I LOVE Camp!

What an incredible week!!

Here are few details of how our camp works - it is a Youth and Family Camp, with campers being ages 7-25. This year we had 395 campers!! I don't know all the final numbers, but we had 900 in attendance on Thursday night and the Friday night crowd was even bigger. Adults stay in trailers on the fair grounds or in the many hotels nearby. The younger campers (ages 7-11) have several activities of their own, including Kids Church in the morning and separate recreation teams. But we all get together for one service in the evening and all campers can sing in the choir. The choir was directed by Sis. Pam Gregg and it was awesome! I'm guessing there were at least 100 campers in the choir and it's neat to see the little ones singing in the choir with the older ones.

As I mentioned in a previous post, Elder Morton preached from Titus 3:5, emphasizing "renewing of the Holy Ghost." After each of his messages, he would open the altar first to those who did not have the Holy Ghost, then those who needed a refilling. Thankfully, that group got smaller each day as more and more young people prayed through. Thursday morning he preached about "The Danger of Being Empty" from Matthew 12:42-44 "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first..." I don't ever want to find myself in that place of emptiness.

I don't remember the title of everyone of Bro. Copeland's messages, but two come to mind - "God Hears What We Don't Say" and "The Other Side of Ugly." Every night God met with us and more than once it was beautiful seeing young people lingering in the presence of the Lord.

As part of the praise team on Friday night, I had a "front row" seat of the altar service and I was so touched to see two little girls standing in the very front. One was Angelica from our church who is only 7 years old. We were singing "No One Can Touch You Like Jesus Can" and I could see tears rolling down her cheeks as she felt that touch.

It seemed to me that the culmination of all the messages occurred on Thursday night. Bro. Copeland was preaching and the Spirit of God moved in a mighty way. The campers sit in the front section, while we older folks sit in the back. I was on my feet worshiping and when I opened my eyes the entire camper section was empty. Nearly 400 young people had made their way to the altar without an altar call! It was incredible to see God draw this great group to Him in such a powerful way.

I'm so thankful to have been part of such a great camp! Tomorrow I'll tell you about three things we Pentecostals enjoy "Food, Fun, and Fellowship!"

Camp-Lag?

I've heard of jet-lag, but I'm pretty sure today I have camp-lag! I feel like I'm walking around in a bit of a fog and can't seem to get a good post written. Camp was so fantastic that I want to write about it when all my brain cells are firing!! Just like after any time away, I also have a ton of "home" work to do.

More coming soon...

Midweek Update

We're having a great time here at camp! It's just going way too quick! Bro. Copeland's preaching is topnotch. Monday night was about what determines your destiny - desire, decisions, and direction. Elder Morton's theme for the week is Titus 3:5 "renewing of the Holy Ghost." There's been a lot of that going on around here. And "we ain't never been in a Youth Camp like this Youth Camp!" (Those of you who know Elder Morton will recognize that phrase!)

Sophie from our church received the Holy Ghost today!!


While most of the kids are having a great time during recreation, there was one mishap yesterday during football. Andrew Klann collided with someone else and broke his leg. He was having surgery today, so please remember him in your prayers.

Looking forward to more great things tonight!

I'm Off to Camp!

I probably won't be blogging much this week. You won't be able to follow me on Twitter or Facebook, either. But I'm planning on coming back refreshed, strengthened, encouraged, and challenged! And I'm sure I'll have lots of pictures and memories to share.

If I can only get my trunk closed...

True Heroes

Lately I've been thinking a lot about my hero, my brother Rod. One of our last conversations, that I hadn't thought about in a long time, came back to me.

On June 12, 1994, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were brutally murdered. On the following Friday, June 17th, the nation watched while OJ Simpson led LA Police on a low speed chase in his white Bronco, before finally turning himself on murder charges.

The following day, Rod and I talked about the ridiculousness of OJ's actions and the possibility of him being a murderer. Then Rod told me, in a serious, thoughtful manner, how important choosing true heroes is. "Just because a man does great things on the football field does not make him a great man. We can't look to athletes or other stars for our heroes. It's what is inside a man that makes him a hero."

Of course he was right. There is probably no greater contrast to OJ, the famous football player, than Rod. I doubt that Rod ever weighed more than 125 pounds, his body was weak, with a pronounced limp from a fall in his childhood. But the man he was inside, that man stood tall and strong. He didn't take the things of God lightly. He cared about people. He ministered in song. And from the many comments I have received on posts about him, he ministered to people just by being himself. Sure he could be a tease and had an onery streak, but he was real. You didn't have to wondered if what you saw was the real man.

Rod, you are greatly missed by your little sister. You were one of the dearest friends I ever had. Fifteen years is a long time, but you're never forgotten. You'll always be a hero in my eyes.

Rodney Dean Fultz
March 5, 1963 - June 22, 1994

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

There are so many things I could say about my wonderful Dad! If you don't believe me, go back and read his birthday post!

For some reason the picture above is one of Les' favorites. I had never seen it until a little over a year ago when we were planning Dad's 70th birthday celebration. We put together a scrapbook of pictures, notes, and letters. This picture came my way along with one that was snapped within the same moments. On the left of this picture you can see a little arm. That arm belongs to either Rick or Rod. The other picture has my two blond haired brothers (ages 2 and 4) hamming it up.

So what is the story behind these pictures? It's obvious Dad was trying to take a nap. But as the father of four, that was a little difficult. I looks like I might have been crying. Was I being tormented by those two at the other end of the couch or was I just having a fit all on my own? Either way, it was Dad to the rescue! He was either consoling or refereeing. But either way, he was being Dad. Taking care of his kids. Loving them while trying to get some rest!

Dad, thanks for the many times you refereed and comforted. I hope your day is wonderful. I love you!

What I'm Doing Today

Pacific Coast Camp starts in about 48 hours. I am the music coordinator for camp and...

I am still making changes to the schedule!

Pray saints!

Friday Foodie

My friend and fellow blogger, Tammy, has a food blog entitled "Table for Three" and I stole this week's recipe from there! I cut the recipe in half and after reading Tammy's commentary I made a few changes that she suggested. For her original recipe, along with step by step photos, go here.

Crescent Chicken Casserole


ingredients:

1 1/3 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, divided (I used WW shredded Mexican cheese)
2 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
1 (8-count) can refrigerated crescent rolls (reduced fat)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can Rotel mild diced tomatoes and green chilies

directions:

step 1 - boil chicken, season to your palate pleasing and dice
step 2 - preheat oven to 350 degrees
step 3 - butter casserole dish (I used Spam spray)
step 4 - add 1/3 cup cheese to chicken and mix
step 5 - separate rolls, and spoon chicken mixture onto each roll
step 6 - roll up
step 7 - place in buttered casserole dish
step 8 - in a saucepan, melt together soup, 1/3 cup cheese and tomatoes (I had leftover chicken, so I added it as well)
step 9 - pour mixture over rolls
step 10 - bake for 30 minutes in 350 degree oven
step 11 - remove and add remaining cheese and put back in oven to melt
step 12 - spoon out and serve!

(this is a small plate - not a dinner plate!)

This was DE-Lish! When Les walked in the door Monday evening he said, "mmmm... something smells good." I love when that happens! And this tasted as good as it smelled. In fact, I wish I hadn't cut the recipe in half! Les rarely gets up from the table for seconds, but he did with this meal. We each started with 2 crescents and Les had a third. I wasn't sure what to fix with it but was in the mood for corn on the cob, so we had corn on the cob and fruit salad. It felt like a summer meal! I think I could make it a "Mexican" meal by adding Spanish rice, beans, chips and guacamole.

Nutritional info: 195 calories/ .6 g fiber/ 7.6 g fat/ 4 WW points per crescent.

Thanks, Tammy!

Maybe It Really Was an Apple...

There has been much said about the fruit that was eaten in the Garden of Eden. For some reason, it is often depicted as an apple. We have no proof that it was truly an apple that Eve bit into. Maybe it was an apple or a peach or a plum. It wasn't the actual fruit that caused the problem anyway. It was the act of disobedience that got Adam and Eve in trouble.


I hadn't worry too much about this until last week... Last week when Apple announced that the iPhone 3G was now selling for $99. I felt like Eve when I saw "the phone that it was good for phone calls, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a phone to be desired to give access to email while traveling" (iGenesis 3:6). My current phone is about 6 years old and doesn't even take pictures. I haven't been deprived, but I have been "eyeing" the fruit. In my mind it was difficult to justify the purchase - I don't use my current phone that much... but then a voice (was it the serpent?) said ye shall save money if you and Les are on a family plan instead of two different carriers....



So I am now the proud owner of the Apple iPhone 3G. Email or leave a comment on my blog and I can respond from anywhere. Is this truly a good thing??

Don't Forget Dad!

This Sunday is Father's Day. I was thinking about how there seems to be so much more "hoopla" surrounding Mother's Day versus Father's Day. Here is some information comparing the two holidays:

• Mother's Day is about heartstrings. Father's Day is about hardware and last-minute shopping.
• Father's Day is less revered: not planned as far ahead, less time is spent together as a family and gifts are chintzier.
• Mother's Day -150 million cards sold. Father's Day, a Hallmark afterthought, sees less than 95 million.
• While Mother's Day racks 150 million phone calls, Father's Day has 140 million but holds the title for most calls placed collect.
• Mother's Day ranks as the number one holiday for wired flowers with 23% of all holiday floral sales. Father's Day gets beat out by such bloom-crazy events as Thanksgiving. Statistically, men are more likely to get flowers at their funeral than for Father's Day.
• Mother's Day is the biggest brunch day of the year and a bigger dining out day than Valentine's Day with 38% of adults eating out. Father's Day sees 23% of adults eating out. It is a bigger day on the golf links which tend to attract a mix of all-male foursomes, couples and dads with kids.
• Top gift for mom - clothing. Top gift for dad - one of 8 million neckties sold for the occasion.

I think it's very sad that we don't give as much attention to dads. Each time the Bible speaks of honoring thy mother, it always says honor thy father as well. Sure, dads are quick to say, "I don't need a gift..." but EVERYONE needs to be remembered and loved. I know there are a lot of deadbeat dads around, but there are also a lot of wonderful dads. Dads that get up every morning and go to work, that come home every evening, dads that work second jobs to keep food on the table, dads that don't ask for anything in return because they love their families. I'll say more about my own Dad on Sunday, but I hope everyone will take the time this week to show appreciation to the dad in their life!

Making It Look Easy

I had a little exchange with a neighbor, who is also a fellow exerciser, this morning:

Neighbor: How far do you run every morning?
Me: About 10 miles.
Neighbor: You make it look so easy
Me: It's not, I've just been at a long time...

I never consider running "easy". There are times when I enjoy it more than others, but getting up and running 10 miles is not easy!

Have you noticed there are people in your life who make living for God look easy? They come to church with a song on their lips, praise in the heart, and a smile on their face. But if you really know them, you know they face trials, there have been hills and valleys.

Making it "look easy" doesn't happen by chance. Consistency. Daily commitment. What some might consider boring or crazy. Daily prayer, reading the Word, fasting. The times when no one is watching, when life is hard or lonely, but they keep pressing on. They are what enable one to face the tough times with an unmovable faith, making it "look easy" when life is anything but.

There is an old saying that is still true:

Live for God easy and it will be hard.
Live for God hard and it will be easy!

Youth Camp in Indiana

We just got the news that our niece, Claire, received the Holy Ghost at Youth Camp in Indiana tonight!!! How I wish I had been there!

(Hannah, me, Claire)

This is especially sweet to me because 35 years ago this week Les and I both received the Holy Ghost at Youth Camp!! I Still Believe In Youth Camp!

Order My Steps

After my post To My Single Friends on Friday I told someone "I had to wait, God had to move Les to California!" This of course is true, but the whole story is quite remarkable.

While Les was in college he decided that being a corporate pilot would be a cool career. Flying executives across the country and back sounded like pretty neat stuff. He was taking engineering classes and they would fit quite nicely for this future endeavor. The way he planned to get his pilot training was through the Air Force. He was going to enlist in the Air Force Officer Training School. This was a twelve week training course, followed by two years as an officer in flight school, followed by four years of service, then he'd be free to "fly".

Shortly before Les graduated from Tennessee Tech in 1987, budget cuts put a stop to his plans. There were several other avenues but each door closed. He spent the summer after he graduated from college sending out his resume and praying that something would happen. Something did happen - he was offered a job at Rockwell International in the Rocketdyne Division, working on the Space Shuttle main engine. This meant a move from Tennessee to California and the rest is history. (You can read our history here.)

But the unseen part of the story was Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990 and the resulting Desert Storm, or the First Gulf War. This war took place during the time when Les would have been in active duty. Only God knows where Les would have ended up during that time. United States casualties were 293 (113 by enemy fire, 145 in accidents, 35 to friendly fire) and we lost 28 fixed wing planes and 5 helicopters.

I'm so glad "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way." (Psalm 37:23)

It's Almost Time!

One week from today Pacific Coast Youth and Family Camp starts!! I am so excited. This is only our third year, but the past two years have been fantastic. This is a combined youth camp/camp meeting, with a separate kids church in the morning. Our speakers this year are Elder Vaughn Morton in the morning and Bro. Tim Copeland at night. Yeah it's gonna be good!!

I counted it up last night and realized I was at youth camp 18 years in a row starting at the age of 9 (that's me as a 9 year old in the picture above). I was a camper, camper, camper! I did spend a few years as a counselor, too. Now a days my "camping" is at Country Inn and Suites... This body is not interested in trying to sleep on an air mattress but I still love being at camp!

I hope you all have plans to attend at least one camp or camp meeting this summer!

To My Single Friends

Last night during prayer I had a great burden for single young ladies. Your names and faces rolled quickly through my mind. Many from my own church, others that I know well, daughters of friends, and some I've only "met" through blogging. But each of you were on my mind and in my prayers last night. The burden was strong and the memories came...

Memories of being a teenager, boys flirting, too young to be "serious", but old enough to dream...
Memories of my early twenties and waiting...
Memories of camps and conventions - new clothes and high hopes, only to come home and face the questions...
Memories of watching younger girls dates guys my age...
Memories of weddings, always the bridesmaid, never the bride...
Memories of doubts, fears, and questions...
Memories of laughing with friends, saying "What is wrong with those guys?" but going home and looking in the mirror and saying, "what is wrong with ME?"...
Memories of the prodding, comments, questions, and "helpful" advise of others...
Memories of temptations - guys that weren't sold out, but interested in me...
Memories of my pastor saying "No", more than once...

As the memories came, I prayed more fervently. I knew that one or more of my friends was facing this exact same situation. Was the burden because one of you is looking to the world for your prince? I prayed again, for each of you, that you would remain strong, stay faithful, trust your pastor and his wife, love God more than ever.

I don't want you to think that I spent my twenties in a state of depression, I have some great memories of fun times. I went on two missions trips, to dozens of camps and conventions, and even on some dates! But there was also a sense of "waiting." But I have learned, that in each stage of life there is "waiting." Life is constantly changing. Buying a new car, a new home, changing jobs, developing in new areas of ministry, saying goodbye to loved ones, welcoming new family members.

I can't promise you a fairytale ending, because if you remain faithful, the ending that God has is better than any fairytale ever written!

I love each of you and will continue praying for you. If you need a friend to talk to, I'm here.

Friday Foodie

It's been a while since I've tried anything new, so when Les saw this meal in Hammer Nutrition's Endurance News and said, "this sounds good," I thought I'd give it a try. Here's what I made:

Balsamic Chicken with Pears
(serves 4)
- 1 ½ cups cooked whole wheat couscous
- 4 small skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
- 2 Bosc pears, peeled, cored, & cut into 8 wedges
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- olive oil

with
Sweet Potato with Swiss Chard & Ricotta
(serves 4)
- 4 small-medium sweet potatoes
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 bunch Swiss chard
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- ½ teaspoon red-pepper flakes
- 1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
- Coarse salt and pepper


(I took the picture after I started eating, so the plate is looking a little messy!)

The two recipes go together and the directions were written with that in mind.

Preheat the oven to 450. Pierce the skin of each sweet potato with a fork all over and then give them a light coating of olive oil. Place the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and put them in the oven for about 50 minutes. When you can pierce them easily with a paring knife, you know they are done.

*Meanwhile, cook the couscous according to the package directions. Set to the side. Remove and discard the stems of the swiss chard and tear the leaves into medium-sized pieces. Give a large pan a light coating of olive oil and heat until just before the oil begins to smoke. Peel and slice the garlic into thin slices. Add to the pan and cook until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside. Add the swiss chard to the pan and season with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing frequently until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the balsamic vinegar and red-pepper flakes. Set to the side.

Core each of the pears and cut them into 8 slices. When the sweet potatoes have 20 minutes left to cook, lightly coat a medium pan with olive oil and put it on medium high heat. Let the pan heat up until the oil almost begins to smoke and then add the chicken. Let the chicken cook for 6 minutes on each side. Resist the temptation to move the chicken during this time. Leaving it in place will give it a good brown color. While you wait for the chicken to cook, mix the broth, balsamic vinegar, and corn starch. After approximately 12 minutes, pierce the thickest part of the chicken with a knife. If the juices run clear then the chicken is done. Remove it from the pan and put another teaspoon of olive oil in the pan. Place the pears in the pan and cook until they begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Pour the balsamic mixture into the pan and heat to boiling. Allow the mixture to boil and thicken for about 1 minute, then add the chicken and any juice that has run out of it back into the pan. Coat the chicken in the balsamic mixture and heat through.

By this point your potatoes should be done. Pull them out of the oven and allow them to cool while you put a small bed of couscous on four plates. Place a chicken breast and a few slices of pears on the couscous and drizzle with the balsamic sauce. Next, slice partway through the potatoes lengthwise and open them up. Season with salt and pepper and then top with the ricotta, swiss chard, and garlic.

* I waited until the potatoes had cooked about 25 minutes, then started everything else - I cooked the couscous, chicken, and chard all at the same time. If I had followed the directions in the order written, half the food would have been cold by the time everything else was done!

This was very tasty! I had never made couscous or cooked Swiss chard, but put together it all tasted good. I will probably skip the Swiss chard next time, it was a little too bitter for our taste. Also, I had halved the recipe above and it still made too much! We ate about half that, so our entire meal was only about 5-6 WW points! And we were very full.

The nutritional data per serving (if 4 servings per the recipe):

Balsamic Chicken with Pears: 357 calories/4 g fiber/10 g fat/ 7 WW points
Sweet Potato with Swiss Chard & Ricotta: 207 calories/ 6 g fiber/4.5 g fat/ 3 WW points


I made one other recipe, it's not new to me but I wanted to share it anyway!

Weight Watcher Pumpkin Muffins

Makes 18 muffins
1 Spice Cake Mix
1 15 oz. can pumpkin


Heat oven to 325.

Mix ingredients (no egg or oil, just the cake mix and pumpkin). I usually add a couple tablespoons of water to get the right consistency.

Grease muffin pan. Pour in pan. Bake according to mix directions for cupcakes, usually takes the full time.

Pull out of the oven and enjoy one while they're still warm!!



This is a recipe I've been making for years. I usually make it in the Fall/Winter, but we've been having "June Gloom" lately and they sounded good. These are great for breakfast or as a snack. And the pumpkin makes them very healthy!

Nutritional data for 1 muffin:
122 calories/1 g fiber/2 g fat/ 2 WW points.

I was going to put some in the freezer. I made them on Monday and as of Thursday afternoon there were about 5 left. And we haven't had ANY company!!

Filling the Hungry

Last night, Bro. Carroll preached from Psalm 107:9 "For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness." I'm happy to report that two more hungry souls were filled with the Holy Ghost last night!!

Jason is 9 years old. His older brother, Eric, is also seeking for the Holy Ghost and we're praying that he will receive it this week.

Delores is one of the moms from our triple baby shower in March. I had a great view of her (again, from the piano) and it just never gets old seeing someone filled with God's great gift.

One other cool thing I noticed during the altar service - several of those who received the Holy Ghost last week were in the altar praying for others!

14 and counting...

It Keeps Running!

When Les and I got married we had 2 vehicles. Neither were new, but they were both paid for. During that first year of marriage, we decided to start saving for a new car and in June, 1992, we purchased (with cash) a 1992 Saturn SL2. This has been a faithful car! It now has 285,000+ miles!

Why am I mentioning our Saturn today? Last night on our way home from prayer meeting, we had to stop for gas. Our little 17 year old Saturn got 34.5 miles per gallon on the most recent tank of gas! That's right 34.5 MPG!!

I never dreamed our little car would last this long and neither did Saturn! When it had just over 100,000 miles it started having some engine problems. I broke done on the freeway going to work one morning. A few weeks after that I was in a slight fender bender (it's only wreck!). A few weeks after that I broke down again! But when the Saturn staff suggested it was time to get a new car, I said, "No, it's time you fixed what's wrong!" Actually, I wasn't that nice! After being towed in the second time, when I was told they had only fixed what they "thought" was wrong, and had not done a full inspection, I slapped my hand on the desk and said, "that is unacceptable!" It's funny now thinking about the reaction of two men as they stood up straight wondering what this little blond was going to do next!!

Maintaining relationships takes the same attitude. We've got to schedule maintenance - when was the last time you took your spouse on a date? have you spent one-on-one time with your teenager lately? Good, healthy relationships don't just happen - they take work! You can't ignore that squeak hoping it will go away.

When we see a life broken down on the side of the road, we've got to say, "that is unacceptable!" If we can "tow" them in to the "saving station", God can give them a new engine! Ezekiel 36:26 says, "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh."

One other thing - I have covered our Saturn with prayer many times. When we started our Building Fund ten years ago, Les and I committed to give, and give we did! I told God we couldn't afford a new car so He needed to keep the current one running! Well here it is this morning as Les drove off to work! Prayer works!

Reason to Keep Your Camera Handy

Because you never know when a bobcat will be cruising along your back fence!


Les saw this guy crossing our street last week, so I've been expecting him/her. This is usually the time of year when we see kittens, so this could be momma out looking for dinner.

Drum Roll, Please...

We had FOUR more receive the gift of the Holy Ghost last night! God is doing great things!!

Let me tell you about our 4 newest babies:

Mariah is 5 (her mom is Rebekah who received the Holy Ghost yesterday morning) and Angelica is 7. "it's for your children..."

Hector is married to Debbie who received the Holy Ghost yesterday morning. They came in to service a little late last night and ended up sitting behind Les and me. During the preaching, I heard Hector say, "I just don't get it. Why does it take the Holy Ghost to be saved?" I quietly started praying for him during the remainder of the sermon. As soon as the altar call was given, Hector went forward. I slipped back to give Debbie a few words of encouragement and we prayed together for him. It wasn't long before I saw Bro. Carroll praying with Hector and Hector received the Holy Ghost!! Then Debbie and I made it to the front in time to see her son, Juan, receive the Holy Ghost!

Hector and Debbie were also baptized last night. I was talking to them afterward and Hector said, "I think I was just mad or jealous that she got the Holy Ghost this morning and I didn't!" I'm sure we've got the devil stirred up and he's trying to put roadblocks in the way of hungry hearts, but it didn't work this time!

Mary was also baptized last night and her parents and siblings were in service for the first time to see it. It was great meeting them and we pray it isn't the last time they come.

Our schedule this week will be service on Wednesday night only. We have tonight off and prayer meeting Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Since we had 2 receive the Holy Ghost last week when it was "just" a prayer meeting, I can't wait to see what happens next!

In case you've lost track - we've had 12 receive the Holy Ghost so far!

Three More!

We had 3 more receive the Holy Ghost this morning! Sorry I don't have any pictures, but I was at the piano again. I'll see if I can "steal" some!

Debbie is the mother of twin boys who started coming through our van ministry. Rebekah is the mother of three girls. And Bobby has been seeking the Holy Ghost for many months.

It's for everyone!!

We have two more services today - one that is going on right now, entirely in Spanish, and our evening service at 6:30. But for now it's time for a nap so I'll have energy for tonight.

Exciting News!

We have had 2 more receive the Holy Ghost this week!! One last night at prayer and another tonight at prayer! Our church has been needing a Holy Ghost break through and I'm so excited to see it come to pass! Our total is now FIVE this week!!

Praying for more tomorrow and that you all have great church, too!

Friday Foodie - Hawaiian Style!

I didn't mention any of the food we ate in my previous posts. Believe me - we ate! Although many days we would eat breakfast in our room (yogurt, oatmeal, banana bread) then only eat a Cliff Bar for lunch while we were out exploring. But we made up for small lunches with dinner and dessert! We usually tried to find different places that we wouldn't find at home (no Taco Bell or McDonald's for me, thank you!) There's nothing like sitting at an outdoor cafe, sipping ice tea, listening to the birds chirping, and feeling a nice ocean breeze!


Favorite Hawaiian Food - Macadamia Nuts!!
These nuts are so yummy in so many dishes - Crab and Macadamia Nut Wontons, Pan Roasted Shrimp with Mac Nut Pesto Pasta, Macadamia Pancakes, Macadamia Ice Cream, and of course, chocolate covered Macadamia nuts!!


Banana Bread
When I called to confirm our reservation on Maui, I mentioned we were going to take the "long way." The reservationist said "stop and buy banana bread, you can't miss it!" That was a great tip! It is made fresh every morning and kept warm at the stand. It melted in our mouths! Les also bought some while on his bike ride. The day I had my giant macadamia pancake, Les had a banana pancake with coconut syrup - yum!


Shave Ice
Many call this a Hawaiian snow cone - but shave ice is not hard like a snow cone. The ice is shaved when you place your order and the island flavors are great. I loved the pineapple and Les enjoyed Blue Hawaiian - vanilla and coconut!


Catch of the Day
I am not a fan of seafood, but most restaurants have a "catch of the day." After a few days of seeing the wild chickens on Kauai, we wondered, "Does KFC have a catch of the day?"


Mexican Food!
On about Wednesday I was needing me some salsa! One of the many brochures we picked up mentioned Monico's Taqueria. It was just down the road from us and we weren't disappointed! I just wanted to know if I was suppose to say Hola or Aloha...


Brick Oven Pizza
We discovered Brick Oven Pizza while we were on our honeymoon. This is really delicious pizza with garlic butter on the crust, which you can order white or whole wheat. Hawaiian style, of course!



I'm happy to report, that with all our eating my weight was only up one pound on Monday! It was down 2 from that on Tuesday, so I figure it was a wash! My vacation diet is: "Just eat it, you'll burn it off exploring!" And when I start worrying out loud, Les is great to say, "Go ahead, we don't eat like this at home!"

Holy Ghost Report!

We started revival with Bro. Carroll from Louisiana last night and three people got the Holy Ghost!!! How's that for a Wednesday night? We received a paper with pictures of people in our church (children and adults) who are seeking the Holy Ghost so we can remember to pray for them everyday. I guess we can put 3 stars on the chart!

Pictured below are Mary and Rachel. Mary started coming to church in March and has been receiving a Bible study from Rachel. Mary has been seeking the Holy Ghost since she started coming and has been so hungry. I was on the keyboard last night during the altar service and had a "front row seat" as Mary was crying and praying, then began speaking in a heavenly language! It was so beautiful to watch. That just never gets old! Her face was a delight! When she finished speaking in tongues, she stopped and the look of wonder made me laugh and cry at the same time! We spoke about the Holy Ghost a couple weeks ago, and I told her that when she received the Holy Ghost it would be the best feeling in the world. The look on her face told me she had that feeling! Mary will be getting baptized in Jesus' name on Sunday and we're looking forward to more receiving the Holy Ghost this weekend as well!


If you're in the Los Angeles area and looking for a great church, you are welcome at Victory Tabernacle anytime! 1614 W. Victory Blvd., Burbank, CA.

Kauai - The Garden Isle

Tuesday morning we boarded Island Air flight 149 for our next stop - Kauai! After four days of "vegging" on Maui, we were ready for more activity on Kauai. Our resort was the Islander on the Beach, in Kapa'a town. This was on the east side of the island and it rained our first day there. No big deal, we were in our room, listening to the rain and waves... until we remembered we had left the windows down on our Jeep! By the time Les went out there the seats were soaked and a small pond had formed in the floorboard!

We enjoyed several outdoor activities on Kauai. Thankfully, I had ordered an outfit from Modest Activewear! Cori Eells creates clothing for Pentecostal ladies who want to get out and have fun. My below the knee length skort and top outfit were perfect for kayaking and hiking. The fabric is some kind of lycra/sport fabric, not clinging knit or heavy cotton or denim! It was extremely comfortable and dried overnight!

Wailua River
Many people go on guided kayaking tours - not us! Just give us a kayak, simple directions, and we're off! The Wailua river is a softly flowing river with amazing scenery. We saw quite a few "jumping fish", but of course they are too fast to get a picture. We kayaked to the same stopping point we had discovered on our honeymoon and hiked to the waterfall. Unfortunately, there were about 20-30 people at the falls, thanks to a couple of tours! The waterfall was still beautiful, just not as peaceful as I remembered from 18 years ago! It rained while we were kayaking, but it felt very refreshing.

Polihale State Park
Due to the Na Pali Coast, Kauai's road does not circle the entire island as seen on the map below. The highway ends on the north side at Ke'e Beach and on the west side at Polihale Beach. Polihale is the longest beach in the Hawaiian Islands, but because of the "road", many people do not go there. We, naturally, have been there each time we have visited Kauai! Including the time we got stuck in sand...

This time we rented a Jeep and had no troubles! I don't think there were more than 20 people at the beach at any one time. No rain at Polihale! Since we were staying on the east side of the island, we decided to stay and watch the sun set. What a display!


Na Pali Coast
At the other "end of the road" on Kauai is Ke'e beach and the beginning of the beautiful Na Pali Coast. I remembered this hike from our honeymoon, but being the runner I am, I figured it would be no sweat. Wrong! The first two miles of the trail are extremely tough! If there aren't rocks or roots, there are wet rocks or roots! My biggest challenge was keeping up with Les' longer legs! I just couldn't match his steps. But the scenery was worth it!

Waimea Canyon
No visit to Kauai is complete without a drive to beautiful Waimea Canyon. This is the first time we have been there that it was cloudy and raining, but it was still spectacular.

Feeding the Birds
No trip is complete without a funny airplane story! As we were waiting for our flight back to Los Angeles to take off, we watched a little girl who appeared to be about 4. She and her mother were sharing a Subway sandwich. The little girl had a hunk of bread. She would take a piece, put some in her mouth, and sprinkle some in the aisle. She did this several times when we realized she was feeding the birds! Les and I were laughing so hard and I was trying to control myself until I snorted!! Then we lost it completely!! A great way to end a fabulous trip!


There are a LOT more pictures in this slideshow! I had a very hard time discarding any of the beautiful scenery of the "Garden Isle". So go grab a cup of coffee, glass of ice tea, diet Coke or Pepsi, and enjoy!

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Maui -The Valley Isle

The sun setting over the ocean...
going to sleep listening to waves crashing on the shore...
relaxing with my best friend...
walking on the beach...
forgetting what day it is and not caring...
These are a few of my favorite things!

I'm not going to give a day by day, hour by hour report. I think you'll enjoy the highlights and pictures the most!

Taking the Long Way
Before we arrived on Maui, we decided we would take the "long way" to our condo. We have stayed at the Aston Mahana several times and usually take the most direct route. If you look at the map below, you'll notice that the road does not connect at the top. What really happens is the road becomes narrow, often one lane, and is not the best quality. But that doesn't mean it can't be driven! It was the perfect way to start our relaxing vacation...


Cycling and Orientation Breakfast
Les had ridden with Go Cycling Maui when we visited the island in 2005 and wanted to ride with them again. The only day that would work was our first day - Saturday morning! Being the loving wife I am, I said, "go for it!" He rode part of the famous "Road to Hana" - a total of 48 miles.

While Les was cycling, I attended our orientation breakfast. There were only 7 people in attendance, with 2 door prizes available and I won one! My prize was a Sunset Cocktail Cruise. After talking it over with Les, we decided to upgrade to a two hour Dinner Cruise and scheduled that for our anniversary on Monday. It was fantastic!

'Ulalena
I don't know if I can adequately describe the show 'Ulalena. WOW! Taken from the website: " 'Ulalena explores relationships between people, nature and mythology. The use of metaphors integrates Hawaiian chants and dances, original music and choreography, lighting and projections to support the talents of unique performers." This was NOT a luau. From the goddess, Pele, with her volcanic flow that covered the audience, to the amazing musicians, to the "Banyan trees" on stilts, and the acrobats that were the moon and a waterfall (my personal favorite!) It was an incredible evening that we won't soon forget.

Going Hawaiian Style
No, I didn't wear a grass skirt! Les has his share of Hawaiian shirts and I have a few Hawaiian skirts. But Hawaiian style for me is a vacation for my hair. This started on our honeymoon with me not wanting to waste a lot time "primping" and it's become a tradition. I didn't even pack a blow dry, curlers, or curling iron! My hair was "natural" - either in a ponytail, braid, or up in a bun. Besides, when you're driving around in a convertible, the best thing you can do for your hair is put on a hat!

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Teaser Post

I've got laundry, housework, grocery shopping, and other miscellaneous items on my To Do list standing in the way of posting our pictures. I'd much rather be going through the pictures and reliving our wonderful time, but I do like to eat and wear clean clothes... So here are a few teaser shots:

The view from our room on Maui:



The island of Molokai (as seen from our room on Maui):



The view from our room on Kauai: