I think there is one thing that we can all agree on that is worst than being "Stuck in Lodi"- and that's being in "Stuck in jail (in Hawaii)". I came very close to experienceing this the other week. It's a classic Jaime/Jeni story. Jaime telling Jeni to do something and Jeni stupidly following without questioning... here's what happened:
Jaime and I were in our church parking lot. She was in her car and I was in mine. I backed up to leave and I felt a big bump. I thought I ran over something. When I turned around to look, these druggie guys were hanging out their car windows yelling at me and waving their hands at me. Yes, I had hit them (maybe I should have turned around to look BEFORE I felt the bump).
It was apparent that I had hit them. So I smiled at them with that I-know-I'm-an-idiot-smile, and pulled back into my parking space so that we could hash things out. I look over at Jaime and she is waving at me like a mad woman telling me to get out of there ASAP. The way she was looking freaked me out. I thought they had a gun or something. So I drove out of there as fast as I could (I'm suprised I didn't hit someone on my way out). As soon as I got onto the main road I called her and said, "Why did you tell me to leave?!" And she said, "Those guys were mad at you Jeni, they were yelling at you." "Yeah," I said, "Because I hit them." She then advised me to go back. I guess she thought that I was flirting with them because I was smiling at them and pulling back in. ???????? Thanks for the vote of confidence Jaim.
We went back to the parking lot and they were gone. Their car was there so we checked it out and there weren't any dents or scratches. And they were total druggies. They didn't have a liscence on their car, just one of those peices of papers that says, "Aloha." And it was awesome because a friend of ours from church was there and he looked around the car for any damage with us... there turned out to be none.
Friday, October 28, 2005
Monday, October 24, 2005
Time Flies
I cannot believe it's almost November! We have been doing a really bad job of posting lately- sorry! I thought maybe I'd just let you all know some things going on in our lives....
The biggest thing that pops into my mind right now is that Jeni has this WHOLE week off! And I don't. She has totally been trying to downplay it so that I won't get upset, but it was pretty obvious this morning when one of us had to get up and the other didn't! But she felt so bad she woke up anyway and was going to make me breakfast! I told her that most likely I wouldn't be up if the situation was reversed, but she's always been much sweeter than me :). I am glad she has the week off and since I've always known I wasn't getting a break, it's not that bad.
The last two Sundays, we have been playing volleyball at church. Well, I watched last week, but I played last night and it was so much fun. I haven't played in years and pretty much sucked (yeah, this one guy traded me away to the other team! The nerve!), but it felt so good to play! Jeni is a stud and I kind of felt like the unathletic sister who came to town.... but that's ok. I'm going to start training at least an hour a day and I'll show them! Just kidding. I'm not training at all. I was a little worried about being able to get out of bed this morning since we played for two hours, but I made it! The only things that are sore are my legs.... wonder why. :)
We also started a mentor program where we both have an older woman in the church to hang out with and mentor us in a way. We both got awesome ladies and it has been amazing. They fit our personalities perfectly and mine even has a similiar back problem! They didn't know that when they matched us up- talk about God hooking us up! She's has been dealing with her back problem for about twenty years and knows so much about backs in general. She has a been a huge help physically, but also emotionally!
Hmmmm..... what else? We are still living in our little place. This past week, our neighbor moved and in moved a couple with a three month old baby. Not only is our place small, but it also has VERY thin walls! Jeni hears most of the crying, but yesterday I had to leave because the poor guy was crying for over an hour. But it's not all that bad, definitely could be worse.
We have been making a lot of friends at church and go to an awesome Bible study on Tuesday nights and another one on Saturday. Our Saturday night service is usually followed by Smore Night on our porch and this week we even had a guest. :) We got to hear his testimony and it was such a blessing to be reminded how loving God is... and how He can change our lives and when we're born again, He really gives us a new life. It was rad.
Our first quarter of school ends this week for me (Jeni ended last week) and pretty soon Christmas will be coming up! We bought our tickets home.... December 22- January 2.
I can't think of anything else. I'll ask Jeni. I decided I'm going to put her on picture patrol while she's off this week. There are so many beuatiful things here... and some bizarre too (like the pigeon that attacked us at dinner the other night).... but that's it for now!
The biggest thing that pops into my mind right now is that Jeni has this WHOLE week off! And I don't. She has totally been trying to downplay it so that I won't get upset, but it was pretty obvious this morning when one of us had to get up and the other didn't! But she felt so bad she woke up anyway and was going to make me breakfast! I told her that most likely I wouldn't be up if the situation was reversed, but she's always been much sweeter than me :). I am glad she has the week off and since I've always known I wasn't getting a break, it's not that bad.
The last two Sundays, we have been playing volleyball at church. Well, I watched last week, but I played last night and it was so much fun. I haven't played in years and pretty much sucked (yeah, this one guy traded me away to the other team! The nerve!), but it felt so good to play! Jeni is a stud and I kind of felt like the unathletic sister who came to town.... but that's ok. I'm going to start training at least an hour a day and I'll show them! Just kidding. I'm not training at all. I was a little worried about being able to get out of bed this morning since we played for two hours, but I made it! The only things that are sore are my legs.... wonder why. :)
We also started a mentor program where we both have an older woman in the church to hang out with and mentor us in a way. We both got awesome ladies and it has been amazing. They fit our personalities perfectly and mine even has a similiar back problem! They didn't know that when they matched us up- talk about God hooking us up! She's has been dealing with her back problem for about twenty years and knows so much about backs in general. She has a been a huge help physically, but also emotionally!
Hmmmm..... what else? We are still living in our little place. This past week, our neighbor moved and in moved a couple with a three month old baby. Not only is our place small, but it also has VERY thin walls! Jeni hears most of the crying, but yesterday I had to leave because the poor guy was crying for over an hour. But it's not all that bad, definitely could be worse.
We have been making a lot of friends at church and go to an awesome Bible study on Tuesday nights and another one on Saturday. Our Saturday night service is usually followed by Smore Night on our porch and this week we even had a guest. :) We got to hear his testimony and it was such a blessing to be reminded how loving God is... and how He can change our lives and when we're born again, He really gives us a new life. It was rad.
Our first quarter of school ends this week for me (Jeni ended last week) and pretty soon Christmas will be coming up! We bought our tickets home.... December 22- January 2.
I can't think of anything else. I'll ask Jeni. I decided I'm going to put her on picture patrol while she's off this week. There are so many beuatiful things here... and some bizarre too (like the pigeon that attacked us at dinner the other night).... but that's it for now!
Thursday, October 13, 2005
I'm an Auntie!!!
Well, technically I'm not an "aunt", but in Hawaii, it's a sign of respect to call elders "Auntie" or "Uncle". A lot of Jeni's students call her Auntie, but they eventually learn to call their teachers "Miss" or "Mrs." Because of that, I don't have anyone calling me auntie.... until recently! :)
Jeni and I take some girls that were in her class last year to church with us and guess what they call me..... Auntie Jaime!!! Oh my gosh, I love it. The funny part is they call Jeni Ms. Elson and me Auntie Jaime so I think people get really confused when we are all together. This morning when I dropped Jeni off at school, the sisters (they are seven and eight) were getting there at the same time and came and gave me a hug. Then when they left they said, "Bye Auntie Jaime!" in their little Hawaiian accents. Oh, they are just two cute!
Jeni and I take some girls that were in her class last year to church with us and guess what they call me..... Auntie Jaime!!! Oh my gosh, I love it. The funny part is they call Jeni Ms. Elson and me Auntie Jaime so I think people get really confused when we are all together. This morning when I dropped Jeni off at school, the sisters (they are seven and eight) were getting there at the same time and came and gave me a hug. Then when they left they said, "Bye Auntie Jaime!" in their little Hawaiian accents. Oh, they are just two cute!
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Pencil Sharpener
Oh, the things kids say...
I have a little bit of a cold. Today I held 3 kids in from recess (Peter just happened to be one of them). While they were in here, I blew my nose. Peter and another girl stopped what they were doing and looked up at me with a look of confusion/disbelief. Then Peter said, "Auntie, you sound like our pencil sharpener."
Oh Peter...
-Jeni (I want to sign my name so that you don't think that one of Jaime's highschoolers are saying these silly, silly things. I mean to think, that I could blow my nose loud enough for it to sound like a pencil sharpener. Now that would just be embarrassing.)
I have a little bit of a cold. Today I held 3 kids in from recess (Peter just happened to be one of them). While they were in here, I blew my nose. Peter and another girl stopped what they were doing and looked up at me with a look of confusion/disbelief. Then Peter said, "Auntie, you sound like our pencil sharpener."
Oh Peter...
-Jeni (I want to sign my name so that you don't think that one of Jaime's highschoolers are saying these silly, silly things. I mean to think, that I could blow my nose loud enough for it to sound like a pencil sharpener. Now that would just be embarrassing.)
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
But he called ME stupid
A lot of funny things have happened to me during my 3 years of teaching. Probably the all time funniest happened last week.
I have a little boy named Peter who is full of energy. He is the typical "boy". Very hands on and physical.
On the way to lunch 5 boys (Peter included) got in trouble. I had to leave them in front of our school office by themselves while I ran in to get something. I came out to find one of my sweethearts, Kaleo, hunched over crying hysterically. One of the other boys told me that Peter had punched him in the stomach. Peter instantly started crying but managed to muffle out, "But he called me stupid!" I explained how we don't hit when others call us names and that he would have to go talk to the principal. Oh man, he went crazy, crying up a storm... He cryed for the next 5 minutes and kept saying, "But he called me stupid!" over and over. Finally in my sternest voice I leaned over so my face was right in front of his and said, "Peter, it doesn't matter that he called you stupid. Is he in trouble right now? No. You are. Because you hit him." He looked me in the eye and in a clear and frustrated voice he said, "BUT TEACHER, he called you stupid!"
My natural instinct was to hug him, thank him, and ask him why he didn't clock the little punk in the kisser. But I fought the temptation, mustered up my dignity and said, "Peter, it doesn't matter WHAT he called me, you can't hit people."
Funny huh? Yeah, kind of.
Jeni
I have a little boy named Peter who is full of energy. He is the typical "boy". Very hands on and physical.
On the way to lunch 5 boys (Peter included) got in trouble. I had to leave them in front of our school office by themselves while I ran in to get something. I came out to find one of my sweethearts, Kaleo, hunched over crying hysterically. One of the other boys told me that Peter had punched him in the stomach. Peter instantly started crying but managed to muffle out, "But he called me stupid!" I explained how we don't hit when others call us names and that he would have to go talk to the principal. Oh man, he went crazy, crying up a storm... He cryed for the next 5 minutes and kept saying, "But he called me stupid!" over and over. Finally in my sternest voice I leaned over so my face was right in front of his and said, "Peter, it doesn't matter that he called you stupid. Is he in trouble right now? No. You are. Because you hit him." He looked me in the eye and in a clear and frustrated voice he said, "BUT TEACHER, he called you stupid!"
My natural instinct was to hug him, thank him, and ask him why he didn't clock the little punk in the kisser. But I fought the temptation, mustered up my dignity and said, "Peter, it doesn't matter WHAT he called me, you can't hit people."
Funny huh? Yeah, kind of.
Jeni
Monday, October 03, 2005
Mike Moore
On September 27th Mike joined Jesus in heaven. As sad as it is to know that I will never again see him at church or at their home, it's amazing to think of him with Jesus. He loved Him with all of his heart. He loved to read His Word. It's awesome to know that he is completly healed, probably dancing around his Savior or sitting at His feet listening to stories from the Bible.
For those of you who never met Mike, let me tell you a little bit about him. He was Josh's baseball coach for many years. Loved baseball. Loved coaching his sons' teams. Six years ago he was diagnosed with cancer and was given months to live. Pastor Perry went to pray with him in the hospital and Mike ended up entrusting his life to Jesus. From then on he was a changed man. He still loved baseball but coached for the glory of God. From what I saw, his desire was to bring glory to God through everything he did. Throughout his illness he would write updates on his health. In these emails he would thank God for the colon cancer, knowing that it was the way that he came to know Him. In fact, I just found an article from the Lodi Newspaper about Mentors. Mike was one of the mentors featured.
"I thank God for my colon cancer. It changed me and I think I'm really making an eternal difference now. I pray everyday that God will put me in a place where I can be of some assistance to somebody and show them the joy that I have," he said.
Our world is full of sickness, pain, and evil. What do people need these days? Hope. Mike found his hope and strength in Jesus. I'm thankful for his life, for his trials, his pain, and his love for Jesus. Knowing that God used all of those things to draw people to Him. When I think of how many people will be in heaven because of Mike Moore, I get goosebumps.
Mike will be missed. But there is comfort in knowing that he is in a better place and that he is completly healed.
"For I consider the sufferings of this present time NOT WORTHY
to be compared with the glories that shall be revealed in us."
Romans 8:18
For those of you who never met Mike, let me tell you a little bit about him. He was Josh's baseball coach for many years. Loved baseball. Loved coaching his sons' teams. Six years ago he was diagnosed with cancer and was given months to live. Pastor Perry went to pray with him in the hospital and Mike ended up entrusting his life to Jesus. From then on he was a changed man. He still loved baseball but coached for the glory of God. From what I saw, his desire was to bring glory to God through everything he did. Throughout his illness he would write updates on his health. In these emails he would thank God for the colon cancer, knowing that it was the way that he came to know Him. In fact, I just found an article from the Lodi Newspaper about Mentors. Mike was one of the mentors featured.
"I thank God for my colon cancer. It changed me and I think I'm really making an eternal difference now. I pray everyday that God will put me in a place where I can be of some assistance to somebody and show them the joy that I have," he said.
Our world is full of sickness, pain, and evil. What do people need these days? Hope. Mike found his hope and strength in Jesus. I'm thankful for his life, for his trials, his pain, and his love for Jesus. Knowing that God used all of those things to draw people to Him. When I think of how many people will be in heaven because of Mike Moore, I get goosebumps.
Mike will be missed. But there is comfort in knowing that he is in a better place and that he is completly healed.
"For I consider the sufferings of this present time NOT WORTHY
to be compared with the glories that shall be revealed in us."
Romans 8:18
His Eye is on the Sparrow
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body,
what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body
more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air,
for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your
heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than
they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his
stature?
So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the
lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;
and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not
arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass
of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the
oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What
shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all
these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father
knows that you need all these things. But seek first the
kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things
shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about its own things.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:25-34
Lyrics to "His Eye is on the Sparrow"
Why should I feel discouraged
Why should the shadows come
Why should my heart feel lonely
And long for heaven and home
When Jesus is my portion
A constant friend is He
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches over me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me
I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me
I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me
I know He watches
Me
what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body,
what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body
more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air,
for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your
heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than
they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his
stature?
So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the
lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;
and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not
arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass
of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the
oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What
shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all
these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father
knows that you need all these things. But seek first the
kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things
shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about its own things.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:25-34
Lyrics to "His Eye is on the Sparrow"
Why should I feel discouraged
Why should the shadows come
Why should my heart feel lonely
And long for heaven and home
When Jesus is my portion
A constant friend is He
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches over me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me
I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me
I sing because I'm happy
I sing because I'm free
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me
I know He watches
Me
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