How Do I Love You?

When Little Andrew was only 3 years old, my sister-in-law, Liz, brought this book for us from the States. It is one of our favorites, even today. Every time I read it to the kiddies, I get a little choked up, but they don’t notice…they are busy looking at the pictures, and even reciting it with me.

I wanted to share the words to this book with you. I think they are so sweet. I am adding pictures of my own children…..If you have small children, and you come across this book, buy it….It will help create some very special memories with your kiddies!

How do I love you?

Let me count the ways.

I love you on your very best….

And very worst of days.

I love to see you laughing and dancing in the rain.

And even when you lose your shoes,

I love you just the same.

I love to hear you singing...

I love to see you smile.

I love the way you take each day

In your own unhurried style.

I’m happy when you’re happy.

And I’m sorry when you’re sad.

And even though it may not show,

I love you when you’re mad.

How do I love you?

Well, now, let me see….

I love the way you act so brave

When you fall and hurt your knee.

I love to watch you sleeping,

Tucked away in pleasant dreams.

I love to hear you whisper

All your giant plans and schemes.

I love the way you wear your pants

With the front part in the back,

And the way you walk around sometimes

With your head inside a sack.

I love to see you deep in thought.

I love to watch you play.

And though I’m sure you’ll never know,

I love you more each day.

How do I love you?

It’s impossible to say.

For if I had a million days

And time enough for all the praise,

I couldn’t tell you all the ways….

I LOVE YOU!

Happy Birthday, Honey!

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. Jeremiah 17:7

Today is my husband’s 36^th birthday!

He was born to Gregorio and Juana López, the 9^th of ten children. He has told me and our children of many wonderful, exciting stories from his childhood, growing up in far-away villages.

Andrew and his mother in 1976

His father worked very closely with Wycliffe missionaries for 22 years; and his hard-working mother was a faithful helpmeet to his father, and at one time worked with honeybees to help support the family. Truly, Andrew’s life has been an exciting one, and we can see the hand of the Lord in his life. God’s faithfulness and mercy protected him throughout his childhood (he came very near to death in his early childhood) and throughout his teen years.

At the tender age of 12, he left his beloved home in the village and moved to the city to continue his education. He said he cried for his mother every night for many months.

God’s hand of mercy led him to my father’s doorstep, where he was saved in our church here in 1990. He was baptized a week later, and had the privilege of growing under Dad’s ministry.

As his wife, I have lived many exciting adventures with him in the Indian villages, marveling unceasingly at this man who has lived through un-imaginable experiences. It has been my privilege to live alongside this wonderful man.

One of our crazy-fun moments, captured by our Little Andrew

Especially during the past 2 years, I have seen him endure hardships, both physically and spiritually. When my faith has been small, and it seemed I could hardly take another step, he has been there to pick me up; he has put things in proper perspective for me; he has quietly continued to faithfully serve his Lord, whom he loves, thus being an example to me. I have watched him endure criticism, taking it with a godly attitude and not letting it make him bitter. He has come out on top every time, and has pulled me right up there with him!!

It is my privilege to be his help meet. It is my privilege to be the lady who cooks his meals and washes his clothes. It is my thrill to get to listen to his plans and dreams; and it is my joy to watch him father our children in the most loving manner and to see how they adore him!

So Happy Birthday, My Sweetheart! I LOVE YOU, and I look forward to many, many more years by your side!

I'm Back!

Isn’t it terrible when you tell someone, “I’m back!” and he says, “Oh, were you gone?”

You might be asking me the same question. Or another one: “Where did you go?”

I’m not back from a trip; I have gone nowhere. What I mean is that I am back to blogging. About one month ago, our computer suddenly stopped opening the blogger.com site for me, so I could not get into my blog! There were times that I felt inspired to write, but thought, “Oh, what’s the use?” and almost gave up completely on blogging.

Then today, my friend, Charity, took time to help me get it fixed. THANK YOU, CHARITY!

But besides the fact that our computer had suddenly decided not to cooperate, there have been many, many other things that have happened during the last month.

My beautiful sister-in-law, Liz (my brother/pastor, Philip’s wife), had to have kidney surgery to remove a tumor. In her quiet manner, she bravely went into surgery; she came out with a good report and a happy doctor; and she has had a very successful recovery. We are all so thankful that she is doing so well!

Philip and Liz have three boys: Joshua (7), Samuel (5) and Mark (22 months). During the time that Liz was in the hospital, and during her recovery, I took care of the boys (along with our two children). Over-all, things went well, and the boys behaved very well for us. We had fun times together and made a lot of memories.

I took ((some)) pictures during those 3 (busy) weeks, and I even wrote a little something, which never got posted! I was so very busy during that time, and have grown to admire (even more!) all those mommies with 5 (or more!) young children.

Cousin Time.....

Work time...and refreshment time....

Play time....(notice all the laundry on the couch!)

After-bath time.....

Art time....

Movie Time....Quiet time!

Sisters

I have been blessed with sisters. I am the 5th of 8 children, and the second of four daughters. My oldest sister, Sarah Jean, is only a year and ten months older than me. I am so thankful that God gave me an older sister (and two younger ones).

Sarah has always the ideal big sister…ever since I can remember, I have always admired her, even when we were younger. When we would play “housie” together, I would go over to her “house” and I always loved how she had it fixed up. I’d go back to my “house” and fix it up just like she had it. When I was about ten years old, our grandmother, Mimi, bought us each a big doll…mine was a girl and hers was a boy. I remember we played for hours with those dolls…I named mine Rhonda Sue and she named hers Marvin Dale (remember, Sarah?).

l to r: David, Sarah, Dad and me (1982)

We went through our teen-age "trials" together…I’d tell her and she’d tell me. We shared everything from secrets to clothes.

We graduated from High School together and then went off to Bible college together, enrolling in the exact same classes and going through every single class in Bible college together. So even in Bible college, we studied for tests together, quizzing each other and making sure we were ready. After the test was over, whichever of the two got done first, we’d wait outside of the classroom door for the other one, and share “how it went in there.”

We graduated from Bible college together and came back home and worked in Dad’s ministry…together. We got married the same year, and had our first babies within one month of each other.

Sarah and me two weeks ago

Today, I still admire her. To me, she is the perfect wife, mother (to six beautiful children!), house-keeper and missionary. I love to go visit her, and after our time together, I come back with a renewed purpose to be a better wife, mother, house-keeper and Christian.

Jason and Sarah's six beautiful children:

Two weeks ago, we were able to make the 5-hour trip to visit Sarah and her family. We were together for (almost) 4 whole days, and we had SUCH a nice time together! We had not seen each other for 3 months, and it was so wonderful to visit with her family again.

(Jackie and Debbie washing dishes together)

I am thankful for this wonderful sister/friend God has given to me.

My two younger sisters, Elizabeth and Ruth.

They, too, are a blessing, an encouragement, and a great inspiration to me. I admire them in their Christian lives, and for the excellent manner in which they fulfill their roles as wife, mother, and missionary. Sisters are special; but the fact that my sisters are my FRIENDS, and very godly Christians make them 100 times more special to me!

Thank YOU, LORD, for my sisters, my friends….my encouragers!

Mrs. Colleen Bond

Someday when I've traveled my last mile here,

The call will be coming for me

I'll enter the life boat that will be near

To carry me over the sea.

He'll hold my hand

As over the river I go

Then safe I'll be

In beautiful Heaven I know.

I'm ready to go to that golden shore

To live there while ages shall roll

I want to meet loved ones, and saints of yore

In Heaven, Blessed Home of the soul.

When my sibblings and I were younger, I remeber singing that sweet song in the Petra Baptist Church. Pastor W.N. Bond and Deacon Horace Clowdis would wave their hands as we would sing that song, and I would see sweet Mrs. Bond wipe a tear from her eye.

Mrs. Colleen Bond was one of the sweetest Christian ladies that I have ever known. Having known Dad since he was just nineteen years old, she came to love us as her own grandchildren. I remember going to her house when we were there and eating delicious home-cooked dinners. I loved to hear her sweet, happy laugh...I can still hear it this morning.

Yesterday evening, the Lord called Sweet Mrs. Bond to Heaven...and Heaven just became sweeter to me. My heart grieves, not for her, but for us who remain...for Dear Bro. Bond.... But my heart rejoices that she is in Heaven with her Lord, and that we will see her again someday!

So we need not sorrow, as others which have no hope. For one day we SHALL BE caught up together with our loved ones in the clouds, to meet our Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. What blessed hope we have! I'll see you again some day, Sweet Mrs. Bond!

"Thank You, Lord, for putting Mrs. Bond in my life. Thank you for her sweet testimony. Thank you for the privilege I had of knowing her."

When we went to the States in December, we were able to go to Petra Baptist Church, and Andrew met the Bonds....I am so thankful we had that opportunity! Last night, when I told Andrew that Mrs. Bond had passed away, he said, "Thank the Lord we were able to go see them! I am so thankful I got to meet her!”

Florinda

Florinda is a precious young lady in our church who got saved about 2 years ago. She and her brother, Esteban (who got saved about 7 years ago) are Tzotzil Indians and come from the village of Pacanám. The church in Pacanám was started by Bro. Sebastian, a man who got saved many years ago under Dad’s ministry, and who has started about 9 churches among the Tzotzil Indians.

Esteban is the second from the left

I remember when Esteban started bringing Florinda to church…she was a little shy. After she got saved and baptized, she slowly began to get involved in church activities. After she went to camp two years ago, I noticed a change in her, and she began to grow steadily in her Christian life. Not long after that, Mom wanted someone from the church to help her out in her house. I suggested Florinda, whom I knew was needing a job. Florinda came to help Mom, and has been nothing but a blessing!

Since Mom has been gone for a few months, Florinda has been helping me with my housework (she comes once a week) and goes over to Liz’s house to work there, as well. Florinda is responsible, reliable, joyful…such a delight to have around!

Today is her 17th birthday, and being HER SPECIAL DAY, I wanted to introduce her to my readers.

Please pray for Esteban and Florinda. They both attend public schools and are often harassed for not participating in the ungodly activities that take place among their classmates. They earnestly desire to please the Lord, wanting to keep themselves pure and clean. As the Teen Girl’s Sunday School teacher, I have visions in my mind of what the girls in my class could one day become. What can God do with a group of girls who surrender their lives to Him? May God give us many more Florindas…purposing in their hearts to live for God, willing to pay the price so that God will be glorified in their lives!

Florinda and me. (She made this blouse for my birthday last month. Can you see the beautiful stitching?) --Excuse my messy hair-do!!!--