Summer Time

Happy first day of Summer!  Summer for me as a kid meant two things:  swimming and youth camp.  We couldn't have survived the heat of Fresno without our pool and when it was time to get away, youth camp was a great place to go.  I've written dozens of posts about camp through the years and they usually contain these two pictures:

Junior camp, 1974, the year I received the Holy Ghost and Senior camp, 1989, the year Les and I met.  There were a lot of camps in between those two monumental occasions.  Growing in God, meeting new friends, being a camper and being a counselor.  There's just something about youth camp!

I made my way to the Ventura County Fairgrounds last night for Pacific Coast Camp.  It was my only chance to be there this year, but it was wonderful!  It was great to see so many friends, but the highlight was watching children and young people sing, worship, and pray.

Woman of the Week ~ Mom

My Mom would have turned 79 today.  In honor of her birthday, I thought I would write her in as my first Woman of the Week for 2019.

Verses: 
Obviously, there aren't any verses in the Bible with her story, but oh how her Bible has blessed me!  I have blogged from it and about it for over ten years.  It is my dearest earthly treasure.

Background
She was born on January 1, 1940 to Hogan and Luella Pearson.  She was the first baby born in Tulare county that year.  She was the second of four children - she had an older brother, Dean, a younger sister, Joyce, and a younger brother, Don.
She married Robert Fultz on October 3, 1958.  They produced four offspring - Kim, Rick, Rod and Kathy.  They celebrated their 40th anniversary one week before she passed away.

What is she most known for? Victories? Defeats? How can I be like her? How can I avoid being like her? 
Oh my!  There are so many things I can list, here are a few:

Baking - Mom was not a great cook, she would have told you that.  She was rather picky and didn't enjoy trying new foods.  But when it came to baked goods, especially chocolate, she couldn't be beat!  She definitely passed that gift on to me.  What I didn't get was her decorating ability.  She was a master at beautiful cakes, but she could also make beautiful cookies.  I remember her using a paintbrush to get food coloring on turkey cookies before they were baked.  They came out with a glaze of beautiful feathers.  I also knew that Les had received her silent approval when I told her how much he liked brownies and the next time he came for a visit that is what she made!

Kids - Mom loved kids.  She was able to stay home with all of us because she babysat little ones in our home.  For years she preferred newborns, then she seemed to switch and really enjoy the two to four year old age range.  She taught Sunday school for decades and Pre-K at the Christian school for several years.  She loved her own four kids and was ecstatic when she became Grandma!

Nursing - Mom didn't have a nursing degree, but with Rod's health issues she became a pro in her own right.  Rod broke his femur two different times in less than 12 months.  Because of his hemophilia the healing process was a little more complicated.  He spent about 6 weeks in the hospital in traction so the bones could start mending.  He then came home in a body cast.  Mom tended to his needs daily.  Mom and Dad both knew how to mix Rod's medicine and give him injections.  Her experiences allowed her to become the youth camp nurse for many years.  She loved going to camp and taking care of all the kids there.

Animals - We nicknamed our home "Fultz's Funny Farm" for a reason!  Mom loved every type of animal and our home was never without at least one dog. I wrote about it in detail in this post, but there is one story I have to share here.  Just as she did with children, Mom nourished and nurtured every animal that came her way. Dad was very patient, but every once in a while he put his foot down. One peaceful Saturday afternoon, we kids were playing at home, Dad was trying to relax, maybe even take a nap on the couch, when Mom came home:

Mom (rushing in the house): Bob, I need a box
Dad: Huh? A box? What for?
Mom: There's a little animal I need to rescue.
Dad: Where?
Mom: Around the corner.
Dad (knowing it is now useless to argue): I'll go with you, let me get my shoes on.
Mom: Well hurry!
Dad (when they get to the animal): It's a mole! We're not taking that thing home!

Friends - Mom had some very close friends in our church family.  Friends that she could talk to for hours!  She loved talking on the phone as much as any teenager.  I know there was laughter, but I also know she shared tears and prayers with these dear friends of hers.

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?
I'm sure there were many times Mom needed to reset, but the most significant happened when she was about 20 years old.  She was raised going to church, but after Kim was born our family moved away from Visalia.  I believed they lived in Selma for a time, then they moved to Fresno.  Some time after their move, Irene Wilkinson asked Mom if they could pick her up for church.  Kenneth and Irene took Mom to church for many years (she didn't get her driver's license until she was 23 or 24.)

By the time I was born, Mom was firmly planted in Truth Tabernacle.  It was her church home for about 38 years.  I can never remember a time when Mom chose to stay home from church if she was not sick.  I know there were times that she was tired, but going to church was not optional.  She loved God and His Word.  I flipped through her Bible and found so many quotes.  I tried to find a couple to use, but there were just too many.  I finally settled on this one, written in large all caps letters:

HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT

That is the key that she found to go through whatever joys or sorrows life brought.  Trials and victories, hurts and hopes, Mom knew that HIS grace was sufficient.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Wordless Wednesday ~ 4th of July Hawaiian Style

You Better Read Your Bible!

Lance is here for a visit, with daily extended bike rides on the agenda. The two Mac brothers decided to go to downtown LA to look for suits yesterday morning after service.  Lance got two suits at Al Weiss, using the "Pastor Noe Trevino discount" ~ two suits for $70 each!

Shopping versus a nap on Sunday afternoon?  Sorry fellas, nap always wins!  I hitched a ride home with the Flores family.  We spent the 30 minute drive catching up since we hadn't seen much of each other this year.  They spent a week on Maui in August and I hadn't gotten the full report.

Snorkeling?  Yes.  Submarine ride?  Yes.  Road to Hana?  Yes.  Sunrise on Haleakala?  Yes.

When we talked about Haleakala, I mentioned that Les road his bike up it earlier this year.  "No way!" both kids exclaimed!  Then Nick cracked me up with this quip:

"You better read your Bible, cause it talks about lying!"

Hahaha!   I had to pull out my phone and show him this picture to prove I wasn't lying!

You can't get much past a nine year old!  I'm guessing that is a phrase he and his sister use on each other often.

NLP Sunday School Trip

We had a really busy weekend!  Saturday the Sunday School department took a trip to the Honolulu Zoo.  A good time was had by all.  Almost all of the parents were there, in fact there were more adults than kids!  I guess I'm not the only big kid who loves going to the zoo.

A.J. got up close to the orangutans...

Seth wasn't sure he wanted his little sister getting any closer to the rhinos...

Mahala and I became good friends on Saturday...  it was either hold somebody's hand or ride in the stroller!

Lunch and the playground held their attention more than any animal!

This is the most active I have ever seen the hippos!

We finished the day in the Keiki (children's) Zoo...

Fun in the koi pool...

Sheep and goats...

Aloha from the Honolulu Zoo!

Busy!

Expect my blog to have hit and miss posts for the next two weeks.  We are enjoying lots of Christmas activities and I may not post on a daily basis.  Let me catch you up a little...

Last Sunday morning (12/9) our Sunday school department put on a program.  There were puppets and the kids choir singing Christmas carols.  Voices of the puppets were some of our children, including one of our van riders. (I apologize for the quality of the pictures in this post, they were all taken with my phone.)

Last Sunday night, Les preached at our Santa Clarita daughter church.  We've visit many times for special services but that was the first time we have been there on a "regular" service. They have a growing work and it was good to see the young saints being faithful when their pastor was not there.

Last night was our Music Department recital.  It was one of our best yet!  There were a total of 25 songs ~ several instrumentals, groups, kids, young people and the finale of the night was by a couple of old folks, Les and me!

Carolers singing "Carol of the Bells"

Italia Castro directing the carolers - she did great!

Flores family - Dad and Nic on Saxophones and Caitlin singing

Youth Chorale

Les playing "Do You Hear What I Hear?" on his trumpet - he blew us away!

The Power of Parental Convictions

We have been having special services this week with Pastor Steve Kelly from Kamiah, Idaho.  He preached a powerful message last night called "The Power of Parental Convictions."  I don't know if I've ever heard a better message to parents, future parents and grandparents about their responsibilities in raising children.

Genesis 18:19 says, "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him."  The Lord is speaking about Abraham, before Isaac is born.  He knew that Abraham would raise godly seed.  Following God's laws was in Abraham's heart.

Bro. Kelly talked about each of his four children, decisions that were made in guiding them.  Times when he had to say "no" about who they spent time with.  He talked about one of his daughters who was still single at 28.  When he intervened in a situation, she listened and God has blessed her since.  All four of their children are living for God because the Kellys followed the laws of God when raising them.

I thought about times in my life when I was told "no."  Mom was very consistent.  When she said "no" she meant it.  I remember a Saturday night when we had a special service.  I wanted to go out with friends afterwards.  She said, "That's fine, you can go tonight or tomorrow night, but not both."  We always went out on Sunday nights after church.  I had to choose one or the other.  My friends said, "Just beg her, she'll change her mind."  My response was, "No, if I try that she may not let me go out either time."  I knew she wasn't going to change her mind.  But I was safe in that.

There was more than one time that my pastor said "no" about someone I was dating.  I remember many tears as I listened and obeyed.  It was hard, but he did it because he loved me.  He prayed for me and wanted God's best.  I'm so glad I listened!  If I had gone my own way, I would have missed out on Les and the great blessings God has brought in our life.

I know it's not easy raising children and teenagers.  Being the "bad guy" at times must be so hard and discouraging.  But I'm thankful for the many times a stop sign was held up in my life, it kept me from falling off a cliff that would have led to destruction.

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."  Proverbs 22:6

A Spotty Memory

Good health and good sense are two of life's greatest blessings.
~ Mom's Bible

I was thinking the other day how thankful I am for good health.  I've never broken any bones or had any surgeries.  The last time I had to stay in the hospital was when I was born.  I don't take it for granted, I strive to eat healthy and exercise, and I still know that my health could be wiped out in an instant.  But for today, I'm healthy and glad!

I probably picked up the most germs when I was the secretary at Truth Tabernacle Christian School.  As the secretary it was my responsibility to bandage scraped knees and call parents when little ones were sick.  I'd be typing away at my desk (yes, I had a typewriter back then!) when I'd look up to see two little eyes staring at my over the counter.  "Hey, what's wrong?"  "I don't feel good."  In those few moments germs would be shared and I'd do my best to take care of the child until their parent could arrive.

The funniest germ I ever picked up was chicken pox!  I made it through my entire childhood without catching them, but when a couple of school kids got them, so did I!  I was probably 22 at the time.

How did I manage going through childhood without chicken pox?  Well, it's really quite simple.  When Mom was pregnant with me, all three of my siblings had the chicken pox virus.  That same virus (varicella-zoster) also causes shingles in adults.  Guess who got shingles?  Mom!  Poor thing ~ pregnant, with three kids all under the age of 5 with chicken pox, and she got shingles.  The doctor told her I could develop an immunity and possibly never get chicken pox.  Well, the doctor was partially right ~ I made it through childhood without them...

So there I was, school secretary and helping sick kids.  At first I thought I picked up the flu.  I was running a fever, slight sore throat, etc.  I had one little bump on my left arm... that turned into a whole bunch more.  It was on the third morning that I woke up to a face covered with spots!  At that point I was actually starting to feel better and all I could do was laugh!  Thankfully, I was wise enough not to scratch and came away without any scars.

What about you ~ have you ever had childhood disease as an adult?

Say Hello to Flat Sophie!

I received an unexpected visitor in the mail yesterday ~ Flat Sophie!  Some of you may be familiar with Flat Stanley, the little boy who loves to go on adventures.  Sophie is our third "flat" visitor - our nieces Claire and Hannah did this project when they were in about second grade.  Sophie is the daughter of Les' long time friend, Jerry.  They have known each other since the 70s when the McElhaney family moved to Nashville.



I have a few adventures planned for Sophie, but I didn't want to limit her time to just Simi Valley.  Wouldn't it be more fun if she could take a virtual tour of other places around the world?  So here's where my fellow bloggers come in!  If you would like to take Sophie on an adventure in your town, please do the following:

1.  Copy Sophie's picture to YOUR blog.
2.  Answer the six questions listed below.
3.  Come back here and leave a comment with the link to your blog.

I need to return Sophie to Tennessee by February 22nd, so if you want to participate, please do so by next Wednesday, February 15th.  Here are the questions:

1.  What country/state/city am I visiting with you?
2.  What is this state famous for?
3.  What is the capital of the state that I'm in?
4.  What is at least one landmark I could see in this state?
5.  What could I do for fun in this state?
6.  What was my favorite thing that I did while I was visiting you?

I hope you help me show Sophie some cool places around the world!