Merry Christmas 2010

It's Christmas Day and Manny set up our new scanner. So, here is a trip down memory lane...


This is a picture of me and my Mom on Christmas Day! We lived in Whittier at the time.


Christmas in Madera. The next couple of pictures are of Ben and his Great Grandma Johnson.



This picture is of Jay, April and Mel at our house in SouthRidge on Christmas Day!


Family trip in Idywild during the Christmas holiday. Zack wrapped Bonnie's gift in foil...silly boy!


Best friends, Zack, Bonnie and Josh.... my kids!


Christmas in Madera with my Dad... I miss him


Zack and Santa


Zack (or should I say Zechar) and Mel... kissing cousins



Christmas with my precious son!


Christmas in La Habra at Grandma & Grandpa Johnson's house!
Zack and Grandma Johnson


A new pony for Christmas! Zack, Josh and me!



Zack, all dressed up and ready for Christmas pictures!


Sweet boy!



My most precious gift on earth!

Getting Ready For Christmas!

Thanksgiving was nice in Pasadena with Manny's parents. We showed up with the food and did our best to provide a "somewhat" homemade meal for them. LOL

If you can call a Von's in the box turkey meal homemade. :)

Next year I AM COOKING!!!

I missed Zack, Bonnie and the kids but they had a wonderful gathering with the cousins,and Bonnie's family.

Anyway, I put away the pilgrims and decorated the fake tree. As I put the top on I thought of Samuels voice, it's upside down. It is very easy to put the tree together with the help of a four year old. :) Now all I need is a poinsettia plant for the front porch.

October Fun!

Wizard of Oz!


Bonnie did a great job picking out their costumes!

It's A New Day!

Rise and Shine and give God the glory... I am coming out of my "whatever it is" I have been going through. Yesterday I realized my life is a little stressful. I mean I knew it but never allowed myself to embrace the craziness of life.

So today, I am going to shine!
I am not going to worry about anything.

I am going to call my grandchildren, and talk to them on the phone.

After that I will get on the treadmill and walk off some of this stress.

But right now, I am going to sit with coffee in hand and enjoy the beautiful morning. It rained last night and now the desert sky is full of clean air and puffy white clouds.

This is the day He has made....and I will rejoice and be glad!

A Heavy Heart

I have been finding myself so emotional lately, and I have been trying to discover the cause.So I feel like ranting today... :)

Family gatherings are not what they use to be, unless we go to Manny's parents house. Holidays don't always have the traditional foods I remember sitting on the table as a child. My life is too busy with work. I need to plan on taking the time to prepare what I think is a traditional setting for the holiday meal.

Now I'm not saying all family gathering are lacking something. For instance, when Zack, Bonnie and the kids are here I am quite content. I love the laughter and cooking with the boys. The sound of harmonicas playing...

For some turkey is not on the table because it's considered taboo, and butter has been replaced with organic something. Conversation is built around being a vegan, vegetarian or animal rights. It's so hard to enjoy that yummy Turkey sitting on the table when we are talking about that.

What happened to what was right in my parents day? How did we evolve to this point? I consider the 1920's, would those families turn their nose up at having meat on the table? No, they would bow their head and give thanks.

This whole green movement has been driving me crazy as well, why can't I buy a bag of something without a picture of manure on it. Do I care that my food has been placed in a recycled bag. No, in fact it makes it difficult for me to eat something with a picture of dirt on the label.

I just feel like complaining, it's really not so much about all these things. It's about what use to be good, is now bad. What use to be bad is now good.In fact, I don't eat that much meat, and I care about taking care of animals, and I don't think you should litter...

It use to be admired when a family went to church on Sunday, now we are considered fanatics, or right wing nuts.

It use to be a good thing when a family sat down at the table and bowed their head and prayed over a meal. Now we are mocked in restaurants or looked at like we are strange or different.

It use to be an honorable thing to pay off your mortgage, and now it's the governments job to give a tax credit so don't have to work so hard to buy it.

It use to be normal to have a Mom and Dad, now it's normal to have a Dad and Daddy or Mom and Mommy.

It use to be a good thing to serve your country and wave the flag on holidays.
Now it's just an excuse to gather with friends and family for a party.

I am so unhappy about the road society is taking us, and Europe doesn't have the answer. Look at London, laying off over 500,000 government jobs? Life as they know it hasn't worked out very well.

When will we learn that change is not always a good thing.

I want to live in a family and a country that loves God more than the latest T.V. shows that are on the air. I want to live to see my grandsons grow up and marry wives and have children. I don't want them to grow up and partner with another man and adopt children.

I want to have my friends and family over and not have to think about whether the food I prepared will offend someone. My thought is this, if you don't like to eat it, don't. If you don't want to be a proud American, go somewhere else.

So, that is why I have been so emotional. I am tired of people trying to make me act like them.

I just want to pray, love God, and show people that Jesus is the only way!

I have to come to the place where my heart doesn't hurt so badly when I see how others reject Christ and the Church.

I have to learn to live in this roller coaster called life and be content.
I am a follower of Christ, and will continue to look for His return!

Matthew 25 -Selah

The Season of Autumn Has Arrived!

I can't believe it's October... it seems like September flew by!

There is something about the fall season that is so special to me. It reminds me Thanksgiving is around the corner. Now it's bittersweet, I miss my Mom and Dad especially during the Thanksgiving season.

My mind wanders through time thinking of all the family gatherings, some more eventful then others.

When I start feeling melancholy I have to shake it off and think of today. Today, I have a wonderful family.

A husband who loves me and would give his life for me:).

A son, who I am so proud to call mine.

A daughter in law who people dream of having.

At last but not least my precious boys, Benjamin, Samuel and William.

The Lord has also blessed me with friends who love me, and are always there.

In this uncertain time, where so many people are out of work... I have everything I need.

So, today I count my blessings and thank God for saving me, redeeming a lost soul and giving me hope of a future with Him. -Selah

I may sound like a broken record... but I have been blessed.

William Visits KidZone Preschool!

Bonnie came to take a tour of our Preschool and William got to play with the kids. What a cutie he is! The teachers looked after him, but he looked so small compared to everyone else. I never realized I was an over protective Grandma until I saw him climbing up on the play structure. There is no way to describe what my Grandchildren mean to me, except my heart feels like it could burst with love...I've got it bad!!! :)

Choose This Day...

I find myself in desperate need for God to speak to me and I wonder how people live without Him? It's as if they are oblivious of who He is and how great His love is for them.

How can we as His creation mock a loving God?

How can we look the other way and live our lives as though there is no accountability?

Why would we want to live separate from Him? My heart is heavy for those who are deceived, but more for those who deceive others.

My hearts desire is to walk before God with true intentions of reaching others for the kingdom.

I weep for the lost souls that are going to hell because they have rejected a loving Savior.

As I write this, I cry because I know one day the Lord will return and my family will not be ready. The thought of this disturbs my soul and I know that they may read this when I'm gone and it will be too late.

I pray they will come to know Christ and follow after Him before it is too late.

This is my prayer:

Choose this day whom you will serve, and call upon Him while He may be found.

Women Rock Conference!

What an amazing weekend with the girls!

The speakers were incredible, Christine Caine from Hillsong, Debra Pesque and Dr. Samuel Chand rocked the house!

The most wonderful thing was to sit in the Chapel and see that these are real people. They are not into "Celebrity Christianity", they are into seeing the world come to know Christ!

Women Rock!

Get ready.... Time for another exciting weekend! It's funny I'm really not a "conference" kind of person. I mean I have spoke at conferences, and been to all types of them but for me to attend 3 in one year is a lot.

This weekend is "Women Rock" at the Rock Church. I am expecting to see and experience God move in a mighty way!

Especially after the week I've had, I need to hear from God!

Sunday, Sunday...

This is the day the Lord has made.... I will rejoice and be glad in it! Wonderful little visit with the boys and Zack and Bonnie yesterday. The weather was cool and the water was refreshing to the soul. Took a nap in the afternoon, that was nice.I am realizing that I can only work and push myself so hard and so far. Yesterday, as much as I wanted to go, go, go. I just couldn't, I had to have some down time.

Saturday.... Ahhhhh

It's Saturday morning, and I'm headed to the coffee pot... It's going to be a glorious day! We are getting ready to go to Dana Point for the weekend! Our favorite place to rest and recharge our batteries. The first place I am going is the Harbor to soak in the view of the ocean. Then we will meet the kids for lunch and visit with my Doobie Doo's (alias cutest boys around).

Time to get ready....

Find Your Spot, and Stay There!

This weekend was the Fearless Conference, and Pastor Debra spoke on "find your spot and stay there".

She spoke of Jael, a woman divinely chosen by God to take out Sisera, a terrorist.
This women was in her spot, and she stayed there, and because of this she took out a mean, evil man with a tent peg and hammer. Can you imagine that? It's amazing what we can accomplish for God when we are in our spot.

Soldiers know how to be in their place, and we are soldiers for Christ. Just because we are women doesn't mean we are weak.

During this conference we learned how we are led by God, so here are a few highlights from this week.

I invited 5 other women to the conference, and I went to the hotel to check my friends in. As I walked into the lobby there were 4 women that had just checked in. One of them had on a "Majesty" t shirt. I thought she must be here for the conference, so I asked her. Hey, are you here for the Women's Conference? She looked at me and said no, what conference? So I told her about it, and her sisters said that sounds good. I invited them to be my guests. I didn't know they would really come, but they did.
The next morning I was sitting at the registration table and four women walked up. Diane asked them if they were registered, and they said no, but Susan invited us. I looked over and thought you look familiar,duh.... Then the light went on, I couldn't believe they came!

So I signed them up and took them inside, and we enjoyed the service. Afterward, they were leaving and Johnnie took out a check and said this is for the Church. It was a check for $300.00! Wow, just imagine what the Watato Ministry could do with that?

The weekend continued, and lives were changed. Hearts were restored and hope was given to the women in Uganda.

So, I said all that, to say "Get in your spot,and stay there!"
You never know who or when you are going to be used by God, even in a hotel! -Selah

Then I thought about the 9 women I had invited to the conference, and how their lives were touched. Each of them will go back to their circle of friends and have even more influence for the Kingdom of God!

This weekend was about reaching out to others, and next month I will attend another conference called "Women Rock!" Can't wait to see what God has in store for me there!!

No Fear!

The opposite of fear is faith! This weekend was an incredible time of seeing faith increase and fear decrease in hundreds of lives of women. We were challenged to think outside the box!

Living Hope is an Organization that brings hope to those less fortunate. Thousands of women and children are sold into the sex trade business daily. In fact, in Europe a person is taken every 3o seconds! That is unacceptable in a world where we defend the rights of insects, bugs and fish.

I believe we can make a difference in the lives of those trapped in this horrible criminal act.

I am really disturbed about the view many have in this world, how can a child in a Mother's womb not have the right to live but a fish or animal are protected by law?

More later..... I'm just getting started!

Fearless!

Tomorrow is the Fearless Conference, and I'm excited. I've got some friends coming and it will be nice to have them here with me.

I'm not exactly sure what to expect, but I assume it will be similar to the GodChicks Conference. It's all about raising awareness for those less fortunate.

Jesus told us to care for the widows and orphans, and this humanitarian effort does just that.

There are many women around the globe that have no voice, literally. They are silenced for speaking out their faith. We can give them a voice by standing in the gap and praying for them. But more than that, we can raise awareness that there are people being mistreated just because they have converted from Islam to Christianity. It is hard to imagine a woman having her face mutilated just because she declares Christ is her Lord.

We live in a world full of injustice, but each of us can do our part to bring hope to those that have none. -Selah

I Saw God Today!

I just got back from Sterling, it's an Alzheimer's Hospital in our city. Once a month a group of people go visit the patients that live there.

For the last two days I have been battling a really bad migraine, in fact it was so bad I missed William's birthday party yesterday. :(

This morning I woke up and I knew I needed to go to the Sterling Hospital, no matter how I felt.

When we walked in, the old folks were in their own world as usual. As we began to sing some old hymns you could see their minds become more clear. Some of them began to rock back and forth, and some clapped their hands and smiled.

One woman name Vonnie never responds to voice or touch, but this one song reached her spirit. She began to snap her fingers and it appeared she wanted to sing and dance.

Another elderly man began dancing, he couldn't help himself. The joy of the Lord was overflowing in that hospital today! When he finished dancing, he said "I just had to join in with the brothers and sisters, I haven't done that in so long".

I felt such joy and happiness, nothing in life can bring that kind of joy except the love of God!

I saw God today, as He moved in the hearts of everyone in that hospital room, including one of the nursing staff who was holding back tears.

So today is a reminder, we all have a spirit that has a need to reach out and touch the heart of God!

He is there, we just need to move toward Him. -Selah

The Blues

I've got the blues... on my way to Jessie's baby shower I stopped at the Brea Mall. I thought I would do a little shopping. Oh no, everything cute is a size 8 petite! What's up with all the petite sizes?

So, I decide to try on a few things... Wait a minute, the mirror showed some angles that were a little frightening.... Where did that come from? How did I get sooooo fat? Oh Lord, I'm in trouble!!!

I recently saw a picture of myself and I said it must be the angle the picture was taken and the photographer should be fired! :) In fact I asked everybody, do I look like that? And you know what they said, oh no, it's the angle. Guess what they were not telling the truth!

So, I left the mall a little bummed out....

Then I arrive at the shower, and we were playing a game. Then this little girl looks at me and says, "Cheater".... oh wait a minute! Do you know who I am? I am Aunt Sue, and I don't cheat. Cheating only counts when you cheat and take the prize, and I never take the prize!

I'm not sure who she was but I didn't think she should be calling me a cheater! Okay, so I was hitting the ice against the tree... but I was only trying to get the baby out!

So, I came home and Manny says how was the baby shower? I said it was okay. He asked what was wrong, oh nothing I told him. Then we started talking and he laughed at me! Can you believe that? He laughed and said you are bummed out because you couldn't find the clothes you wanted and the little girl called you a cheater! He's sooo funny!!! When he put it like that I realized I really am bummed out!

So tonight I'm going to have a bowl of ice cream, and tomorrow I will start working out! Problem solved!

Start Marching!

We all have times in our lives that we call "God moments". It is a moment in time where God is doing a special thing and we stand back and watch. Usually, it is after a season of walking in obedience.

God tells us to do something, and we act in obedience even if it is difficult or uncomfortable.

I am reminded of a scripture, "Unless a seed falls to the ground, it can not produce more fruit." Just like the seed, we must die to self. It may be painful and uncomfortable, but it is necessary to see the end result.

I am in a "God moment" right now. I am watching God do something amazing in my life and other believers around me.

He is positioning us for battle, he is lining us up in formation. Just like the military line up, and march forward.

I have watched new recruits, as well as seasoned soldiers be able to get into their places in a moments notice. They are not scrambling around to figure out where they belong, they know how to get in position and wait for their next order.

In fact, I remember watching a plane land that had just returned from Iraq. We were awaiting the soldiers to exit from the plane, and we knew who we were looking for.

Each family watched as they stepped out of the plane. Each of us looking for our loved one. It was so strange, as they came out they all looked the same. Maybe a few skin color differences, but that was it. You could not point out who you knew from a distance.

They immediately moved into formation, thousands of soldiers standing in their place. Within a few minutes they were given the order to go greet their families, and all you could see was a flood of camouflaged bodies moving toward us.

It was breath taking, almost overwhelming! When they came within a few feet you could see their faces. I searched the crowd to find my son, and I could hear voices all around me. Some were yelling "Daddy".
In the midst of the crowd there were no dry eyes.

When I saw my son moving toward us, it was as if time stood still.

I tell this story because as believers in Christ, we are in an army! We must position ourselves with God, and be listening for His command to move forward into battle.

If we are accustom to following his commands we will be useful to His service. If not, we are walking in disobedience and will experience the outcome of our actions.

In the end, I want to hear;
You have fought the good fight, you have finished the race. Therefore, there is a crown of righteousness set before you. -Selah

So, I think it's time to start marching!!!

Rest Before The Battle!!

Okay, so I never finished my last blog. I was going to write about how I needed to rest in order to be ready for the next battle.

So, here I am...another day, searching for God's best for me and those around me.
Here's what has been happening in my spiritual realm...ooh sounds so out there, but it's not, it's the reality behind the scenes.

Have you ever felt like things are going in a different direction than God has planned?

Well, for the past year I have been in a situation,and I became weary. I wasn't sure if I could emotionally or physically continue. Then the day came when things began to change. I felt both fear,relief as well as hope begin to arise in my heart.


In part, in was because of a book I read about being an Armorbearer. This book totally set me up to follow after God's will for both myself, as well as those around me.

A friend who has been helping me through this time of transition came to me and said, I had a dream that you and I were sitting at the table working on something together when a snake entered the room. She said, I grabbed it and threw it but it kept coming back, so she picked up a sword that was next to her and cut off its head. Then she looked at me and said, God told me I am to be your Armorbearer. Chills go up my spine when I think of the Lords great power in positioning us in the right place for such a time as this.

This morning I woke up and thought of when I was a young believer in Christ. I was so passionate about the Word of God. I would sit with my Bible in my hand and think of all the Books inside. I would pray and ask God for a scripture for that moment in time. So many times He would give me a scripture and I would think, WOW!!!

This morning it was Nehemiah, Chapter 4:17. I looked it up and was blown away. Now I know without a doubt the importance of the Armor and the Armorbearer.

Each of us needs someone to stand in the gap and protect us from the attacks of the enemy. I am so thankful for those that are willing to do that for me.

I read the entire Chapter in Nehemiah and realized the people were building a wall to defend themselves from their enemies. In the end we can only depend on God and those He sets around us to watch our back!

I said all that to say this: we must rest before the battle, because if we go into battle exhausted we will not be able to stand. Selah!

Summer Days!!

Well, it's a hot one in the desert...spent the morning taking Rascal and Gracie to the vet. The Dr. put Gracie on a diet, she is a little overweight. :) Hey, it happens! :) He looked at me like "maybe you should do the same"...LOL

My devotion this morning was about resting in the Lord. We get so busy that we need to slow down and get rejuvenated to complete the race before us. If we become weary we are no good to the Lord or able to function the way we are designed.
I'll write more later...

God Bless America!!

We drove out to Tehachapi to meet Zack, Bonnie and the boys. We had a wonderful day traveling through the countryside and hanging out by the lake and feeding the ducks. The kids hung out with us for a while in our hotel room playing games, and then we went swimming in the afternoon. William wore a trashcan for a hat and put his toys in the frig... We had a nice dinner at City Slickers, it's a kid friendly restaurant :). I ordered a Chinese Chicken Salad...words can not describe how much I enjoyed it! (Deja Vu for Zack) LOL
Manny and I enjoyed walking through an older part of Tehachapi this morning and had breakfast at the Apple Shed,a cute little place. We definitely plan on going back to see more of the historic sites.