UNCONDITIONAL

I try to fake it –

my mask can't take it.

I strain to attain –

but I am humain.

For in mortal flesh encased,

I don't want hurt erased.

Will I under pain be bound,

Others’ and mine – in a net wound?

Will I dare take a free present,

His pure love for my sad torment?

Condemnation will be no more,

No need to even up the score.

But, aha! There is a catch!

I must rid myself from past.

By accepting His love pure,

I’m bound by my Savior.

Not with weight of sad remorse,

But only to complete the course.

From Him to me – up to the brim,

And then to others portray Him.

Not looking up before,

"Let us see, how is their score?"

Blind love, love complete,

Never looking for retreat.

Then I feel Him all around me,

A mist of love surrounds me.

I am lifted from my place,

To look deep into his face.

He thrills, swills and refills me so,

That I at last understand and know.

I needn’t search, I needn’t find,

So long as we are both intertwined.

Like mine? Never!

Perfect! Forever!

Beyond error, beyond pain,

Always finding love again.

Not mine, but my Love’s,

Only when I look above.

For within me I have none,

That was not from Him given.

Fun pix

Here is JC's new look (don't confuse him with Paco) and someone we picked up from the hood (Eli trying looking inconspicuous at an outing to Galeria Gourmet). Then here are some pix from a Gemini party here (with our very own Jack Sparrow and Co.). Everyone had to be a twin with someone else (check out Sophie and Sharon) - although there were also quite a few triplets and quadruplets. Fido, Gen and I didn't have time to dress the same, but hey, we all had high top boots and jean skirts on :) (guess who is who!) By the way, the Shangri-la Home hosted this party at their new house and here's a plug for you all to pray for them to get it set up and build the rooms necessary to accommodate them all. Also pray for the funds and construction supplies they'll need. It's a cool big house, but it could use LOTS of fixing, heh. Thank you! Oh, to end this, here is a good reason for all you guys to come to Rio ---for Rocky's sake, he's outnumbered!

Another Gemini - Mom's turn!

Now, you won't believe this, but my mom is a Gemini as well! How cool is that - I had four parents! (Get it?) Well, it's good, cause at some points she definitely needed to act as two, ha! I know you see her a lot on my blog, but how could I pass up her birthday? Well, here is a little potpourri of her pix from years past , hope you enjoy them!

1. Looks tiny, no? Well, hidden in there is a ton of dynamites. As a friend used to say when people told her her kids were short: dynamites come in little packages.
2. Wow! What a stylish young lady (and those glasses are in style again, ha!)
3. Didn't she grow up to be beautiful? Oh, and here are my cute siblings.
4. She taught us to witness and never ceased to win souls. I've never met a more faithful soul-winner. Quite something to live up to.
5. She's the best teacher. Knew how to teach you to think for yourself - an art I have yet to perfect, ha!
6. She has a pioneer spirit, faith trips to the northeast interior on hamocks and old boats were charted territory for her. Anything to meet people and give them His love.
7. Like any good mother, she did anything to do the job, even if that meant wearing a huge red hat out witnessing to brave the Manaus sun (to my utter embarassment, though when I took it I already know this pic would later be worth gold , ha!)
8. She had a heart for the poor, especially children, and never helped them for any other reason but to see them taken care of. Wherever we were she always participated in helping or started a project of her own.
9. And she's still at it, never giving up, always having faith, and still at it up in Iceland. Don't know what she's thinking up next, but you can bet it will be revolutionary and nothing will hold her back. ILY MOM! Have a stupendous year! Muah!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!

Happy birthday to a great guy! Here is just a small list of just a few of his amazing qualities. He is:

• Extremely intelligent
• Fun! (knows how to make the most dreary class into an exciting adventure)
• Great gardener (in the sense that we planted all our veggies at some points)
• A super baker - who ever tasted such good brown bread, he even used to bake bread for a home of 100 people!!!
• The best guy for homeopathic advice on just about anything
• A great eschatology teacher
• Full of faith - he has crazy faith which the Lord honors
• A good motivator
• A great witnesser
• One of the best 'people persons' I know
• Funny - he gets me laughing every time.
• A Handiman! Builds and fixes anything, from fixing a car to building a water cleansing system with ultraviolet light!
• Computer genius - figures it all out alone!
• Great fisher - not to mention patient when I'd scare them all away
• Survival Sam en persona
• Linda Goodman in a male version (try him, he'll guess your sign after knowing you for 5 minutes!)
• A great father who tried to always do what was best for us (of course, can't forget that)

I love you Dad! Have a great year! - You deserve it and He wants you to have it! xxxxx

IN GRATITUDE TO YOU

I loved this poem, the extreme full posession by Him! (and look at the cute baby praising the Lord, he)

• My whole being pulsates with the fire of desire for our everlasting union. My very breath is but Yours. My heart is a limitless beacon of Your Love.

• My spirit, being Yours, is the Light of the World. My eyes but radiate and reflect our Perfect Love. My very essence vibrates with You as the harmony of music not yet heard.

My vision, being Yours, can only bless. My prayer is but an eternal song of gratitude, that You are in me, and I am in You and that I live in Your Grace forever.