A Teaser. . . . .

Saturday, April 28th we had our Mom's Adventure #3. Here is a picture .....our daughters think we look so cute! More to come when Di, our historian writes the narrative.

Take Me Out to the Ball Game. . . .

Monday, Lori called and said they had a couple extra tickets for the Angels game.......would we like to go? Ummmm.....let me think.......YES!! Greg drove us in his Infinity M45..Nice ride! The drive was uneventful except for seeing quite a few CHPs with drivers pulled over and one where they were drawing their weapons as they approached the vehicle. The halo over the "Big A" which is lighted when the Angels win. It wasn't to happen that night. We stopped on our way up to have a passerby take our photo. Unfortunately, no flash so the photo is dark. We continued up to the Budweiser Patio to enjoy our meal before the game. Greg munched down a wonderful sausage with sauerkraut. YUM YUM! It was really cool that they announced the players and shot fireworks off with each name. Actually, the fireworks were more exciting than the game. It took the longest time to get through the first inning and the score in the second inning was 7-0 Tigers. The angels managed to put 2 runs on the board by the end of the 2nd inning. They got another run in the 3rd and one more in the 6th. Lori and I managed to keep ourselves occupied by reciting lines from Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Paul joined the fun by contributing animal sounds and Greg just rolled his eyes. We stood for the 7th inning stretch and had some great fun singing and rooting for the "Home Team" Paul was getting really crazy by the time the 7th inning ended so we thought we better pack it in and head for the barn...er..Infinity. In the car, we listened to the end of the game. Gary Matthews Jr. hit a home run in the 9th! That's the way the cookie crumbles. The final score: 9-5 Detroit. Hey, Thanks for a fun time Greg and Lori....see you on the 10th!

Hope

My soul has been rejected from peace;
I have forgotten happiness.
So I say, "My strength has perished,
And so has my hope from the LORD."

Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness.
Surely my soul remembers
And is bowed down within me.
This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I have hope in Him."
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the person who seeks Him.
It is good for a man that he should bear
The yoke in his youth.
Let him sit alone and be silent
Since He has laid it on him.
Let him put his mouth in the dust,
Perhaps there is hope.
Let him give his cheek to the smiter,
Let him be filled with reproach.
For the Lord will not reject forever,
For if He causes grief,
Then He will have compassion
According to His abundant lovingkindness.
For He does not afflict willingly

Or grieve the sons of men.

Lamentations 3:17-33




Not only so, but we also rejoice in
our sufferings, because we know that
suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, character; and
character, hope. And hope does not
disappoint us, because God has
poured out his love into our hearts by
the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Romans 5:3-5

Foxworth Birthday Party

Saturday we headed out to the Rubke Casino to celebrate Kate and Brian's birthdays. The sunset was magnificent and no wind. A jolly jump was there for the kids and the birthday girl jumped in just for me. The food was great and people enjoyed chatting with each other. Some people I hadn't seen for quite some time. R3 in the kitchen serving...we must plan our channel islands kayak trip...soon Kate and Lauren enjoyed jumping with Kate & Brian's niece Julia. It was dark and I had no idea if I was getting any pictures or not. Tables were set up for Black Jack and Texas Hold 'em. Paul Rubke dealt cards. Time for Cake! It's good! Want a bite? Tasha the bionic dog, waited so patiently for her dinner to be served.

A marvelous party! Happy Birthday Kate and Brian. Thanks for including us.

When Marriage Meets Grace

Must have been bitten by the blog bug or something......maybe I just have to get some thoughts out. I've been reading a book by Gary & Betsy Ricucci called "Love That Lasts". Betsy is the sister of CJ Mahaney who used to be the pastor of Covenant Life Church which is now pastored by Josh Harris (I Kissed Dating Goodbye). Gary serves on the pastoral team of Covenant Life and is the director of student care for the Pastors College of Sovereign Grace Ministries. Anyway, I have been studying another book called "The Excellent Wife" by Martha Peace. Between the 2 books and some other reading I've done recently, I've been giving a lot of consideration to the fact that marriage is God's example to the world of Christ's relationship with the church and how that practically plays out in a marriage. In "Love That Lasts", Gary has a chapter on relational intimacy which is so full of good information, I wish I could just cut and paste the whole chapter. The part that I am challenged by is that relational intimacy requires humility. He says...."One of the greatest hindrances to fellowship in a marriage is pride--self-confident, self-exalting, self-protecting pride. Pride is perhaps the most deceptive, pervasive, and multifaceted form of sin, and it plays a central role in virtually all sin. One way the foolishness of pride is displayed in our communication is in our love for our own voice and opinions." Proverbs 18:2 - A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

Then Gary has a list:

• Pride loves to talk, reveling in every self-exalting form of self-expression
• Pride assumes I already understand everything I need to
• Pride assumes I don't need help
• Pride sinfully judges others by assuming they will respond negatively or unhelpfully if I am open
• Pride uses conversation as broadcast time
• Pride doesn't need a spouse, just an audience
• Pride denies what the gospel reveals about our seriously sinful condition (Prov 10:19; Galations 5:17)

"Whenever Betsy poses a question or concern about my tone of voice, manner of speech, or choice of words, and my first response is to 'explain' or 'defend' rather than ask a lot of questions about what she heard, invariably I am confirming her concern and am guilty of pride. In contrast, humility yearns to learn, because it recognizes its deficiencies (Prov 12:15)."

• Humility asks questions and loves dialogue
• Humility has never found someone it couldn't learn something from
• Humility assumes there is always more to learn about everything
• Humility assumes I need others
• Humility would rather be open and vulnerable than closed and independent
• Humility uses conversation with a spouse to explore new worlds
• Humility puts energy and effort into listening
• Humility treats a spouse as a fellow traveler on the road to biblical wisdom
• Humility that leads to intimacy takes an interest in one's spouse as a gift from God
• Humility believes what the gospel says about our desperate need for God and His grace - after we're saved as well as before

Gary then goes on to talk about true listening.....so much good stuff!

One last point...."The relational intimacy we have been discussing is, in essence, a spiritual intimacy. As you employ biblical communication to open up to one another in all honesty and humility, you and your spouse move toward the unhindered relational intimacy that Adam and Eve enjoyed prior to their sin. As you grow spiritually closer to one another, you position yourselves to experience God's grace to help you grow in holiness, a process called sanctification. God changes you. This makes you more like Christ as individuals and makes you as a couple into a better representation of Christ and the church. Thus, the biblical communication that furthers relational intimacy in marriage promotes God's ultimate purpose for marriage. Relational intimacy is not only enjoyable in itself--it is a path to holiness, and that brings glory to God."

Ok, there's my soapbox for today....I think I better go meditate on all this some more.

Easter

The Valencias attended the Easter service at Temecula Hills Christian Fellowship. Alex led the worship and it was very inspired! I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to sit and worship under the leading of each of my three children on different occasions and it is wonderful. The message was given in three parts by Randy, Rob and Marcelo. Each taking a different perspective in the resurrections impact then, now, and in the future. We met the Bauers at El Torito for brunch: The pics..........Our two grandmas. The lovely Miss Katie in her beautiful outfit made by her Mother My offspring were laughing at me because I can't say "That's how we roll" correctly. No matter how I try, it's wrong and they crack up. Here's Jared trying to gain control This is very SCARY! Sunday evening Paul, Sally and I went to Rancho Community to hear Jared play worship for "The Point" . A great 40+ minutes of worship!

Santa Rosa Plateau

The stock market is closed on Good Friday and that is remarkable to me. I wonder how long that will continue.....Anyway, Paul suggested a bike ride and invited Lauren to join us. We picked her up and drove to Sylvan Meadows. The sun came out and it was a nice day out there for a leisurely short ride to the Visitor Center (with a few little extra turns here and there) and back the fenceline trail to the truck. Here are a few pics that Paul took. That evening, we attended the Good Friday service at Faith Bible Church. It was a time of reflection on what the death of Christ was like and the purpose for it. I am so grateful to be included in God's kingdom because of the debt paid on my behalf by His Only Son..

HE IS RISEN!

And because He is....I can stand faultless before God's throne.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus' Name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground in sinking sand.