Coincidence? I Think Not.

My co-worker Vanessa is so wonderful.(She smells like strawberries and looks like a princess! She is a great coworker, and I am grateful for her.) Vanessa  and I are Brain Trainers at LearningRx. We work with students and help to strengthen their cognitive skills (memory, logic & reasoning, visualization). On this particular day, I was unable to sit in a chair for more than a minute due to my surgery. That fact made it very difficult to do my job that morning. By the time my student arrived (4 hours later) I was unable to sit at all. Hence, I got down on my knees and worked with her that way. A couple of times throughout the day, I was tempted to despair and cry. I had quite the ugly attitude about it too.

In the middle of my training session I heard the back door open. I turned to see who it was and realized that I recognized the shirt, the blond hair, and—his voice. He said “God loves you,” to all of my coworkers as he made his way to the front door to leave. I quickly smiled and got up to greet him, “Slavik!” He was surprised to see me and I told him I worked there. He then left, as quickly as he came. I was glad that he came through my office. This divine appointment was perfect, as it should be because it came from a perfect God.

I went back to my student with His words still ringing in my ears. “God loves you!” That truth changed my attitude and transformed the session. That is why I can work with joy and fight the temptation to neglect my work in the midst of my temporary pain and condition. Because of Jesus and what He did! Thank you Slavik Stankevich for reminding me, and thank you God for using him. (I will say that we are now required to lock the back door in case a not so kind person decides to enter through there.)

"...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God." (Romans 5:8-9 ESV)

"More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." (Romans 5:11 ESV)

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23 ESV)

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

(Romans 8:37-39 ESV)

Family Matters

Rosita (Left) Me (Center) Gemenis (Right)

Rosita's contribution to this post: 


"You need a dog."
"A girl can't sleep without her teddy."

"Church was great."                  

"My eyebrows still hurt."

"I loved your husband's enchiladas." 

Gemenis's contribution: 

"You need to get a bear." 

"I had fun watching movies." 

"I love your husband's enchiladas."

"Grecia, you are not boring." 

We laughed. A lot. We baked. I got told to act my age. That could only mean one thing: my sisters were around. I love my sisters! I get so much energy when they are around. 

Tyler and I brought my two youngest sisters home with us this past weekend and what a joy it was! On the way to Fresno with these two cuties we all played the letter game. It was so. much. fun! The two words that come to mind when I try to describe our sense of humor are awkward and random. I don't think a minute passed without laughter. Not ten minutes upon arriving at my house, the 14 year old asked if we could play Hide-And-Seek. After refusing her request thirty times I finally agreed to and I am SO GLAD we played! It was, again, so much fun! Even Tyler was enjoying himself! Why did I ever stop playing that game?  You should play it today. Better yet, right now. Seriously, gather your family, your roommates, your friends and play!

The 17 year old's request was to bake so I pulled out some cake mix, frosting, and a cupcake pan. After a mishap with the eggs, everything was flowing smoothly--too smoothly for their taste. They decided to spice up the mix with some peanut butter. That sounded gross to me as I am not a peanut butter fan, but I decided to risk ruining perfectly good batter. Finally we were ready to pour the batter into the cups so they grabbed spoons. While pouring the batter it was really fun to hear the course of their dialogue: arguing (move your arm!), a joke, sweet laughter, more arguing, and more jokes all followed by peanut butter-chocolate batter EVERYWHERE. We needed something to do while that baked so they stepped into my beauty shop (aka my living room) where I pretended to know lots about hair, makeup, and eyebrows. The cupcakes turned out pretty yummy by the way.

In addition to their fun personalities they are helpful, kind, and have beautiful servant hearts. They cleaned my whole house while I was at work and I didn't even ask them to! I love it when they enjoy themselves and I love seeing them happy. I felt like a mom as I planned meals and called them to the table, and made sure they were fed and comfy. I love them so much and wish nothing but the best for them. My heart aches in thinking of all the pain and heartache they have had (and will have) in this fallen world. I wish I could protect them from harm and boys (hehe). I got a glimpse of the impact I have on their young lives this past weekend, and I hope that my example and legacy will be a godly one. I am totally looking forward to the next time I see them. I myself was reminded something by their being here: to have fun in whatever the day brings and best of all, to laugh.

What are some of your fondest memories with your siblings or family in general? 

The Lie I Believed

“I am so tired of this! It is so scary and painful and I just want to be normal again!”

This is what I was screaming in my head. I actually also said this out loud in between heavy sobs to my husband who was standing there watching me with a bewildered look on his face.

Here is what was happening: While up and around, I hurt myself where healing was not yet complete from my surgery.  I felt a sharp pain and so I gasped then got really scared. I was in a bit of pain and really upset at my limited mobility. After all, it had been 2 months since the surgery.  I was determined to do things myself, but when I reached for the fridge door all of my rationale suddenly disappeared. Before I knew it I was sobbing uncontrollably. I couldn’t seem to stop, so I blindly waddled toward the Kleenex box. Fear was behind this wonderful tantrum of mine.

“I have been praying and praying! I’m still not healed! And I’m scared! And exhausted!”

Doubt added fuel to the fire.

“Where is God?! He doesn’t care about me! He can’t and won’t give me peace!”

Stop. Did you catch that? The lie. The lie that begin to capture my attention and affections more than the Spirit which was saying, "Go back to the Cross! Go back to the Word!”

Never before have I had such a strong and vivid experience of my flesh clashing with my spirit. My flesh— Godless and evil in its purest form, was overwhelming and merciless. It attacked my emotions and my mind. “He doesn’t care…He can’t and won’t give me peace…”  I did not desire to read anything or pray because I was so focused on my circumstance.  I focused more on my circumstance than my Savior, and I thought I knew what was best, when in reality there was nothing I could do.

The tears would not stop coming. They only seemed to intensify everything. Ten minutes passed. 15 minutes. 20 minutes. My sobs dwindled down to whimpers. Then I finally heard it. You have been empowered to fight unbelief. The moment the perfect sinless Son of the most Holy God gave up His life in your place on the cross, died, and rose again sin and death were defeated. As a daughter of God you have the ability to fend off the doubts, lies, and blasphemies straight back to the depths of hell.

O for the faith and endurance to draw near to Christ! May I rejoice in this time of sanctifying affliction and trust in the Sovereignty of my Maker as I heal. And may I remember the true peace that was secured at Calvary between God and sinners.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility. Eph. 2:14

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. 1 Cor. 14:33


I can wear myself out just being frustrated with my circumstances where if I would rest and wait and be still before the Lord, there wouldn’t be half the emotional expenditure that sometimes there is. ~Nancy Leigh DeMoss