I want to share this E-Mail with you......

Hello Jon and Devon,

We have been thinking about you both during this first week of school, it reminds me of all the time I spent alone in SB with the girls in school, at first it was hard to find people to put on the emergency list.

It seems you are in good shape in this area, with good friends pitching in. It takes a village and your mom was so instrumental in setting up that village, in many ways she was always preparing you to walk in the world.

She is so proud of you and what a man you are becoming.

I know school is a challenge Devon, as I watch A___ go through her daily struggles I realize that the process is really a life's training ground, a place to find yourself and loose yourself simultaneously.

When it is good, relish ( no not the stuff you put on hot dogs) it, when it is bad, remember it is just --yes, just high school. Ask your dad what he remembers from that time in his life, you already have such a good head on your shoulders that you are way ahead of the game. I think in part it is those good Yoshimine genes, no discredit to your mom. But, the Yoshimine men are awesome and you are the one who will carry on the family name and spirit.

We look forward to spending time with you both next weekend in Clovis.

A___ will be with us, Dodger not.

See you soon,

S-

This was so life affirming to me for Devon. Thank you, sj!!!!

Love,

jon and dev

School Dayz

Devon flew home today on Jet Blue. We were all proud of him as he was able to navigate the airport without any problem. Grandma Merry (Gail's Mom) was very proud of Devon. I think that it gave her some peace that he is getting exercising some independence. Next time he won't have two fistfuls of change in his pockets going through security....oh well...live and learn.

A good friend and I got together on Friday night. He and I went to a Giants-Cubs game @ ATT&T. It's hard to go to a game and have no one to root for. The company was good though and so were the garlic fries. We got together again on Friday to worship. I told him that I can't remember anyone calling to get together just to worship. It was good.

Devon, Joey S., and I went to Half Moon Bay High to go to Devon's locker. He has a great location and he opened it over and over again easily. He will need to use his locker this year because he has six classes. Last year, Dev lugged his 100% of his books back and forth.

We also walked to his classes. We went to one class, his Algebra class and the door was open. Inside was a very sweet, kind instructor, Ms. B., and she asked Devon if he was nervous and Devon shared that Algebra was his toughest subject and she replied, don't worry, we're in this together. This was reassuring to the both of us. Again, God providing.

I'm grateful that on both occasions when I went to the High School, Pete M., was there (the head of special education. He help me navigate the changes that needed to be made. This was really helpful because Devon's counselor is new this year. It was amazing to me that Pete was there both times! Again, God providing.

Devon's case manager for his special education is his independent study teacher who also teaches Algebra who also is Devon's independent study teacher. Again, God providing.

I called our neighbor this afternoon to speak to her husband that had just returned from a month-long fishing trip. He was off for another week of fishing! We talked a little about school starting tomorrow and she offered to take Devon to school everyday! I didn't even think to ask her. Again, God providing.

I called another friend tonight to pray about the upcoming school year for our kids and during the conversation, she volunteered to invite Devon to her house after school as needed and offered Devon a ride home on rainy days! Again, God providing.

When I am feeling down and out, I need to be reminded about the goodness of a God who provides!

We are so grateful for the thoughts and prayers that have been offered on our behalf. Love and thoughts from afar have brought near and present in our lives through the agency of prayer!

Please let us know of your prayer requests and you can contact us directly @ desert_streams@sbcglobal.net.

Love,

Jon and Devon

Sweet Music...YouTube of Alcia Keys

Enjoy this video and song. It is from the movie, 'Glory Road'. We believe that we are walking a 'Glory Road.' It may be a hard road, but it is a Glory Road still the same, because it is the road that Jesus walked.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayU4cQmaAmY

Love,

Jon and Devon

My rap

Hi everyone,

This is my rap explaining my sadness and grief for the loss of my Mom: I am so sad without her in my life. Everyday I am going through the same fucking strife. I feel like I have been hit. Why do I feel like a worthless peice of shit? I don't know what to do. Now I feel like wasting my life on booze. Life sucks. But does anyone even give a fuck? I try to do good. I would if I could.

You know I am just being honest. I am sorry for all the profanity in it, but that is how I am feeling recentley Today me and my Dad had a really good talk about how me and my Dad are both feeling about Mom's passing. It's been hard because it's one of the first vacation we took without her being with us physically. I have been sharing a lot of my feelings on the blog but was not comfortable sharing with my Dad in person. So my Dad was wondering why I was not sharing with him. So I said when I did share with him he got mad and/or sensitive to what I was saying and just shut down before hearing the whole messeage. But today me and my Dad decided that we both need to go through the greiving process together as father and son. It's just not a army of one act. So me and my Dad made amends and now are trying to be open and honest with one another as best as we can. Thank you guys for hearing what I have to say.


Love,

Devon

IHOP

Tonight just when Devon and I came back to our motel room, I was watching and listening to a 10 minute praise song by worshipers from IHOP. Much of the worship had no words.......

The Holy Spirit was saying......

'Your ways are not hidden from me. I know you altogether.'

It was like I was hearing it directly from the Lord himself.

I'm thankful that he uses things like this amazingly on public tv through God.tv.

Wow.

To Devon

Dear Devon,

I am thankful to the Lord that He provided a way for you to attend Redwood Christian Camp this past week. Thanks for calling me to tell me how you were doing early in the week. I was praying for you all week that you would remain open to all that God has for you and you would learn from Him and walk in His ways.

I heard that you shared your heart with others and received prayer. I'm thankful that you have a heart that is open to the goodness of God. I need to remain open to His goodness also.

I have been having a good time this past week. And yes I did cry this week. (I thought I'd tell you before you ask) Many of the tears fell just realizing how good he is and that we are in good hands.

The following verse has helped me. .....And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age'
Matthew 28:20. The Lord knows what we need. He is always sending us reminders that he hasn't forgotten about us, or has not abandoned us. He has shown this to me in the following ways this past week:

1. I was sitting outside during a break at work and was looking at the flowers growing in the sun and though about the verse, 'Consider the lilies, they don't worry about anything, but they rest under His care.' We can do the same. We don't have to worry.
2. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. God is with us. He shows us this through people. There have been some sweet visitations this past week. Uncle Peter told me about a time in 70's or 80's when Mom convinced him to go on a protest with her. We had a good laugh about this. I had an Al and Bea's burrito that uncle Peter brought from East La.
3. Bachan ironed a bunch of my shirts and through away a bunch of junk.
4. Auntie Sandee H. sent a to-do list and Bachan 'loved' crossing things off the list.
5. Ji-Chan and Ba-chan helped wrap Cd's and books so that they could be sent out.
6. Uncle Brian and Auntie Sandy stopped @ Bay City to say hi.

I'm looking forward to spending time with you when we go to Mt. Lassen together. It will be good to take some hikes and you can tell me what the Lord did at camp. It'll be good just to hang together. Please remind me to order some Netflix movies to take with us.

Love,

Dad

Friends Forever....

This pic is with Greg and Kimberly, dear friends and fellow coaches in Special Olympics. If you ever do a keyword search on Google and type in 'give' you will find 'hits' too numerous to count!

They were there for us giving and giving. They have poured themselves out much like Jesus, giving and expecting nothing in return. They just 'show up'! It's not like they don't have anything to do either! They are in the midst of a move across the street from Pac Bell in SF. Please pray that it cools down! The wonderful skylight is hiking up the temps!

This photo is in front of Greg and Kim's favorite foodie joints, called 'Peter's' We celebrated both Mother's Day and Father's Day with them over breakfast.

Kimberly is working with 'Big Wave' (see links for more info). She is the communications director.

Greg and Kimberly have become family. Gail, Devon and I always wanted our friends and family from So Cal and No Cal to meet and they have formed, lasting relationships. During the hoops season, Kimberly and Gail would sit in the bleachers and talk about family and life. They became close and kind of like sisters.

We're thankful for our friendship with these dear ones. Please keep them in your prayers.

Fun with Friends...Brice, Sandee, Riley (in our boat) and Karina

This was a fun afternoon in Golden Gate Park paddling around Stow Lake on a grey Sunday Afternoon this last weekend. Brice, Sandee, Riley and Karina were on their way back from a two week road trip to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. They laid over for a whole week and worked and worked and worked. Between brother Jeff Yosh and the Hunts, our garage is cleaned out, and our home is in good shape. Sandee took the time to go through everything. Brother Jeff, rented a 12 yard dumpter and filled it to the brim. The rest of the stuff, we put out for free and it went. The recliner, couch, refridgerator and dryer and a bunch of other trash only cost 59.50. Brice and I were sweating it with 'only' 200 bucks in our pockets.

Brice walked with Devon and I on our regular walks. This has been a great source of encouragement and it helps get the day start off on the right foot. There is still much to consider and it is challenging to sit and be still and receive. Our souls need to receive His comfort. I sense that part of us is resistant to being comforted because we're upset and hurting. Please pray that we can be open to the Lord's ministry and comfort that can only come from Him.

Dev and I are going to take a mini-vacation to Mt.Lassen Volcanic Monument. This is somewhere that we've never been and we plan to hike around and fish a little but not much. It's more of a discovery and hang out vacation. We will be staying in Chester, Ca. The key amenity is a tv. It will help to also have a refer and a microwave.

Then when we return, Devon and i are going to attend the Craig's List non-profit boot camp @ Cal. I went last year and it was valuable and I want Devon to be exposed to the not for profit world. Craig's List does it so well. We use them at work for job postings almost exclusively.

Devon has started tutoring for Math with the aim of helping him to pass the Math portion of the California High School exit exam. One of our friends from church, Deanne suggested that one of her boys help Devon and her son Brendan is tutoring Devon for an hour each night. Devon doesn't complain and seems to enjoy it. One of his favorite sayings is pie plus pie equals more pie. You can be praying about his schooling for the fall. I need to make an appointment with the counselor to discuss his classes. He will be in high school full-time after being in home school half time last year and high school half time. I want him to enjoy high school. I want him to be able to go out for a sport, get a job and get his license. Currently, in my mind his schedule as it stands now precludes him from doing this. Please pray for wisdom here.

The Lord has been providing for us. The following are just a few ways.

1. A friend that I haven't spoken to in a long time shared about the loss that he encountered and how it affected he and his wife. He shared how he dealt with it and he and his wife did the grief work.
2. The teen grief support group in Palo Alto is on Tuesday nights which is Bible Study Fellowship next door in Palo Alto. I'm hoping that Devon can attend both.
3. Our friend Lisa invited us over for a barbeque tonight and a movie.
4. A friend came over and shared about how he has been dealing with the loss of health with his spouse and the impact that it has had on he and his family.
5. The meals that have been coming our way from the the community for the last 5-6 weeks. It happens that it is often enough that we don't have to cook much and not too frequent that we have to throw stuff away.
6. Hanging out with the fellas and having a movie night @ the Tuhoys
7. Brice joining us on our walk.
8. Kenji joining us for our walk and taking Devon to Popeye's.
9. The ongoing prayers and memories that come both through E-Mail and through the blog.

I was sharing with Devon the other day, that one of my biggest concerns is trying to the job of two people and realizing that I can't give to Devon what Gail gave to him. I don't want his life to be cheated, I want it to be better. I told him that both he and I will have to step it up. We discussed that we need to write down what is important and agree what is important and make time for it. Last Sunday, Devon wrote down 32 things that are important while I attended the early service. I want to share what he wrote:

1. Do homework and turn it on time.
2. Feed the cats
3. Clean their litter box
4. Fill up their water
5. Make my bed
6. Take my medication
7. Do and go to my Bible Study Fellowship lessons.
8. Get good grades
9. To maintain a good relationship with God and follow Him and His calling
10. To organize my homework
11. To make sure I either have my lunch packed or have enough money for lunch
12. To be able to have all my school supplies before school starts
13. To work hard and hopefully pass the Math exit exam
14. To honor my Mom's memory by doing what she would love to see us doing
15. Be leading more of my friends to Christ
16. To be able to keep open house.
17. To become more active in my small group
18. To become cool-tempered
19. To grow deeper in my faith
20. To honor God adn his commandments
21. TO grow closer to God
22. To stay in shape
23. To be an active member in the church
24. To be able to go from ground zero to ground 10
25. To be able to impact people's lives
26. To spend more time with the things that are important
27. To be able to open my heart to new ideas
28. To be able to stay strong for my loved ones
29. To be able to honor my Dad.

I will share how we are doing.

Love,

Jon and Devon