases per million persons. Aplastic Anemia is so rare in the US, only about 200-300 people get it every year. We must be "the Lucky ones." Hey with these odds perhaps I should take up gambling! ;-)

·Aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes are non-contagious blood diseases that can strike regardless of age, gender, race or geographic location. They occur when bone marrow stops making enough healthy blood cells.
·Estimates put new cases of aplastic anemia at only 300 per year and of MDS at 20,000 per year. The diseases are too rare to be reported to public health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But AA&MDSIF keeps a patient registry database, one of the few sources for statistical information on the diseases.
·The most common treatments are transfusions, drugs that suppress the immune system and bone-marrow transplants. While transplants have effected some cures, a bone-marrow match is hard to find; even among relatives, an exact match occurs only about a third of the time.
·There is also a chance, that your child may reject the transplant, leading to life-threatening complications. Not everyone will have a suitable donor. This is referred to as Graft-versus-host disease. GVHD is a common complication of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in which functional immune cells in the transplanted marrow recognize the recipient as "foreign" and mount an immunologic attack. THERE IS NO CURE FOR GVHD!

Because the disease is so rare, I am finding it difficult to find lots of information about statistics on which options are more effective and that have a lower fatality/complication rate. I am also having trouble finding alternative therapies to assist in whichever medical treatment options we will have to choose. We need to find support groups to help us find what is most effective.

We are desperately praying for provision. We have reached the end of our resources and there still isn't any work available for Huatzin or his co-workers. We pray for jobs to start and needs to be met. I am not sure what else to say. A good friend reminded me to take things moment by moment and day by day. I choose to follow the one who formed the stars in the sky, gave life to my sweet little boy, counted the hairs on his cute curly little head and numbered his (and our) days.

Psalm 3:3 "But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

Got a little Aplastic Anemia help!

2010-02-09T12:09:00.000-08:00

I called the Aplastic Anemia & MDS Foundation ( http://www.aamds.org/aplastic/ ) as a peer volunteer returned my call. Her name is Leigh and she was SO wonderfully helpful. She really confirmed what I was already feeling. She mentioned to me that we should probably only deal with doctors who are specialists in this field, as the disease is so rare. She gave me the name of the experts in the area of AA(aplastic anemia). Dr David Margolis in Wisconsin and Dr. Neil Young over at the National Institute of Health in Baltimore Maryland. I reminded her that I lived in California. We are in Luck because yet another Aplastic Anemia specialist just happens to be located over at UCLA! Hooray for hopefully not having to go cross country with our family of 7! (Although it seems the few people I have contacted regarding AA have received some type of treatment at NIH in Maryland with Margolis with Dr Young in clinical trials.) We may have to travel yet, but we'll cross that bridge if/when we gt to it. The thought of having to somehow fundraise to get cross country terrifies me! The Lord would of course need to go before us as I get overwhelmed thinking about how the logistics of ANY treatment will work whether in state or out of state.

I asked why I was told to bring Josiah in at tee first sign of a fever/infection. She mentioned to me that she didn't want to frighten me but that this is a very serious life threatening disease and that any fever could be a sign of infection in which case Josiah would need antibiotics and monitoring. She told me that he isn't like my other children where you could wait until morning, or wait until after the weekend. It is very serious. I am glad she stressed that because the doctors didn't really seem to emphasise that at all. ( I did ask our doctor what a fever would be and she said anything over 101.5)

I asked her what parents tended to chose for treatment and she explained that some prefer to do BMT ( Bone marrow transplant as a last resort as there is no cure for graft verses host disease) That a BMT is the only way to cure AA, and typically 70-80% have a response. ATG could possibly put it in remission but that usually it wont CURE the disease. So is it better to risk the chance of a normal life with the cons of possibly GVHD or a safer ATG but never fully recovering? Decisions decisions. :-( She suggested I make a care page for my son to notify everyone of medical updates! It occurred to me that now " I/WE" we're now one of "THOSE PEOPLE." The ones with a sick child. I have always had friends that had those pages and now shes asked me to start one for MY SON! That was a wake up call. After hearing from Leigh it really brought home the point of how serious things are. I was better able to process everything. Now this whole thing seems so much more real. We are seeking Him for help on which steps to take and asking Him to protect, lead and guide us along this path that he has laid for us. For any of you that know someone with Aplastic anemia, here are some links I was recommended.

**** www.marrowforums.org
**** http://www.caringbridge.org/
**** http://www.aamds.org/aplastic For a video of Dr Margolis explaining the disease and treatment. There are 2 interviews ( 1in for parents one is for children, VERY helpful!)
here for parents HERE!!!

www.medlineplus.gov

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) www.nlm.nih.gov/

Anguishing Snapshot of Haiti

2010-02-08T16:32:00.001-08:00

Anguishing Snapshot of Haiti’s Ache: Take My Child

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More Labs at CHOC/Interview with Josiah

2010-02-04T13:24:00.000-08:00

Josiah went in for labs and will have a bone marrow biopsy & aspiration on Thursday. He also needs one final test to determine which treatment options we will do. Then comes all the research of the pros and cons of all the treatment options and deciding which steps to take. UG. With the state of Josiah's health and the treatment he's had so far, we need to get this done quickly. To many transfusions have negative consequences, and he's getting up there. It is serious and things may or may not work out the way we hope they will. But, It could always be worse. My perspective is that through all this we know Christ has a purpose for all this. I can't complain. We have access to treatment many in the world don't. I am grateful, privileged and BLESSED! We may not have much, but I am not living in the garbage slums of Kenya or the tent cities in Haiti. We may be broke but we are fed and clothed. I am praying for discernment and wisdom in the upcoming days of making the right medical decisions. I am praying for peace and for provision for our family. We are fervently praying for work for Huatzin. We are also searching for Aplastic Anemia Support Groups for those raising children with the disorder to help guide us in research and decisions. ______ *You don't need to see the way if you follow the one that is the Way.- Author Unknown *Nothing takes God by surprise. He knows the future and can therefore guide us through its trackless ways.-- W. T. Purkiser *Wisdom is, and starts with, the humility to accept the fact that you don't have all the right answers, and the courage to learn to ask the right questions.-- Author Unknown

Wisdom from Tapestry on Haitian Orphans and Adoption

2010-01-27T11:23:00.001-08:00

Wisdom from Tapestry on Haitian Orphans and Adoption

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

2009-12-24T14:12:00.000-08:00

We didn't yet finish our Christmas cards before Christmas. Sorry.If you'd like one please shoot me your address as I can't seem to locate our address book! Thanks Alida w5

The Rodriguez Family wishes you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Thank you for your love, friendship and support.
We wish you all a very wonderful Christ centered
Christmas and a HAPPY fruitful NEW YEAR filled with health,
purpose, provison, family and many blessings.

Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtbbbK5QH8Q
Advent Conspiracy is an international movement choosing compssion over consumption.
What if you could inspire your church, your family and yourself to avoid being consumed by commercialism this Christmas? Start Conspiring, visit www.adventconspiracy.org
_________________
It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty founder was a child Himself.-- Charles Dickens

How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, his precepts! O! 'tis easier to keep holidays than commandments. -- Benjamin Franklin

That the Creator himself comes to us and becomes our ransom -this is the reason for our rejoicing.-- Martin Luther

My Dream House

2009-11-30T01:11:00.000-08:00

I often wonder why many are blessed with huge homes that are selfish don't care about the orphan or the poor, OR ANYONE ther than themselves. People with mega houses without ANY children, or only 1 or 2! Oh that there hearts would be pricked with the sadness and longing of 143,000 million orphan children worldwide that are without anyone to look after them, feed them, clothe them and love them. I also wonder why so many can so easily bear children that they don't want them & abort or will chose drugs and sin over their precious children when many stable Christ loving folks can't give birth at all. His ways are not our ways THAT'S FOR SURE.

I pray that we'd be able to get even a decent home that would meet the requirements for us to adopt a sibling set from foster-care. (they allow no more than two people to a room)

I have ALWAYS dreamed, since childhood of adopting many little ones of all colors and raising them in God's love, truth and peace. ( since my own little dealings in foster care and shelters as a youth) We are prayerfully waiting on the Lord for guidance with this. We want to rescue children from foster-care and also internationally, and from any mother that would otherwise abort her baby. We pray the Lord will bring the right children and /or sibling set to our family. While we are praying we are praying for our dream home as well. We are asking for provision for

* A 12 or 15 passenger van (anyone want to trade)our packed to the gills Kia Sedona for a 12 or 15 seater van? Anyone want to downgrade?
* A preferably single story home
* At least 4, but hopefully 5 or more bedrooms,
* Located in or near Orange County, pretty much any city in or near OC works for me. ;)
* Room enough for a garden, fruit trees, playground, some chickens ( I won't get a rooster and make your neighbors hate me! honest!) and two pygmy dairy goats. ;-)for city goats I believe that means the goats need to be 100 ft away from any neighboring house. Niah is still holding out for a miniature pony, but I'd be thrilled with dairy goats. Why dairy goats you may ask.. do you KNOW how much money it is buying raw milk for a family of 7? $8.99HALF gal.enough said!
* AFFORDABLE for us. How the Lord would meet all of those classifications and make it affordable is beyond me, but since He own the cattle on 1000 hills, He can.
*It would be really NICE if the neighbors didn't steal from my children, but that isn't a requirement, can be overlooked! ;-)

SOOO.. if you know of anybody that wants to sell a home to a family starting out with absolutely NO EQUITY, for WAY cheaper ( yes cheaper) than your awesome home is worth) go ahead and shoot us an email! ;-) Any takers? ANYONE??? Bueller? Bueller?

The bone marrow biopsy/aspiration went well

2009-11-17T15:07:00.000-08:00

I never got back to many of you regarding Josiah, Josiah, who just recently turned 3! The bone marrow biopsy went wonderfully. Sweet Brenda watched all the children including baby Hezekiah. He sees her so often so he was comfortable going to her and she did such an outstanding job with him. Apparently he just smiled the whole time. Josiah did great. He is such an amazing kid. He was perfectly fine! He is such a trooper. Waiting...
And waiting...

It took the THIRD time of the nurse digging around his around trying to find a vein to put the line in before he began to get sad. I would have cried the first second. :-) Apparently he is such a laid back kid they use him to practice on for the inexperienced, I'd assume as most of the other nurses have always been able to put in a line easily and quickly. It was a bit gruesome for me to watch however.
Josiah a bit nervous..
Just give me my sword and I'll be OK!

It was so adorable, when he came too, he kept saying "Mamaaaaaa" and I'd say yes? He's smile still under the drugs.. "Maaa Maaaaaaaa" I'd say yes? He'd look around.
" MaaaaaMeeeeee!" Over and over. Then he turned to me and said " Mommy, you have two eyes! (sort of surprised) " ( his way of saying 4 eyes) I'd say " oh do I? Then he said" Mommy you have two eyes, " (sort of snickering) then he turned to me in horror with a disgusted sort of look in his eye. "MAMA, you have TWO EYES!!!" he kept saying it over and over again. The nurse and doctor and I started giggling. I have NO idea what I must of looked like, but to him it must have been quite trippy/freaky/WEIRD! Afterward they gave him a very cute puppy blanket that volunteers must have made, and let him choose a toy. ( He chose a puppy toy) and sent us on our way. We returned home to well cared for children and a happy baby. Brenda even managed to do SCHOOL with the kids! Is she awesome or what? Thanks for the prayers! Bless you,
Alida & Rodriguez Family

Josiah needs a bone marrow biopsy & aspiration

2009-11-03T23:00:00.000-08:00

I am pretty tired. This has been a long year that I can't wait to be over. Either Jesus or 2010 please come quickly. ;-) We thought we were wrapping up our little voyage down affliction lane ( 6 months don't ya know) with my husband finally finding work. Praise the Lord, He is working, however they just laid off 19 OTHER guys. They just hired him last week so this is truly puzzling.

We thought that our precious Josiah was healed but the last couple labs came back with him having very low platelets. They have thrown the Hematology/oncology team for a loop. The virus they thought was causing this whole thing is no longer present. They were low again today. 39,000 platelets and slowly dropping, In the past they have given transfusions for being that low. So we go in Thursday for a bone marrow biopsy and aspiration and to "discuss our options." ;-( BTW, this is NOT the time to call or write with the whole Jabaz prayer prosperity gospel, telling me that "if "I" just enough FAITH my son would be healed, we'd own our own home and we'd be living a life of abundance and luxury." Save it..PLEASE! I won't get into the biblical inaccuracies of that statement... but it's not very kind or beneficial.

I am a faith filled person, but had a rough day. Even though I have brought him numerous times before, they won't let siblings come into the clinic oncology/hematology clinic for any reason. That was fine, A friend watched my olders but they plainly told me that they will not let Hezekiah in any longer. ( they made exceptions for nursing babies in the past) Well, not anymore. Apparently a couple of children have died from the flu. Keep in mind these are immune compromised patients so please don't panic) My son spends the entire time in my sling, not out about and playing. Most of that time is spent sleeping or nursing under my shirt covered with my sling. "I" am more of a illness threat than he is!

Hezekiah doesn't take a bottle. I'm thinking they don't see the big deal with that because they are working mothers that probably are thinking "just get a sitter and bottle feed him!" I feel that we aren't on the same page with how important it is to keep a breastfed baby close to mother. I don't leave my infants with anyone. I never have. My whole countenance fell. I understand their concern. I wouldn't mind them checking him before hand to make sure he is well before we went in or doing some sort of compromise. A win/win. Afterall "I" too could be sick and they let me in. This makes things extremely difficult for us. I picture having to leave my baby while Josiah gets transfusions( which take along time) or worse, Josiah being hospitalized days or weeks at a time and me having to be away from my baby who probably wonders why mommy isn't holding him. ( awful to think about, and pretty dang unnatural) I can already hear him crying for me in my mind. I rebuke hospitalization for Josiah in Jesus name.

I tell myself to let tomorrow worry about it's own troubles and we'll cross that bridge if and when we get to it. I need to pump and pray for Thursday's bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. I pray Hezie either sleeps the whole time I'm gone or miraculously takes a bottle. I'm also praying against the really bad feeling that won't leave.. depart I say! depart! I wonder what is in store for our family and what the results will be and what it means for us. I am moment to moment trying to trust and follow my Father and trying to run to Jesus . I am trying to show my CHILDREN how to run to Jesus during all this uncertainty. ;-) Bless you all.

Matt6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

I Peter 1:7

2009-10-26T01:02:00.000-07:00

Good LORD! This is beautiful. "that the testing of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ." I Peter 1:7

Praise the Lord! Huatzin is Working!!!

2009-10-22T01:16:00.000-07:00

Rodriguez Family update.
Isaiah 58:8 Your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Many of you have covered us in prayer. The Lord in His faithfulness and His timing answered us. In the 11th hour don't ya know. ;-) God is His goodness provided Huatzin with a job out of the 100 plus men still searching for work.. Finally! I still can't believe it. Almost 6 MONTHS to the day of being let go from his job he is now working again. He is so thankful! I can't begin to imagine how hard this must have been on him. I could CRY telling you that him losing his job was the beginning of a VERY LONG SEASON of meekly trusting in the Lord for His EVERY provision.. From guidance, to our daily bread, two hospitalizations, trusting for the healing of our son, the birth of our baby and everything else in between. Huatzin getting a job was the first and last piece of the puzzle the last 6 months of tremendous adversity. It's hard to believe, but I am so grateful for all that has taken place. I never in my life fully comprehended that the Lord could provide for us for such long a time without our help or my striving. He is truly Jehovah Jireh! My Abba Father came through. It causes me to weep, my own earthly Father never provided and I at times would struggled trusting that my Heavenly Father would. I knew all the scriptures and had all the head knowledge. He lovingly patiently coaxed me to trust Him with the same assurance as my own children trust my husband and I. He loves each of us and like Matthew says , even the hairs on our head are numbered. We are His precious little children and He delights in us as a motherly tenderly cares for her child. I thank Him for not giving me all the things I wanted, but for providing all the things that we needed, in the timing that we needed them.

We have grown closer as a family and have grown so much. My children were able to pray for and see God's miracles as we came to the end of ourselves and ALL of our self efforts failed. They will always remember the great and mighty things the Lord done. We are grateful for friendships that deepened and even the ones that faded as they were a bit more superficial. Adversity is the best tester of friends ;-) ) We will always remember and be grateful for you many saints that were the hands and feet of Christ, Jesus with skin on. We learned that the family of God is BIG!! That we have many brothers and sisters that we've never even seen or met but that pray with us, help us and care for us. Thank you for little odd jobs for Huatzin, friends that brought over groceries, gift cards, and the unexpected monetary blessings that some felt led to give. We enjoy GIVING way more than receiving. The hardest thing for me to do EVER is to accept help. MY WHOLE BEING felt like I dying to self accepting assistance. The thought of inconveniencing someone, or being a burden terrifies me. We are one body and when one hurts we all hurt. We have learned that the Lord answers prayer in His own special way. It has been so humbling. I could go on about that, but enough said.

At times the difficulties were just like ocean waves beating against me and rolling over me. At the most difficult times I have felt such gratitude and supernatural peace. I have learned so much about myself and who I am In the midst of the great and mighty God that tenderly cares for us and orchestrates even the tiniest details of our lives. I have also learned that the Lord loves me too much to let me to be comfortable or become lazy, apathetic, mediocre and stagnant. He will chip away and chisel and heat things up around us until we are brightly shining and glorious for His good works. If you pray to be used mightily of the Lord He will first need to cleanse, refine, break, humble and purify you first. He'll make sure that you mean what you ask and if you are willing to endure and overcome various trials to get to the place of being usable to Him. You will probably wonder why you prayed that prayer. ;-) It is said that everyone desires the mountaintop experience, but not many want to make the agonizing climb to reach it. But, the view and perspective from up here is amazing! I have learned that things will often get guttingly and painfully worse before it gets better. But that often when the palpable darkness of affliction is hardest, deliverance is close at hand.. (Luke 21:28) "When these things come to pass, then look up, and LIFT UP YOUR HEADS; for your redemption draweth nigh." "Weeping may endure for the night, but JOY comes in the morning." Thank you for praying with us, loving us and carrying us in our brokenness. We look forward to blessing those as we have been blessed. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." Alida, Huatzin & Rodriguez Family.

Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
The LORD will command His love in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.(Psalm 42:7-8)

Counting my blessings Part 2

2009-10-08T23:30:00.001-07:00

I once heard a sermon about the staff. Thy rod, Thy staff they comfort me.. Whenever a shepherd overcame an attack or trial or felt the Lord spared them from something, he would carve it into his staff. When he would sit alone and begin to grow weary, he would lean on his staff for strength or look at the markings and remember all that they Lord delivered him from. I am going to give thanks to remember all that the Lord has done for us. Other than the OBVIOUS of helping Josiah improve healthwise...

The Lord answered our prayers a few months ago in an amazing way. We were checking out alternative ways to heal Josiah and the class I took and all the literature I read mentioned a certain product that would greatly help our son. I wanted to get it before but could never afford it. I asked my Husband and showed him information on how it helps aid in healing and he hesitated as we couldn't afford it. He said pray about it. I did, I felt really strongly that we were being led to get it as it as a natural way to heal Josiah. I went to check the mail, and behold their was a certified letter! ;-) I opened it up and it was a LARGE sum of money from Vineyard La Habra. I thought we were mistaken and was astonished as we looked at the pile of money. It was a true miracle and answer to prayer.

1) the fact that God used a CHURCH body that we didn't even KNOW existed, that somehow heard about us and God laid it on their heart to meet a financial need in our family just blew me away. The other MIRACLE is that it actually got to us! For some reason our mail always gets delivered to our neighbors! CONSTANTLY and vice versa. We are forever running mail back as it's constantly delivered to a wrong address. The fact that that HUGE envelope untouched is just a testament to God's mercy! We were so grateful at that timely gift for our family and our kids were SO AMAZED that they got to SEE God answer a prayer for provision so immediately an obviously. I am not sure who passed our information on but you are in our prayers and we thank you, all of you!

One time that I mentioned was when I was so weary at the hospital and feeling so low. On the way to shower a nurse stopped me and asked me if my son was Josiah and I was Alida. I replied yes. She said " well we have been praying for your family. I go to CCEA! " It was at that same timely moment that I was feeling overwhelmed and completely weary that HE sent someone to remind us that we were loved and not forgotten and that He cares for us. I cry just thinking about how that encouraging word blessed us. Sweet lady, I was to tired too get your name but I thank God for you!

Another blessing was that we finally went to the park for the first time since being hospitalized. I was a bit stressed and exhausted. I came home and people from a group I am in came by and FILLIED my home with FOOD while we were gone! We could hardly store it! I could hardly believe my eyes, it was ALL foods our family eats. and if THAT wasn't blessing enough, they left a check too. sniff sniff. Nurys, food fairy, you are an ANGEL, so are all you sweet sisters from Pizza Nights, and Contenders and Keepers of the Faith group that ppitched in. Some of whom I didn't even yet know. You have NO idea how overjoyed we were! THANK YOU!

THANK you also to my amazing mentor mama Rhonda V that brought us food over as well, TWICE! I look forward to being able to bless you back someday! Thank you also to the precious Lynch family that gave us gift cards. Your kindness is so appreciated! Dear Hersey family thank you for inviting us out and paying for us to go to the Basic Life Institute Seminar! You were an answer to pray for guidance, wisdom and direction. We were SO abundantly blessed beyond measure. We learned so much. Thank you also for ALL the ways you've blessed our family, especially with your friendship! Words cant express our gratefulness. Truly Thank you doesn't seem enough. Thank you also to our tiny little home church that blessed our family in such a great way with the unexpected financial gift for our family and the many many prayers for Josiah and odd jobs you've given Huatzin! May the Lord repay your kindness! Thank you also to Lydia Sheer ( sp?) of the families of South Coast Christian Home Educators that I guess partnered with the Mount of Olives Church that blessed us with a financial gift! What an unexpected blessing that came in such a timely close to the wire moment! I can't believe you would think of of family and wish to help us!

This has been such a long season of uncertainty for us, and total dependence on the Lord. Thanks to you many sweet people that have looked around your home and found things for my hubby to work on to put his skills to work. Men love to work and they can feel so defeated if they feel like there aren't doing something productive. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! We feel so cared for and appreciative. We hope to be able to comfort those the way we have been comforted in the future. May His peace, presence and face shine upon you all. Thank you for caring for the least of these! Even more so, thank you to all that prayed with us and for us. In Jesus, Love the Rodriguez family.

Praise in the midst of the storm/Counting my blessings

2009-10-06T22:07:00.000-07:00

Our family is experiencing quite a severe hardship right now. I won't into all the details. If you happen to think of us, please pray for Josiah's healing and for a job for Huatzin and the Lord's immediate provision. I will say that when times like this happen it is so good to meditate on the Lords goodness. Job said " do we accept only good from the Lord and not evil?" The Lord said in this world we will have tribulation, but that He has overcome the world. Sometimes my spirit feels drained and totally sapped of all strength. I am at a loss. I can't think of my circumstance because I immediately feel a sense of panic and dread. At those times I take my eyes off of my situation and focus on all that the Lord has done. All the ways He has showed His self mighty and strong on our behalf.

I was just thinking of what a blessing it has been that we seemed to be spared this terrible fate with Josiah. Doctors were certain he had cancer and God in His mercy and his goodness removed that yoke from around his body and from our family. He was cleared of it while many we spoke to while we were there were diagnosed with it. Thank you Lord for your mercy.

Thank you Lord for your provision. The thought of trying to pay for banking the cord blood with a husband unable to find work was so overwhelming. I had no idea HOW we could pay for that every month. A sweet friend encouraged us to sign up and to trust God to provide. My sweet friend Erin posted my situation to everyone she knew. I put it on my Baby registry.. In fact, it is the ONLY thing I registered for. I knew that friends would probably want to donate in lieu of a gift for our baby, but I was so unprepared for the WHOLE AMOUNT to be payed off! In only about a months time! Praise God. What's more many of the names on my registry were names of people I didn't even know! People who felt led to pray for OUR family and to help! Can you believe it! Who is God that He should be mindful of ME? Thank you so much, each of you that helped us with the Cord blood banking. I've said it once, but I'll say it again, we literally couldn't have done it without you!

Another way we were SUPER blessed is when Stacy Richards gathered snacks for our family for when we were at or visiting the hospital. People from our Homeschool group pitched in. Its little things like that that made the load a little lighter. Thank you. Sweet Stacy went on to do a raffle for our family. I get tears in my eyes when I think about all the effort she put into it. I was so horrified/embarassed at the thought. But we asked for God's provision and I realized that when you ask of the Lord, you should rejoice at however he chooses to answer, even if it totally humbles you to accept help. I was so blessed with all those that donated items for the raffle. Some I knew some I didn't even know and probably wont meet this side of heaven. Thank you ladies. (My THANK YOU comment was deleted on Stacy's site, so I'll put it here) I thanked Stacy profusely but words didn't seem enough! All of this while she is going threw a pretty severe financial hardship herself! One day we spoke and she told me her dryer died, her ipod was stolen along with her computer, her toilet cracked, her iron died and a bunch of other things. All this while helping out OUR family. Someone even donated the hair bows that they won. They wanted them to go to Anaiah. She wears them EVERYDAY!

STEFFANY thank you for all of your prayers and encouraging words and your help. Thank you Stacy for all you have done to bless our family and for sharing our story with so many! We have been so encouraged by you and all of your sweet friends that have emailed us, prayed for us. The adoption community is a passionate Christ serving caring group of people that are so used to reaching out to others, your love of Christ and His people BRIGHTLY SHINES! Thank you all that donated to our family for the raffle, both the items that were raffled off and the donations! I don't know everyone that donated but we THANK you for thinking of us! It is encouraging to know that the body of Christ is there for us! We can't wait to be able to bless others back when we are able. Just thinking about our answered prayer has blessed me. Peace and JOY in Jesus! Alida w5

2009-10-02T19:42:00.000-07:00

How Sad/Average length of Sponsorship.

2009-10-01T13:06:00.000-07:00

Wow! This is so tragic. I had no idea. The average length of sponsorship in Thailand is 1,024 days; in Ghana (where our girls are from), it's 239 days; and in Brazil, it’s 875 days. You can check out the sponsorship length for the other countries we work in this blog post comment.

How sad. As broke as we have been, we will not let our two little girls down. Our sponsorship could be the only thing keeping them educated, fed, sheltered and clothed. It could be the last thing standing in the way of a life of poverty, disease, prostitution, unemployment and death. We'd rather be without electricity in our house than to leave God's beloved to fend for themselves. If we make sure WE are fed, we can spare a little change for those that are starving. I hope others can make the same commitment.

If the roles were switched and it was our children in need, sick, malnourished or dying we'd want people committed to helping our children. Let us not hear of mothers watching their children starve to death or die of curable easily treated ailments while the body of Christ stands by and does nothing. If we can continue our sponsorship despite VERY severe hardships, than others can too. It is all perspective. Matthew 6:21 "because where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.""Thy treasure-thy heart" I believe anything worth anything comes with great sacrifice. I heard of a little 13 ear old Haitian orphan girl that often had to decide which sibling would eat that day and had to listen to her young siblings cry in anguish from hunger pains ask "Why does God only love Americans.?" The better question is "Why do many Americans love only themselves. ?" The poorest person here at least has access to medical care, food, and education. Your bleakest financial hardship is NO WHERE NEAR the hardship of most of the worlds poor. Even the US poor is privileged here.

James 2:16 "If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."

1 John 3:17 "But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?"

Deut. 15:7 "If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother."

1 John 3:17 "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?"

A bit of a setback with Josiah

2009-09-21T02:54:00.000-07:00

I like to always start with good news first, so here goes. We took our little Josiah in to get his monthly labs done. We didn't hear back and took it as a good sign. Days later we received the call. The doctor said his red blood count is fine. His red blood count is normal or very near normal. a great plus. He is no longer anemic! YAY! The virus that they thought was causing his illness, EBV is no longer positive in his system. Apparently this is the second month in a row it has been negative. I asked if this ruled out Aplastic Anemia, a very dreadful condition, much to my relief she said yes! So no Aplastic Anemia for our little guy.

Unfortunately his platelet count dropped a bit and isn't going up steadily as it had been. I was also told that his white count had dropped and something else called his nutrifill. He should have fully recovered by now for it being a virus, or at least the one they thought it was given the amount of time since his first admittance into the hospital. His platelets have not recovered the way they should. They are at 99. I believe it was 101 or 122, the month before so there should have been a least a steady increase. His white count is low and it is concerning to them as it was near normal range and has dropped. He doesn't need a transfusion at this time. But she said it could be that he has "a slow evolving illness" that is taking a long time to fully present itself. Maybe just the very early stages of something serious? Only God knows. I wonder my nursing him is what is holding it the sickness at bay? Acting as a sort of shield if you will, against an invading enemy in his body. That and God's mighty hand of course..

His belly is a bit distended and that could mean an enlarged spleen. We go in on Tuesday for an ultrasound. It is all a mystery. We go back for labs on Oct 13 and hopefully everything will be resolved and his blood levels up, if not they'll want another biopsy and aspiration. I am praying against him needing to be hospitalized. The thought sickens me. There are so many details of difficulty that we'd have to endure that I just don't want to even go there. We are also praying for the Lord to bless Huatzin with work. We are really waiting on the Lord with His provision. This has been a rough stretch for us unlike any other we have ever faced with him out of work so long. I know it's taking a toll on him a well. Please pray he gets hired soon as our insurance is only available about another month. We couldn't possibly afford all his out of pocket expenses without our insurance. However the Lord is on the throne and I take comfort that from everlasting to everlasting He is God. That The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. (psalm 34:10)Thank you for all the prayer and encouraging words. I want you all to know that like Romans 1:9 "I make mention of you always in my prayers." Peace and JOY in Jesus, Alida w5
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dr. David Jeremiah-"You have been placed in the cul-de-sac or allowed to be there for reasons known for now only to Himself. The same God who led you in will lead you out. Our trials may seem more than we can bear. When we can't fight for ourselves, the battle belo...ngs to Him When we can't swim, He will part the waters. "

The prayer closet is the arena which produces the overcomer.-- Paul E. Billheimer

A gem cannot be polished without friction; the child of God cannot be perfected without adversity.-- Author Unknown

Faith enables us to move through the storms carrying our calm with us.-- J. Holmes

Please Watch! Ethiopian Orphans

2009-09-04T17:42:00.000-07:00

This amazing video was directed and edited by Simon Scionka on behalf of Children’s HopeChest.
Ethiopian Orphans

August Update on Josiah

2009-08-20T23:22:00.000-07:00

I am sorry for how much time has passed without an update! Especially since so many of you sweet sisters and brothers were praying for our family. Josiah is doing so much better. I really feel it is due to the intercession of all of you wonderful saints. We went in with an almost certain Leukemia diagnosis and now he seems fine. He still has a bit of a heart murmur and has the pale anemic face but still a huge improvement from when we first brought him in. I'll never forget the day they told me he may have cancer, and they day they made us sign form saying we understood the treatment options for Leukemia. I will also NEVER forget the day they handed it all back to us saying they were certain that is doesn't have the disease! You need a bit of the rain to to really appreciate the Sun.

His platelets have steadily gone up each time we have gone back. He is now at 101,000 platelets, so still low but way higher than the 8,000 he went in with originally. It's now been two about 2 1/2 months since my sweet son last received transfusions. When this whole thing began I feared many weeks of it. God is so gracious and merciful. Normal is around 250,000-450,000 and 150,000 is the norm for some people that naturally have low platelets. We have gone from weekly hospital visits to biweekly and now on to once a month. Most times the whole ordeal seems like such a distant faded memory. Other times it's as fresh as yesterday. It was such an uncertain time. Ladies, this is why we aren't to worry and fret. Now what seemed like an endless situation is all but over and worrying or panicking wouldn't have helped us one bit. Putting it in God's hand' will give you peace and joy when nothing else will. I DO wonder when I'll be able to see a bruise without thinking he's ill. Or, when he acts a little out of the ordinary, if I'll always think of Aplastic Anemia. This has opened my eyes to see each day as a gift, each child of mine is so loved and cherished by my husband and I.

We have been so very thankful for all that the Lord has brought us through.. from Josiah's cancer/blood disorder scare, the birth of a new baby and juggling a home with 5 under 8, to depending on him to provide our every need with Huatzin being out at work, and now beginning a new school year with 3 students. "Always something to keep us humble," as a sweet friend of mine would say. We go back in a couple of weeks. I'm sure he'll be fine. Thanks again. Love in Jesus, Alida & Rodriguez Family

Hospitalized with Hezekiah

2009-07-01T23:08:00.000-07:00

Some of you know that we ended up being hospitalized yet again, this time with Hezekiah only 10 days old. ARG! ;-) For those of you that thought I was peacefully recovering at home after my homebirth, well, I WASN'T! :-)

I must have cut a bit of Hezekiah's finger as I clipped his nails. ( be sure to sterilize your clippers in alcohol) His finger got terribly infected. Saturday June 27 the family and I had an enjoyable day out followed by a wonderful homeschooling seminar with Sally Clarkson. ( I LOVE Sally Clarkson's ministry) My friend Erin noticed that Hezekiah's finger looked swollen/infected. She encouraged me to take him in. It was the weekend and I DID NOT WANT TO GO TO THE ER! Especially as Josiah was hospitalized on the 27th. I so didn't want this to be another way they are similar. The thought of returning to CHOC again gave me a panic attack. I wanted to wait until Monday for the doctor, but my hubby didn't feel right about waiting with such a little one so we got the kids in bed and in I went. Yay me. Canaan said " mama your not spending the night again and staying a long time like you did with Josiah right? cuz I didn't like that." I replied " no baby I'll be back really soon." HA! Lord keep my poor child from becoming phobic of seeking medical attention for fear that it ALWAYS LEADS TO HOPSITALIZATION!

Ok, I honestly thought they'd drain the finger give him some antibiotics and send us home. NEWSFLASH, if you EVER go in the ER with a newborn, bring a blankie and a toothbrush "cuz your staying put!" I was SO disappointed. The same sweet wonderful nurse that gave Josiah an IV line effortlessly and painlessly was there and worked on Hezekiah. I believe her name is Karen Andes. She is amazing, LOVES her job and outta win an award for nurse of the year! I was there a while and she brought me a meal and insisted I eat and drink to keep up my milk supply. God's mercy as I didn't eat again for a LONG time! This visit cost us SO MUCH MONEY!! Unlike the Oncology floor there aren't any refrigerators in the room so bringing food from home isn't optional. They give ONE meal voucher for lactating mothers, as if a nursing mother only needs to eat one meal. ( I wouldn't mind that so much except I KNOW how much they charge for the stay ( ended up being over $19,000 for 5 days, so adding meals for the nursing mama would have been great.

I wonder if I'm probably on some list somewhere. I requested a bed as opposed to a crib for Hezekiah as we co sleep. I heard the nurse say "tell her we aren't giving her a bed and having her roll over and kill her baby here on my watch" I told the other nurse " tell her I heard exactly what she said, I'm a nursing mom, I have 5 children all are alive, and what on EARTH did they do before the advent of cribs. People ALL OVER the world sleep with their babies and have for thousands of years." She got annoyed and went and got the head nurse who told me that "you can roll over on your baby and KILL HIM, it's against hospital policy and your not getting a bed." I reminded them that "I was here exactly 1 month ago today and slept with my child the entire time. I'm not a first time mom, I nurse my newborn every 30 minutes or so and am not getting up every half hour to nurse him, fed him, place back in a crib. (to me that seems dangerous to be an exhausted overtired mother)I told her the same that I told the 1st nurse and said look, my baby sleeps with me whether its in the chair, or the bed. A bed would be safer than us crammed in the tiny pull out chair. She told me, if I got the bed I could never shower or go to the restroom" I told her "thanks fine" ( I'd put him in the stroller" she rolled her eyes and in her most condescending tone, told me "FINE! I'm going to write it in your file that you are not complying and going against hospital policy, to which I replied that I'd gladly sign it! ;-)

I am not a first time mom, nor am I easily bullied and know what is best for my child. That doesn't include a mother that is crazy because she's so exhausted from lack of sleep getting up every half hour that her eyes are burning out of her skull! I was irritated to be there in the first place. We have never had a problem with co sleeping at any hospital, or even with Josiah (at the same hospital) a month earlier! Needless to say, I got my bed! Sorry for all the photos, I had NOTHING ELSE TO DO FOR FIVE DAYS!! I had a ton of milk as I am used to tandem nursing. I asked for this...(breast pump not a karoke machine) to this in one sitting... by golly I feel sort of bovine-ish.

Afterward they had a social worker or some hospital worker come and take down the names ages of my children! weird, and seems so very illegal. Not sure what they need that info for. Anyhoo, they kept us 5 long days before they let us go. It was actually kind of nightmarish. I was crabby, hungry, missed my kiddos, postpartum recovering. The funniest most torturous part is that there's nothing you can do while there except maybe watch TV. Only all they ever had playing were those irritating Disney shows where the teens dress like adults and talk about things not suitable for most children, underdog, Spanish TV and MICHAEL JACKSON on EVEY single station. EVERYDAY ALL DAY! This is the same kind of footage the World Trade Center Buildings got! OVER and OVER! Seriously, he's THAT important?

It was also pretty disgusting because every blanket or gown they brought me had hair on it. The bathrooms were pretty unclean, and the floors. If there's one place that SHOULD be clean, it should be the Hospital. I am still recuperating from all the germs and dirt and hair now that I'm home! I'm so twitchy and phobic from the whole ordeal. I think it was the floor I was on. When I was there a month ago, it wasn't that bad! I keep cleaning and washing as the CHOC adventure #2 was so gross. I'm not sure what the purpose was for our being there. I didn't get to share the Lord with anyone like before, the nurses may have seen tiny glimpses, but nothing that stood out to me, so not sure what God had for us there. Sanctification? the nurses? Rest ? I stopped feeling dizzy after my stay there. Anyhoo, I pray NEVER EVER to need to go to CHOC again. (other than for Josiah's check ups)
Wanna hear a funny joke? Knock Knock, Who's there, Guess why we paid to have a homebirth...Why? Well because I didn't want to spend all that precious time of the early days of being poked and prodded by nursing staff! hahaha guess what happened the whole time we were there? We were poked, prodded and woken up every hour to give antibiotics or to be asked "gee sorry to wake you AGAIN, how long did he nurse? which breast left or right, how many minutes total? When did he have a bowel movement, when did he last urinate? It's 3 am, you weren't sleeping were you? We just wanted to ask how long he nursed opps, time to check his vitals? ( why, i have no idea, he's hooked up monitored anyway, they can see them on the screen just fine!) The funny thing is on the VERY last day they drained his finger and it cleared up really well, enough to send us home. It would have been GREAT had they done that when we first got here. Here we are in this pic leaving CHOC yet again! This time Hezi is out of the womb. Isn't he cute? Farewell, goodbye, may we never meet again inside these walls!

Bone marrow biopsy CANCELLED!

2009-06-23T11:52:00.000-07:00

Praise the Lord for what God has done! Your prayers are working! Right as we were ready to leave this morning, the doctor called to inform us that Josiah's numbers went up DRAMATICALLY!!!
His biopsy is no longer needed! We are so thankful! I honestly think it is the prayer, the homeopathic things we've tried, and... BREAST MILK!

My milk recently came in and he has been nursing up a storm. I think all the
wonderful nutrients in good ole fashioned mamas milk has been the cure for
what ails him. ;-) I used to always feel God' leading to do extended nursing with
each of my children, that if they got sick it would be a great source of comfort
for them, lo and behold it is true. God gives us everything we need. I've always
figured, if it was good enough for JESUS, Moses, Samuel and Isaac, it's good
enough for my kiddos. Thank you faithful saints. To God be the glory.
We go back next week, hopefully we will continue to see improvement!

Another Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy tomorrow/Please pray

2009-06-22T17:09:00.000-07:00

Today Huatzin took Josiah in for labs! Hooray, daddy toughened up to do it. ( He is typically pretty squeamish) I would have but I am still feeling pretty weak, which is so unlike my other deliveries. This ole gray mare, she ain't what she used to be! ;-) lol. The bummer is that two doctors told him information about Josiah and the procedure that will be done, and results of other tests, and you know men are not big on details. ;-( I have been trying to pry the specifics out of him.

Basically they told him more of the same, that they are hoping it's a virus but that the Bone biopsy and aspiration will tell us if he has improved or gotten worse. They also said they are sending his new results to a "special" Specialist! Apparently he or she specializes in Aplastic Anemia and other blood related disorders. They must be really expert in their field, because from what I understand, CHOC already has 7 doctors that are trained in both oncology and hematology and 4 that are strictly hematology specialists that are looking over his file. Praise God we are here in the US and so near to CHOC and not in the bush somewhere. We count our blessings) I am positive we won't get the results back right away. It took days to get the other results back so I expect the same. I will take Josiah as I really want to be there for him.

Lord PLEASE do not let it come back Aplastic anemia. Lord you came for the sick and we ask you to heal Josiah and that the results would come back as just recovering from a virus. Regardless of what you choose for us, We ask that you'd be glorified in everything we do and that your glorious light would be reflected in every situation. Anyway, that's the update for now. When we have more info, we'll post it. Thank you for all of your love and support. I am so sorry I haven't been quick to thank you individually, but we are so encouraged by your kindness and concern for our family. Huatzin, & Alida, Canaan, Elijah, Anaiah, Josiah, Hezekiah Rodriguez

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But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. Malachi 4:2

An Exhausted Mama/ A 9 pound baby!

2009-06-19T15:18:00.000-07:00

Many people have asked how we are doing. We are fine. I will say this has been one of the hardest recoveries for me. The birth went fine, I labored peacefully. Pushing was very hard for me this time around. I don't know if it's all the stress or if I was emotionally tired from all that is going on, or not getting rest beforehand, but it was very hard.

This is a little embarrassing.. Afterward I tried to do too much too soon and passed out. I actually lost consciousness and couldn't stay awake. It was scary for me. I have never experienced that before. Recovery has been slow, I feel weak and light headed. Thankfully I can rest in my home in my bed without being disturbed they way I would be in a hospital. Huatzin has been amazing, of course. God blessed me with a WONDERFUL husband! I took Hezekiah to the doctor's yesterday and my midwife's scale if off. Hezekiah weigh 9lbs 3 oz. Babies don't gain right off the bat, so he was born 9'3! So that explains some of the difficulty! I couldn't believe I had such a hard time pushing out an 8 pounder! Come to find out he was a tad bigger. ;-) So, yet another similarity between the two boys. Both are born on the 17th, both were 9 lbs 3 oz. and both are good old testament kings. Both names have one of the meanings being " The Lord is my strength/Strength of the Lord. and hopefully, if needed they'll share the same cord blood. ;-) There you have it. Rodriguez Family trivia for you.

We are so in love with this new gorgeous babe. Nothing smells sweeter than a little snuggly sweet baby. Ahhhh God is so good. OK, I'm off to rest. Alida

Monday at CHOC/ our very LONG day (from 6/15/09)

2009-06-19T14:03:00.000-07:00

Monday we went in at 10:00 am to get Josiah's labs done. I KNEW he'd need a transfusion. About a month or two before this whole thing happened we started getting really concerned. Josiah began to display behavior that we were actually praying over and seeking help for that we thought was mental illness. He would get really unreasonable and freak out and have huge meltdowns that were so different than that of anything our other children had ever done. Looking back now I think it's just that his body was so ill he would go into overload not knowing how to deal with feeling sick. I think of what his poor little body must have felt.. did he feel dizzy light headed? Did he have heart palpitations? He didn't know how to verbalize the icky way he felt. At the time we struggled with whether or not it was a discipline issue or mental illness. Now we know it was neither. Now we know the signs.

We knew he was going to need a transfusion as he started the meltdowns and irrational behavior again, got more bruising and started sleeping alot more than normal. I was annoyed because his white count was only 25,000 on Friday and they didn't call us in for platelets so we were concerned all weekend about how he would do. We left the hospital around 11:30 am. We received a phone call around 12:30 saying he needed to come in, this time for blood AND platelets as both were low. His platelets were 19,000. They should be much higher.

I was disappointed. I had hoped he was getting better. He isn't. That was hard to hear. I kept hoping this whole thing would be wrapped up before I delivered. The thought of going back to the hospital weekly with a toddler and newborn makes me so weary. The Doctor that we spoke with pointed out that some of the things we've noticed are due to him being ill. Josiah has a very tan little body but his face is really pale. That is caused by anemia. He also has developed a heart murmur that comes from not enough hemoglobin that carries oxygen to his body.

I took him back at 3. It put the numbing cream on him earlier but his arm was bruised from the earlier drawing so they had to put the IV in an unmedicated area. He was very sad about it, but they had a sweet child specialist come in and blew bubbles while he got the line put in. CHOC is so wonderful in that way. I felt so grateful that Josiah does so well. Especially when a little boy the same age as him came in and screamed for 30 minutes while they put his line in, took his temps etc. poor little guy. He had a brain tumor removed. :-( I'd scream too. God is so merciful. I'm not sure if my other children would fair so well. The nurses spoke about how fearless and brave he was. I am thankful we named him Josiah Valor. He lives up to his name. I became very overwhelmed. We were there for what seemed like forever. I started picturing in my mind and endless cycle of doing this week after week. I started feeling contractions and wanting to go home.

I was REALLLY hoping this baby would NOT come anytime soon. Not now anyway, maybe next week or better yet, the week after. Putting on the happy face for my little man. It's so easy to smile when I look at him. We left around 7:30pm. I called ahead and asked Huatzin to make dinner because I knew we'd get home late. I got home and he made grilled cheese sandwiches for the 3rd day in a row. My countenance fell.
:-) Called up my friend Tina and asked to go to dinner with me at an Indian Restaurant. We head out for some really yummy Indian food. ( no one else in my family eats it) All is well with the world. :-)
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Sometimes God sends the brilliant light of a rainbow to remind us of His presence, lest we forget in our personal darkness His great and gracious promises to never leave us alone. -- Verdell Davis

What is it to serve God and to do His will? Nothing else than to show mercy to our neighbor. For it is our neighbor who needs our service; God in heaven needs it not. Martin Luther

God does not lead His children around hardship, but leads them straight through hardship. But He leads! And amidst the hardship, He is nearer to them than ever before.-- Otto Dibelius

Faith is not only a commitment to the promises of Christ; faith is also a commitment to the demands of Christ.-- William Barclay

We must alter our lives in order to alter our hearts, for it is impossible to live one way and pray another. -- William Law

Salvation is free, ... but discipleship will cost you your life.-- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Bartering with the Lord...

2009-06-18T12:26:00.000-07:00

On Sunday at around 3 in the morning I awoke to a terrible dream about a family member and felt the Lord wanting me to get up and pray. I thought about the word of knowledge that I received from a sweet praying woman about how the Lord was going to start answering Salvation prayers for those we’ve been praying for, for years and opening up opportunities to share the gospel than I had been able to before. I started to intercede for the many people dealing with sickness addictions, and bondage to sin, the many with financial and health troubles. There is such peace that comes when you take your focus off your circumstances and pray for the needs of others and look to Jesus. Suddenly the impossible seems possible.

I heard the verse of giving thanks in every circumstance. It occurred to me that I had thanked God when Huatzin lost his job. I even thanked God when we ended up not getting the home we were about to close on, all those things seemed easy enough to trust in God’s leading and provision for. I felt a nudge saying “but you didn’t thank God for Josiah’s medical issues.” (Here it gets more personal; we tend to cling tightly to all things regarding our children) I have been feeling the struggle regarding that area and just could never bring myself to do it. How can I thank God for my little boy being ill? I heard the songs “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, his love endures forever.” I thought of the song “rejoice in the Lord always.” I thought of all the uncertainties of what lies ahead. Finally and very tearfully I got to the place when I could PRAISE and THANK the Lord for Josiah’s illness with sincerity and gratefulness, Knowing that He sees the WHOLE picture. Knowing also that He'd be near to help and lead me through any circumstance, no matter the difficulty.

I thought about how we make deals with the Lord. “Lord use my children, but please don’t let them”(fill in the blank) Oddly enough we were recently discussing the mother of the disciples that asks Jesus if her sons could sit on his right and left side in heaven. Jesus told her "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" We all want incredible little beacons for Christ, but we don’t want the work, toil and pain that come with getting there.

A while back, I remember saying Lord please don’t let my children get sick and felt Him saying “but what if it’s for my good.” I said then Lord if it’s your will.” I said Lord please don’t let my children become orphaned or let me die before they are fully grown, and He said but what if it’s for my glory, and VERY reluctantly I said, Lord whatever it takes, but I don’t find that at all ideal! I said “Lord PLEASE keep my children from ever turning from you and living in sin,” once again He encouraged me just to trust that WHATEVER happens to my children , He’ll be there for them like he has been for me. He encouraged me to let this whole illusion of control that we think we have over our children’s lives go. He’ll do whatever it takes to form my children into His likeness and to use their precious lives the way He sees fit. That I shouldn’t try to make His will my will, that God is bigger than how I picture Him.

Isaiah 64:8 but now, O LORD, thou [art] our father; we [are] the clay, and thou our potter; and we all [are] the work of thy hand.

Isaiah 45:9 Woe unto him that strived with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioned it, what makes thou? Or thy work, He hath no hands?

He knows how this will all end; He is the author and finisher of my son’s faith. I don’t need to barter and beg and manipulate the Lord. (He sees through it all anyway) It was wonderful that this whole striving/surrendering all happened to prepare me for the very long day we’d have on Monday. ;-) Alida
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The turning point in our lives is when we stop seeking the God we want and start seeking the God who is. Patrick Morley

Give me a stout heart to bear my own burdens. Give me a willing heart to bear the burdens of others. Give me a believing heart to cast all burdens upon Thee, O Lord. John Baillie

When God turns away from us because of selfishness, it is not rejection. Rather, it is an invitation to follow Him to a place we would rather not go. Brennan Manning

If ye keep watch over your hearts, and listen for the Voice of God and learn of Him, in one short hour ye can learn more from Him than ye could learn from Man in a thousand years. Johannes Tauler

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose. Jim Elliot

Our newest addition!

2009-06-17T23:44:00.000-07:00

Hi Family and Friends,
The Rodriguez Family just gave birth to their newest addition to our little tribe... At 3:39 pm 6/17/09 to a
A beautiful bouncing baby BOY.

That is 4 mighty Knights of Valor and 1 Princess for the count. After many hours of labor, Our newest little manchild/arrow of our Quiver, joined us via waterbirth peacefully in our very own home.

We had an amazing midwife (Geeta) (from the Living Well Clinic) and our very own wonderful Brenda that was the nurse assistant. ( Her sister came all the way down from Long Beach to be our own personal phelmbotomist. THANK you! They were incredible and very patient. A special thanks to Le Leche League Leader and Doula Sue Christy for watching our children during the birth.

Hezekiah Lysias Rodriguez weighs 8 lb 11 oz (tiny for our family)
Hezekiah (nicknamed Hezeki) means The Lord is my Might and Strength. Also means He is the might and Strength of the Lord. Lysias means- One who has the power to set free. We pray that this little one will be used mightily by the Lord and that he will be used by God to set people free from bondage and sin into new life in Christ Jesus! I didn't feel ready to have this little guy, but he is a welcome addition. He is born the same day as Josiah, different month... the 17th. I thought it was so neat that his cord blood may be used to heal Josiah and he is born on the same day. Bless you all, THANK you all. Now a very exhausted mama and daddy are off to bed.

Another Doctor visit.

2009-06-14T19:57:00.000-07:00

We went back to CHOC on Monday and they told us Josiah was low on platelets and blood, but not enough to get a transfusion and to come back on Friday. Friday's appointment went much smoother because they gave me a topical numbing cream to put on Josiah an hour before that numbs the site and makes needle work ( blood being drawn) less painful! I was VERY grateful and he didn't cry at all while getting his labs. I feel for people in countries where such care and treatment isn't available. Here Josiah is showing the cream and the plastic covering that holds it in place.

We waited all day to hear back from them. (it is hard to plan activities for our family as we never know if we'll get called in or not) Finally it got late and I called and asked what the results were. The nurse said his platelets were low ( only 25,000 but that the doctors didn't tell him to come in. We thought that was strange as when he was only 15,000 they said he needed to come in and that anything below 50,000 was too low. This led to a somewhat stressful weekend for us. He has been lacking in energy a bit and taking more naps. They also mentioned because his white count is low, he is easily susecptible to infections and to try to keep him from sick people. This is hard as I am not the mom that is paranoid about my child being exposed to illnesses. Generally, so long as it isn't someone vomiting we typically don't mind and I consider it building immunity to be exposed, but it's a little different now. Something in his blood, (sorry can't recall what) was only 550 and that if it drops to to under 500 then he could be ill. I feel silly for not remembering the specifics. ( pregnancy brain you know) I am not sure if him sleeping more is because he needs a transfusion, is a growth spurt or his body is just recovering.

Quite a few people have called me asking if we've had the baby and NO, no baby yet. Truthfully the thought of having a baby with all this going on sort of overwhelms me and doesn't sound pleasant. I know I can't be pregnant forever, but just a little longer is fine with me. :-) It's not that I don't trust the Lord to help us in our time of need, it's just that it's so much easier to have baby in than out. ;-) The thought of schlepping two kiddos to get labs and transfusions doesn't sound appealing to me. I do promise to post when baby does arrive, now whether the baby will have a name or not, I cannot guarantee. :-) Thank you for asking and praying.
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There is no situation so chaotic that God cannot from that
situation, create something that is surpassingly good. He did it
at the creation. He did it at the cross. He is doing it today.
-- Handley C. G. Moule

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Father's Day Blues?

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I need help getting to Africa

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Village of Korah

Date has been changed!

Through a tree

Redlight: Harrowing stories of child sexploitation

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Should I have been aborted?

His little Feet Concert!

Don’t just pretend to love others..

Listen

She doesn't know it yet

A Movie Worth Changing Plans For

Rodriguez Party of 9

Going from 5-7 children!

How we added 2 more children to our family

December 1st World AIDS Day

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A Hole In Her Throat

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Daughter Date with Anaiah

Is the Orphan My Neighbor?

Heidi Baker - Father's Heart

Our first homestudy meeting

I hate helping one person at a time

Sept 2010 Rodriguez /Josiah update

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What does love look like? Arms wide open

How do I say this nicely...

Just SAY YES

Paul, Stacy and Solomon UNITED!

We raised nearly $3,000 for the Richards Family!!!

Adopting the Waiting Child

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Yes you heard it, we are IN PROCESS to ADOPT!

Sharing at the Children's Home! Things I wish someone would have told me (Part 2)

Sharing at the Children's Home! Things I wish someone would have told me

Results from the Bone Marrow Donor Testing/Josiah Updates

National Afro day! Happy 4th!

Doing the Master Cleanse/10 day fast

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One year ago today

Recent labs

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HLA typing for the WHOLE family!

5 reasons you need to do the World Race!

Remarkable News from Colorado

Remarkable News from Colorado

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Transfusions & Airsoft Party!

Jojo Update 2/20/10

More medical stuff

Maxwell's Conference... AGAIN

A Firsthand Report From Haiti

My son has Aplastic Anemia

Got a little Aplastic Anemia help!

Anguishing Snapshot of Haiti

More Labs at CHOC/Interview with Josiah

Wisdom from Tapestry on Haitian Orphans and Adoption

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

My Dream House

The bone marrow biopsy/aspiration went well

Josiah needs a bone marrow biopsy & aspiration

I Peter 1:7

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