Saturday, June 21, 2008
God used a lot of people to help Devon pass Algebra.
It take's more than hard work to pass Algebra, at least for this kid and this Dad who's math skills add up to???? A lot of it was the deposit of Gail's in-yo-face, Devon you're gonna get this, or else! Well....Gail's doin' a lot of cheering up there and for good reason.
I received Dev's report card this week and 2 C's and 4 A's. I'm thankful for all the prayers and encouragement that you all have given to us this past year. It has borne fruit in our lives. It's the stuff of sustanance, mercy, grace and strength. Some prayers are sown in tears...
Another blessing is that Devon is ahead in credits so his two solids for his senior year are US Government and English. The hope is that he will be able to get into the workability class and get out early and go to work. There is a Safeway, just across the bridge. He might apply there.
He needs to work with people. Big surprise. He worked a part-time job at a local hospital and he and Emmy did both filing and working with the people. Guess who won out in the popularity contest??
Devon arrived in SoCal on June 17th and will head back the week after the 4th of July. Although Devon has visited So Cal every summer since we moved, North, it has been more difficult to be alone this time. You can be praying for me during this time and beyond as I have been down, after Gail's one-year anniversary. The future holds so many unknowns and it can feel a bit overwhelming at times.
Devon and I are going to go on a short term mission together to spend time with the Navajo native americans. This should be an adventure with other high schoolers from our church. I believe that Devon and I will grow with one another as a result of this trip.
Give Devon a call or get together with him while he's down, he doesn't have much planned.
Love,
Jon
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Remember Gail ......June 7, 2007
Hi Everyone,
It's almost been a year and I can't believe it. It is going to be a year this Saturday June, 7th. This year has been really hard but God has gotten us thorugh this year so far. But it is still hard. I request that everyone who reads this post up thier feelings up on the blog on what they are feeling about my Mom's one year anneveriary of when she passed on the blong and one thing you remember about her. I would like to hear from as many people as possible. Please continue to pray as we are preparing our hearts and our souls for this saturday the one year anneversiary, and that we would remember how she lived and not how she died. I am really thankful to have had and still have a Mom who loves me and cares about me so much. I am saddned that she is gone but it's God's will that she is in heaven. She is no longer suffering and that is the main thing. She is and was the best Mom I could ever have and will have. I do not know how to say in words how thankful I am to her for the things she did for me to make me the person I am today. I will pray for each person, friend, and family member that knew my Mom, that God will bring comfort to you all as this Saturday approches. She would of course want us to mourn her. But why don't we countinue to live her legacy and shine her light. Let us keep her legacy alive and keep that light that she turned on keep shining thorughout our lives. I hope one day I could see God and my Mom face to face and be with my Mom again and to just be in a loving embrace. She will always be in our hearts in the past, present, and future. Thanks.
Sincerly,
Devon and Jon Yoshimine
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Homecoming 08 @ June Lake, Ca.
Hi everyone-
Devon and I had a great time @ June Lake this year. We were a bit apprehensive about going up. I was debating whether or not to bring Gail's ashes with us.....and decided that it was best not to, because we know that she was there with us in Spirit.
And what a wonderful Spirit it was. A few months before it all happened, I called Brice and told him that I could not do the trip this year, that is head it up.
Orignally, Brice, Steve Yahata, Jeff Sano and I conspired and plotted to pull the trip together with mucho other helping hands (eg. condo hosts etc.). This year, though, it seemed right to turn it over again to the very willing and capable hands of friends like these.
As it turned out, it was the right thing to do. I was able to take as much or as little time with people as I needed (wanted) to. And I savored the time that I had just sitting down and talking with you all. Normal prime fishing time was filled with conversation and reflection. It seemed that if there was ever a year to have mucho snowfall, it was this year. At least for me personally.
We still got out to fish, but it wasn't that much of a priority. And that was ok. I guess I'll have to make it up by fishing harder next time out. Oh well.
There was a memorial service for Gail on Sunday night @ the Community center. Sandee Hunt, brought river rocks and asked that each that wanted to, write one word or phrase on the rock that reminded them of Gail. The rocks were brought forward and laid on the ground. This symbolized to me, God's faithfulness and deliverance. Devon and I were able to receive from the body through prayer. It was a cleansing time, as I felt that though the grief was still there, much of the bitterness was washed away.
Devon had a good time condo hopping as did the other teens. It was good for Devon to be with his extended family both from Half Moon Bay and So Cal. We were do blessed to have friends from Half Moon Bay join us this time around.....and they had a stinkin BLAST! We want to thank you all for making them feel so welcome!
It really ministered to us to see you guys connect with one another. These folks are walking with us on more of a daily basis and it was good to see the body working.
A few weeks prior to coming up to June Lake, I had a session with my counselor. As usual, I did not know what I was going to talk about during our session. On this particular day, a lot of pent up fury came out. I didn't realize how pissed off I had been with God. I guess that I had been seething under the surface. Devon, ever perceptive, was always able to pick up on this, but I always made light of it.....until I just exploded. Several images came to mind while I was sharing with my therapist....One was me shaking my fist at God and just ranting at him and shaking my fist at him for screwing my and Devon over and complaining about the sorry life we had.....Another picture was one of me pounding my fists on God's chest and crying and yelling....asking why he took Gail away.
I realized that God can handle my grief, my fury, my pain...anything... I think that this letting go allowed me to receive more fully from the Father during our time together @ June Lake.
I long for Devon to be able to express his feelings too. Although he says that he is angry, I'm not sure if he has directed his anger, hurt toward the Lord. Please be praying about this. He did hear me sharing about my anger during one conversation @ June, and he too admitted that he was angry.
Starting last week, our church is entering into a period of Renewal as our pastor is on a 4 month Sabbatical. The theme today was about entering God's rest. You might be able to listen to the podcast by going to www.marinerschurch.org. or something like that. There are two Mariners, so go to the one in Half Moon Bay.
Right now our plan is to come down on June 7th to spend Gail's anniversary with family, then drive home.
The summer is still fairly open. Devon and I are going on a mission with Mariners to the Navajo nation in Arizona. We were all set to attend Redwood this summer, but heard about a high school trip and Devon and I felt that this is what God wanted us to do. As most of you know, Gail, Devon and I love to do ministry together, and this is just a continuation of this. It will be a neat opportunity to serve together in ministry.
He has applied to do Camp-by-the sea, to be a counselor in training. He did this last year also. Plus at least of few weeks down South. He will be going to summer school because he does not need any more credits. Please be praying for wisdom in these decisons regarding summer and check out the message about Rest from the Mariners website.
Love,
Jon and Devon
Devon and I had a great time @ June Lake this year. We were a bit apprehensive about going up. I was debating whether or not to bring Gail's ashes with us.....and decided that it was best not to, because we know that she was there with us in Spirit.
And what a wonderful Spirit it was. A few months before it all happened, I called Brice and told him that I could not do the trip this year, that is head it up.
Orignally, Brice, Steve Yahata, Jeff Sano and I conspired and plotted to pull the trip together with mucho other helping hands (eg. condo hosts etc.). This year, though, it seemed right to turn it over again to the very willing and capable hands of friends like these.
As it turned out, it was the right thing to do. I was able to take as much or as little time with people as I needed (wanted) to. And I savored the time that I had just sitting down and talking with you all. Normal prime fishing time was filled with conversation and reflection. It seemed that if there was ever a year to have mucho snowfall, it was this year. At least for me personally.
We still got out to fish, but it wasn't that much of a priority. And that was ok. I guess I'll have to make it up by fishing harder next time out. Oh well.
There was a memorial service for Gail on Sunday night @ the Community center. Sandee Hunt, brought river rocks and asked that each that wanted to, write one word or phrase on the rock that reminded them of Gail. The rocks were brought forward and laid on the ground. This symbolized to me, God's faithfulness and deliverance. Devon and I were able to receive from the body through prayer. It was a cleansing time, as I felt that though the grief was still there, much of the bitterness was washed away.
Devon had a good time condo hopping as did the other teens. It was good for Devon to be with his extended family both from Half Moon Bay and So Cal. We were do blessed to have friends from Half Moon Bay join us this time around.....and they had a stinkin BLAST! We want to thank you all for making them feel so welcome!
It really ministered to us to see you guys connect with one another. These folks are walking with us on more of a daily basis and it was good to see the body working.
A few weeks prior to coming up to June Lake, I had a session with my counselor. As usual, I did not know what I was going to talk about during our session. On this particular day, a lot of pent up fury came out. I didn't realize how pissed off I had been with God. I guess that I had been seething under the surface. Devon, ever perceptive, was always able to pick up on this, but I always made light of it.....until I just exploded. Several images came to mind while I was sharing with my therapist....One was me shaking my fist at God and just ranting at him and shaking my fist at him for screwing my and Devon over and complaining about the sorry life we had.....Another picture was one of me pounding my fists on God's chest and crying and yelling....asking why he took Gail away.
I realized that God can handle my grief, my fury, my pain...anything... I think that this letting go allowed me to receive more fully from the Father during our time together @ June Lake.
I long for Devon to be able to express his feelings too. Although he says that he is angry, I'm not sure if he has directed his anger, hurt toward the Lord. Please be praying about this. He did hear me sharing about my anger during one conversation @ June, and he too admitted that he was angry.
Starting last week, our church is entering into a period of Renewal as our pastor is on a 4 month Sabbatical. The theme today was about entering God's rest. You might be able to listen to the podcast by going to www.marinerschurch.org. or something like that. There are two Mariners, so go to the one in Half Moon Bay.
Right now our plan is to come down on June 7th to spend Gail's anniversary with family, then drive home.
The summer is still fairly open. Devon and I are going on a mission with Mariners to the Navajo nation in Arizona. We were all set to attend Redwood this summer, but heard about a high school trip and Devon and I felt that this is what God wanted us to do. As most of you know, Gail, Devon and I love to do ministry together, and this is just a continuation of this. It will be a neat opportunity to serve together in ministry.
He has applied to do Camp-by-the sea, to be a counselor in training. He did this last year also. Plus at least of few weeks down South. He will be going to summer school because he does not need any more credits. Please be praying for wisdom in these decisons regarding summer and check out the message about Rest from the Mariners website.
Love,
Jon and Devon
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