HOPEful girl

  Hashtag lucky we live in Hawaii , I see often in social media posts with  these idyllic pictures and views taken throughout the island.  Yes, its true, I feel blessed and lucky to live in Hawaii. But to quote George Clooney’s character in the movie, The Descendants, life here is not a permanent vacation like were all sipping Mai this and shaking our hips. Five years ago, my life was not so idyllic , I was lost in my addiction, my marriage was on the brink of ending, and I was depressed and anxious in a new place where I hardly knew anybody, a whole ocean away from my family and only home I knew. This year has not gone as planned leaving us with a less than idyllic place to be.  It makes me think of that night when Jesus came to this world. No room at the inn. I’m sure Mary and Joseph didn’t plan on that.  Baby Jesus born in a manger, a feeding trough for farm animals.  Not idyllic at all.  Like he came into the world,  Jesus comes into our broke...

  I was blessed to be able to visit my family in California this year before thanksgiving. It was nice to reunite with my parents, brother and sister and their families.  There’s something about going back to your roots to help you move forward in the next season of life.   Going back to the places I spent growing up, catching up with loved ones and sharing funny stories from our past  not only reminds me of who I am, but  also provides an opportunity to reconnect with my family relationships.  Overall, it was a much needed and great trip.  The two words that were given to me this month for this blog were: Roots and thanksgiving. It all started with this political madness  of the elections. Yes I found myself getting upset again at the state of the world.  Then God reminded me I was spending too much time on social media and forgetting who I was.  I was convicted after hearing an excellent sermon  by Pastor Rick Warren on Jesus and ...

So like many plans cancelled, I wasn’t able to go to the Women physician in Christ (WPC) conference in person this year. It would’ve been my first time, held in Newport Beach.   I was so looking forward to this weekend away by myself,  in a nice hotel, visiting friends I haven’t seen in awhile, just me. And just what I needed to be refreshed in a time when I was starting to feel burnt out.  Instead, this conference was held virtually.   Although, I didn’t get to see this in real time on the weekend it was supposed to be held as there was some mix up with my email so I didn’t get the link in time but, I was still able to listen to the recorded talks in the days that followed.   So for the past month and a half, I’ve been listening to these treasure of talks and my, how God has used them to really speak his message to my heart.  It’s Halloween time and gosh darn it if I’m gonna let Covid ruin my pumpkin season fun.   Unfortunately, the pumpkin patch ...

  Well it finally happened. My worst fear.  I’ve caught the fever.   No, not Covid.  Island fever!  Yet,  I do have covid to thank for it.   Don’t get me wrong, I still agree with my friend and lagoon buddy, John who says the worst day here in Hawaii is better than the best day anywhere else.   John is from Alaska by the way.   But I miss my family.  So I finally broke down and bought tickets to see my family back home in Cali in November.   Meanwhile, back on the rock, Covid life continues.  My youngest Micah is in distance learning, planning to go back soon.  My older two boys attend in person at their private high school with strict safety precautions around every corner.  We are nearing the end of our second lock down. And it couldn’t come soon enough. I miss going to our community pool. I miss eating in a restaurant. I miss shopping at other stores besides groceries or Walmart.  Thankfully the lock down has ...

  My latest Bible journal entry comes from Jeremiah 29:11 after I stumbled upon  some notes I found in my old sketch journal from a pastor’s sermon I heard almost 20 years ago. ‘For I know the plans I have for you, , says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. ‘ -Jeremiah 29:11  This is verse that gets often quoted, but yet really misunderstood. As I dug deeper into my study, it amazed me how the message is so relevant today.  So join me why don’t you in my time machine back to the year, 2001 on Sunday, January 7.   Ever been at a crossroads in your life? When you knew you had to make a difficult decision, that would forever change the course of your life?  Well, that was me on this particular Sunday.  I was listening to the first sermon on the  first Sunday of the new year at Westside Oikos church in West LA. This is the church I attended while in medical school and where I became a new believer....

I still love running for staying healthy and the way it makes my body feel,  but its hard to stay motivated when there are no running events to train for.  And with the covid surge happening in our state now, I don’t see any events happening anytime soon.   So the other day, I came up with a reward for myself at the end of my run. If I can make it over 6 miles, I will give my self a break by the ocean to enjoy the view.  Or I’ll allow myself to run at a slower jogging pace or jump in the ocean for a swim.  I returned to my celebrate recovery meetings and met with my new group this past week on zoom, not the ideal way, but it was nice to see everyone’s faces without a mask.  We were without our masks literally and figuratively, because that is where we can share honestly without being judged. I’ve recently discovered a passion for bible journaling!  What is bible journaling you ask? Well I’m hoping my pictures explain, but its a creative way of get...