tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45268012099723210242024-03-21T21:56:31.292-07:00Gail's PlaceJon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-67624946889211461142012-06-16T06:08:00.001-07:002012-07-17T06:57:12.546-07:005 YearsDear Gail,<br />
<br />
I'm sure that you know this, but Lauren and Justin just graduated!!!! You're looking on all of us and interceding and cheering for us, just as Jesus does.<br />
<br />
I know that it pleases you to do his will. Now you can experience that intimacy first hand and be close to Him.<br />
<br />
Being close to Him and, at the same time being far from us is still hard.,because we miss you.<br />
<br />
We were able to celebrate Mother's Day @ Peter's cafe with Greg as usual. It brought back good memories of past Mother's Day@ Peter's with all of us.<br />
I'm thankful for those memories...<br />
<br />
Tomorrow is Father's Day and Devon offered to go to the morning prayer time with me as a Father's Day present <br />
because he knew that it would bless me. It did, and it hasn't even happened yet!!!<br />
<br />
We all miss you. Devon and I are going to practice driving this morning @ CSM then go to Farmer's Mkt, then breakfast.<br />
<br />
Love you,<br />
<br />
Jono<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudzjzSWYwNC9jbNEcs2BAQNVCmj364Zp9vP98eycI445B_FUCXgha3v5AxXjsxvXJVspFPW2vconpq8_hDjg_fePljMt-rNbKq0kiWQb_gexpASomTv1zlOsmFYEB-rb6_OVr93pRwbM/s640/blogger-image-441372282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudzjzSWYwNC9jbNEcs2BAQNVCmj364Zp9vP98eycI445B_FUCXgha3v5AxXjsxvXJVspFPW2vconpq8_hDjg_fePljMt-rNbKq0kiWQb_gexpASomTv1zlOsmFYEB-rb6_OVr93pRwbM/s640/blogger-image-441372282.jpg" /></a></div>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-17487412600126718742011-11-17T19:09:00.000-08:002011-11-17T19:20:47.637-08:00Thanksgiving 2011<span style="font-family: verdana;">Hello Baby,<br /><br />Wondering what you are doing now. Singing a song, dancing around, watching over us? Yes, you are. Yes, you are.<br /><br />Everyone is growing up well, not because life is easy or grand.<br />In fact, in a lot of ways, life has been hard, painful.<br /><br />But not everyday is like that. Jesus rules over all of our days.<br />The sun still shines.<br /><br />There was a great cause for prayer recently. You may have heard prayers coming in your direction, toward Jesus. I wonder sometimes if you hear them.<br /><br />I hope you do.<br /><br />You would hear your son still lamenting about his Mom. Still pained.<br />And growing up.<br />I'm sure that you are proud.<br />God has His mighty hand on Dev, allright.<br /><br />I'm thankful for that. Very.<br /><br />At 56, I am still growing and learning.<br />Mom said that after 57 years of marriage that her and Dad are still growing.<br />There Is hope for me.<br /><br />BSF is great. Acts this year. It's like I'm reading it for the first time!<br />So Alive!<br /><br />Jackie and I are close, learning and growing.<br />I know that you are happy and at peace. <br />That makes me both sad and happy at the same time.<br />but you understand. Always have. Always will.<br />That's what makes you, you.<br /><br />Bye for now,<br /><br />Jono<br /><br /><br /></span>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-54593543235778534522011-07-02T21:04:00.000-07:002011-07-02T21:44:32.495-07:00Four Years Plus<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br />Dear Gail,<br /><br />4 years have gone by now...That's a long time!!! I have realized lately that God gave you back to Devon and I by bringing us up here to Half Moon Bay. We had wonderful years together. Amazing!!!! We enjoyed life together up here for 9 years. Devon told me earlier this year that he could not have had more time with you than he did!!! What kid can say that??<br /><br />I'm glad that we kept our life simple and pretty uncluttered. Although I am still full of clutter, our focus was not. I'm glad for that.<br /><br />I know that you are watching down from heaven and enjoying being with Jesus, Grandpa, Uncle Paul Kumagai, Aunty Tye and all your other friends. I know that life is good for you there....You're still getting mad at Grandpa for trying to cheat at scrabble. <br /><br />Devon is working his butt off. He took it upon himself to type up his new availability for his Manager and he was rewarded with 30 hours plus instead of 20. He is dependable. He is. I'm sure that you're very proud. <br /><br />I've been learning just to keep trusting no matter what. God is shaping my character. Sometimes it seems so brutal, but as I learned in Isaiah this past summer, God is Sovereign!<br /><br />This past year I was at Tioga Lake with the guys as usual and I could not sleep as I was among a host of zombie snorers including myself. Anyways I was up at 3:00. I thought just three more hours til fishing....What I am I going to do for the next three? I thought that I would pray for awhile, so I walked outside the tent and stood for about an hour next to the picnic table looking up at the sky and praying. I was a pretty night with the sky full of patchy clouds. For some reason, I stared at one small spot of blackness amongst the clouds, like for a long time, and there appeared a star!!!<br /><br />I immediately turned around to see if there were any other stars peeking through the dark spots between the clouds, and....there weren't. What I saw was your face that that star looking down at me. It blew me away. <br /><br />It was like you were saying that even though I can't see you, your love is always there. This pointed me to Jesus, very much the same way. That light that pierces the darkness. <br /><br />I relayed this story to grandma and she says that when she is washing dishes, and she looks out into the stars from her kitchen window, she sees you in the stars.<br /><br />Devon is going down on July 13-20 to visit family. Aunty Joy is taking the cousins to Knotts. It should be fun. <br /><br />Westminister Cemetary finally did you right with the marker. It was nice to visit with Dad and Grandma on 6/6/11. I hope that you liked the flowers....<br /><br />Love,<br /><br />jono<br /></span></span></span>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-10256875692895453852010-05-09T18:44:00.000-07:002010-05-09T19:12:12.930-07:00Open Letter to Gail on Mother's Day 2010<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br />Hi Gail,<br /><br />We miss you. Devon said that he doesn't know I feel cause my Mom is still alive. Devon is missing you. Last night grandma called and then Auntie Joy got on the phone.<br /><br />All I heard in the other room, was, "Yes, Auntie Joy", "Yes, Auntie Joy." It was like you were talking to Devon. I can just hear Devon saying, "Yes Mother." He didn't need a lot of talking to, as I remember, because you would just give him one of those 'looks'.<br /><br />Like usual, Greg, Devon and I had breakfast. This time at Denny's at 5:45. We miss Peter's Cafe though cause that was our regular Mother's Day place. <br /><br />I wanted to eat Japanese with Devon tonight, just like we used to. So you could have your fish. I have been enjoying this place called Tampopo in Gardena. Killer ramen. Here is San Mateo it's either Himawari or Santa's. Oh yeah, we went to Himawari and I was dumb and ordered the chili ramen, which I could not eat. Sorry about eating your ramen with the steam pork. That was a good choice.<br /><br />I miss basketball with Special Olympics. The season was short due to budget cuts. Everyone misses you being there. You would be so proud to see everyone. We almost finally beat coach Greg's team, but lost by two points. Good game though. It was kind of sad that Devon missed most of the season due to work. He works most weekends.<br /><br />In fact, most of the family hasn't seen him, cause he hasn't been down. The finish of his first year at college is around the corner. He has done well. He's learned the bus system, is ironing his own work shirts which he wears to school on work days because he has to go straight from the bus to Safeway. They seem to like him there.<br /><br />He did quit Kuk Sool Won. He wasn't going any more. By the way, teacher Paul is going to become a master in October. I know that it would have meant a lot to him if you were there to see him get promoted. But I know that you are rooting us all on, and are so proud of us.<br /><br />Devon made it through another year of BSF, and rarely complained. He always wanted to go the the fellowships for the free pizza. He liked snack time going to the Country Store on Alameda de las pulgas for his free snack. Next week is our last week in BSF.<br /><br />It's almost time for Devon to register for CSM. Department of Rehab is not going to pay anything anymore because he's working. It's gonna be a challenge with so much more homework. <br /><br />It's good that he is going to relax this summer and hopefully he will be able to get his license. In a few weeks he's gonna go with Michelle and Richard and Diane to Disneyworld. He's not going to June Lake for the first time....boo hoo!!! A lot of the regulars are not going to be able to go this year. Please pray for the time. The theme this year is called 'God Colors'. Leigh and Katie and their family and Derek are going to be in Mammoth. Hopefully we will be able to see them @ June.<br /><br />I saw Adora today at church and she was wearing a necklace that you had made for her and she told me that when you gave it to her, you asked her to tell you where to put the clasp, so that she could decide where she wanted the necklace to fall on her.<br /><br />Last weekend, I went down to see Jackie and I knew that it was God that had me go on that weekend, cause also I had a nice talk with my Mom, and got to talk to Mike a little, then asked Mike if he could help with some plumbing at Jackie's. He and I hung out for a few hours.<br /><br /> I bumped into Meg, Susan and Dennis, Penny and Allie, Marian and June @ Tito's. That was a very nice surprise.<br /><br />Say hi to everyone up there, please tell everyone thank you for cheering us on!!! <br /><br />It was nice to write this, as it seems like we haven't talked for a long time.<br /><br />jono<br /></span></span></span>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-85437632931353369122009-09-17T22:40:00.000-07:002012-06-16T09:21:21.672-07:00how I have beenHello everybody,<br />
<br />
<br />
It's been a long two years without my Mom. I have been doing good in spite of the loss of my mother. I have a great dad, great friends and yes, a great girlfriend. With these people in my life, my life has been better as a result. Over the last few weeks I have been hanging out with my girlfriend. It's been a good experince just to see what it's like to have a girlfriend. She has really made me feel what it's like to be whole. I really apperciate the fact that she is there for me and i try my best to be there for her. I love you Michelle!<br />
<br />
I also want to thank all my friends and family for your prayers, support, and love. you guys make me want to strive for better things since i know they are all are praying for me. thanks guys so much! <br />
<br />
<br />
I want to thank one family member in specific and that's my dad. He is there for me and he is the provider. He loves me and feeds me. (No complantes about the food.) He also has a great sense of humor that makes me laugh. Thank you Dad for being such a wonderful father to me!<br />
<br />
I hope I can see everyone soon. Until then, I will be writing on here.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Devon Yoshimine<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBbZxlI7XjCFx5MrvK4AKO-VjUpMoNeOfdTRdjWMeRMCgw64Fb7UqHHhHzh-an_jEO7OqZH1b1my5SaiImcnQuQiGeAw0JiBqby9NMBEX59N7Gl969_g0ezeIRYddCtfXF6VTufzArI8/s640/blogger-image--558076774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBbZxlI7XjCFx5MrvK4AKO-VjUpMoNeOfdTRdjWMeRMCgw64Fb7UqHHhHzh-an_jEO7OqZH1b1my5SaiImcnQuQiGeAw0JiBqby9NMBEX59N7Gl969_g0ezeIRYddCtfXF6VTufzArI8/s640/blogger-image--558076774.jpg" /></a></div>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com0Baywood - Aragon San Mateo37.558536 -122.324843tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-90660128029176665752009-06-27T10:37:00.000-07:002009-06-27T11:15:02.880-07:00Devon Graduation June 11, 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLMe1K8lSqUxwUINHG_w2mExXTJ6YAmlQvrV_JGmp1Rpst2hY4QX59LWNDmcq9H8W-vFWqcU0xcJ1z0QgOUL_LL-PEOXxhmdfOXAIAG7yEGCMPnglAQ6ir_hWqdGvmLZESFxxTs61nuc/s1600-h/482.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352067538458191282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZLMe1K8lSqUxwUINHG_w2mExXTJ6YAmlQvrV_JGmp1Rpst2hY4QX59LWNDmcq9H8W-vFWqcU0xcJ1z0QgOUL_LL-PEOXxhmdfOXAIAG7yEGCMPnglAQ6ir_hWqdGvmLZESFxxTs61nuc/s320/482.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFabyUkzvcvCxGwK02gDgVEh4OWnw7VxAnQGbZT5QbN599s1fsDzztWAhceCynayRMv9DiV3gDj3trckY5x3S2JEO6CrVuQ7yafyHbsICsemDzkR2fvI6MeL27dTQmEwlQhZ73hiJK3s/s1600-h/538.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352067533578209682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFabyUkzvcvCxGwK02gDgVEh4OWnw7VxAnQGbZT5QbN599s1fsDzztWAhceCynayRMv9DiV3gDj3trckY5x3S2JEO6CrVuQ7yafyHbsICsemDzkR2fvI6MeL27dTQmEwlQhZ73hiJK3s/s320/538.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">information </span></strong><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOPZMyKA_WOLFyiWhgzSWVe42XHh3tBxt4eNaCjEtTQHxLZsE4kvuDU5PHQnw9xIqnRaeP_isout0b7co6dKqg9KVbj0HR_mo-bCjKurSeR8i_la6skvgkvykHUEAZeG8uBpWABBaEMU/s1600-h/523.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352067528458047986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOPZMyKA_WOLFyiWhgzSWVe42XHh3tBxt4eNaCjEtTQHxLZsE4kvuDU5PHQnw9xIqnRaeP_isout0b7co6dKqg9KVbj0HR_mo-bCjKurSeR8i_la6skvgkvykHUEAZeG8uBpWABBaEMU/s320/523.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3mwN11_eQnKLPzsCJP1JR7KjhrsUP09ivaC5qLhWBVrlkXC5jHVU7LvV0_4A-lqsK6tgil9F0d3DfmRfv0UME3ADCFtQ6sPW-hGJC4zwQyFf4UOwvb-zW0ygaUkUAvAsD0FwmpFzMJl8/s1600-h/511.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352067518574993778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3mwN11_eQnKLPzsCJP1JR7KjhrsUP09ivaC5qLhWBVrlkXC5jHVU7LvV0_4A-lqsK6tgil9F0d3DfmRfv0UME3ADCFtQ6sPW-hGJC4zwQyFf4UOwvb-zW0ygaUkUAvAsD0FwmpFzMJl8/s320/511.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1xb_gMqlhk_HyorCx5rHZ4odx3zm6kEprH-GXlwq9iK8laiomjezK7dq9uV6BINDwFegH-fkn284FIsu96LiRr8SlYgrVxEM0DBjml8a3py1ZrotH6Cu64YAyYcsktQa5ulAD7AwxZU/s1600-h/479.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352063386698803458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1xb_gMqlhk_HyorCx5rHZ4odx3zm6kEprH-GXlwq9iK8laiomjezK7dq9uV6BINDwFegH-fkn284FIsu96LiRr8SlYgrVxEM0DBjml8a3py1ZrotH6Cu64YAyYcsktQa5ulAD7AwxZU/s320/479.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#333399;">I heard information that a high place adminstrator told Devon's home school teacher, that Devon would NEVER pass the high school exit exam and graduate high school.</span></div><span style="color:#333399;"></span></div><div> </div><div><span style="color:#333399;">Devon has been a kid, that would never take 'No' for an answer. I wonder where he got that from????? After Gail's passing in June 2007, we had a meeting with school administrators and Devon had a choice of either getting:</span></div><div><span style="color:#333399;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#333399;">1. His GED</span></div><div><span style="color:#333399;">2. Certificate of completion</span></div><div><span style="color:#333399;">3. His high school diploma</span></div><div><span style="color:#333399;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#333399;">He answered right away. I want my high school diploma. I want to graduate and walk with my class!!! </span></div><div><span style="color:#333399;">The Lord provided people like Aaron Reed, his homeschool teacher, Lisa Mo, who graciously opened her home, Aaron's generosity to allow Gail to trade admin for tuition, Nancy Z who tutored him in Math, Brendan K., who tutored him Math, Sa bu Nim Paul Carmody @ Half Moon Bay Kuk Sool Won who taught Devon to do his best and never give up, Bible Study Fellowship and Taylor McCormick and learning about God and how to walk in His Ways, Grandma and Grandpa, who always got in Devon's face and JiChan and Baachan who came up over and over again just to be with us. Greg Lim's guys, group, the fishing trips with the guys, Jeff Bovero calling Devon up. The C-Pals and Big Wave embracing Devon and me as they always have. And Devon playing on the big couagars and learning what means to cooperate, trust your teammates, Greg Off, Jeff and Val Peck, Bob Deaver, the prayer team @ Mariner's and Anaheim, the Ladida group. Pam and Joey Sayles and others that have walked the walk. Family. Lo, Joy-JOy, uncle Mike workin out and listening, Auntie Katie and Uncle Leigh shopping and doting over Devon yet making him pick up poop too!!! Uncles and Aunties and friends that walked and continue to Walk. </span></div><div><span style="color:#333399;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#333399;">God, you made all this possibe. You are the miralce maker. You are the one who can bring beauty from ashes. New life out of death. You are the overcomer. You have overcome. There is NO OTHER. </span></div><div><span style="color:#333399;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#333399;">Love,</span></div><div><span style="color:#333399;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#333399;">Jon</span></div><div><br /></div><div></div></div></div>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-35772011307173712532009-06-14T14:09:00.000-07:002009-06-14T15:00:21.884-07:002 Years..retrospective from July 2007<span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#009900;">Hi Everyone-</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#009900;">We are thankful to the God for seeing us through to this point...He has made good on His promise to neve leave us nor forsake us. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#009900;">Every call, card, E-Mail, prayer and just hanging out has made us keenly aware of the goodness of God in our lives. We are living proof. That does NOT mean that our life has been easy. It hasn't. There are ongoing disppointments, grief, anger and hurt to process. We are grateful that we do not have to go through this alone, but you have reached out to us. Even the 'unspoken' and 'quiet' ways, have meant the world to us. We thank God for you. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#009900;">I wanted to share with you something that Devon wrote shortly after Gail passed away in June of 2007. We were on our morning walk and he asked me what I was concerned about and I told him that I was concerned that I could not be both his mother and father, and that I didn't know what I was going to do about that. I remember it was on a Sunday morning walk. I suggested that he think of eveything that he could of what was important to him at that point of his life and write it down. I told him that I would do the same thing and that we would compare notes and then order our lives around those things that were the most important.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">I am sharing the list that Devon wrote as a testimony to how Father God has provided for our needs.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">From Devon:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">"For a successful year, I need to......</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">1. Do homework and turn it in on time.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">2. Feed the cats</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">3. Clean their litter box</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">4. Fill up their water</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">5. Make my bed</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">6. Go to Bible Study Fellowship and do my lessons.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">7. Get good grades</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">8. To maintain a good relationship wtih God and follow Him and his calling.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">9. To organize my homework.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">10. To make sure that either I have my lunch packed or have enough money for lunch.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">11. To be able to have all my school supplies before school starts.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">12. To be able to be a impact in people's lives.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">13. To spend more time with things that are important</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">14. To be able to be open my heart to new ideas.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">15. To be able to stay strong for my loved ones</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">16. To be able to honor my Dad.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">17. To become cool tempered.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">18. To go deeper in my faith.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">19. to honor God and His commandments</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">20. To grow more closer with God.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">21. To stay in shape.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">22. to be an active member in the church</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">23. To be able to go from ground zero to ground 10</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">The Father has been faithful. Devon set his mind two years ago to graduate. In order to do that, he had to pass the Math and English exit exam. He persisted and did not give up, even though Math is tough for him. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">Devon was able to attend Bible Study Fellowship this year and we studied the Life of Moses and how God made a new and living way for his people that were trapped in slavery. There were numerous stories of how God was faithful, patient and provided for his people that continually complained and grumbled. They were great life lessons for Devon and his Dad. We learned that Moses had a personal ongoing conversation/relationship with God and walked in the Lord's ways. We learned about the offerings and rituals listed in Leviticus and how the sin offering was the first in a series of offerings and why the sin offering was the first one offered. It is because no matter hard we try, there is no basis to come to God with anything that we have done, because we are all sinners, all the time, needing forgiveness.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">Devon was able to participate in a guy's group on Wednesday night @ Mariners church in Half Moon Bay. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">Devon will be attendng Foothill College starting June 29th-August 6th. He will be a one year program called 'Transition to Work' Foothill College is in Los Altos. It is a beautiful campus with buildings right out of 'Sunset' magazine. It has a homey feel to it. Please pray for this transition as most of his friends are attending College of San Mateo. In a few weeks Devon will be trained on how to use the local transportation system. He will be taking two busses and a train to get to and from school. He will be picking up an important life skill.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">He will soon be testing to obtain his learner's permit and hopefully will be able to obtain his driver's license later this summer. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">Shortly after he finishes his first quarter @ Foothill, we will be travelling to Connenicutt to visit brother Jeff and Susan Yoshimine who recently moved from Santa Barbara. We have never been back east before. Our parents will be going also. I would like to attend a Boston Red Sox baseball game @ Fenway and take the "Freedom Walk' in Boston. Other than that, we will be just hanging out.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">We are still processing our grief and walk it out. We covet your prayers as we walk our future out together.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">I will ask Devon to share soon about how he feels about graduating and his future.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">Love,</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#009900;">Jon</span>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-9363206076357643312009-06-14T13:43:00.001-07:002009-06-14T13:53:55.258-07:00'Ark Memories' from Gail.....<span style="font-size:130%;">the following reflection is written in 1997 before we moved to Half Moon Bay. It was <span style="font-family:verdana;color:#336666;">written after a reflection that Gail had after reviewing her life from 1989-1997.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">Background: Two great guys, Bruce and Brice, together with Gail and I purchased a 5 bedroom home together, within 2 miles of our home church in order to live 'in community'. We wanted the house to be used as a 'safe house' where anyone could just drop in and be welcomed with the love of Jesus......It was lovingly referred to as 'the Ark'</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">'Ark Memories' .....by Gail Yoshimine</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">tears of gratitude......</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">realizing God's goodness, God's love, God's power in and through faith community.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">'the Wee three,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">Brice, Bruce, Jon and me</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">willing to follow the Mighty Three in One</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">the Father, Son and Holy Spirt</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">into joining our lots and less of faith, monies and friendship</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">to seeking to share our hearts</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">to seeking to make a home together</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">Reflecting on God's faithfulness fills me with awe and wonder</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">Remembering God's planting seeds, watering, weeding</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">and bearing fruit...</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">at our home, in the Ark!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">Community in Christ poured into us.....</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">courage to color beyond the lines-take risks, bring life to ideas, </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">bring others onboard</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">Strength to persevere-to swim upstream, withstand the darts of the enemy, and keep striving adn straining in prayer for </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">the Lord's presence</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">******</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#336666;">Reasons to celebrate and the place to come together to do just that!!!!</span>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-69850591228526199582009-04-25T05:16:00.000-07:002009-04-25T05:40:23.512-07:00Senior Pictures<span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Last night Devon and I went to Sears to get his Senior pictures taken. He was such a champ.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">He had a very proud smile. Like he had accomplished something and had a deep sense of satisfaction.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">It was not a haughty smile. I loved it. Gail loved it too.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">I became very sad during the day @ work thinking about the fact that Gail would not be with us.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Gail would have loved to fuss over Devon as he put on his new clothes and his cap and gown.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">I called a friend, Lisa and cried for awhile. She too was close to Gail and knew what I was feeling.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">My boss Sam, walked into my office while I was crying too and I shared with him about the pictures. He was very understanding and compassionate.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">As picture time came, the tears wore off and the excitement came. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Devon looked so good in the brand new clothes!</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">His Grandma and Aunty Katie bought the new clothes for him when he was in Huntington Beach during Easter break. They spent about two hours with the family having him try on different shirts, slacks and jackets. He was a good sport.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">They loved Devon by fussing over him. I'm sure that he ate it up.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">He will also wear these same clothes to the Prom on May 2nd @ the Exploritorium in SF.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">If you would like a picture, please let me know. I have a high resolution cd.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">I want to thank all of you who have been there for Devon and our family in our journey to see him to this point of graduation.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">It was not a foregone conclusion. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">God knew what He was doing.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">And here we are.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Amazing!</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Love,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;">Jono</span>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-69245542622699299162009-04-23T09:50:00.000-07:002009-04-23T10:01:23.758-07:00together time<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Early on in our grieving process Devon and I made a list of those things that are important to us. One of the reasons for this was to order our lives around those things and people that were them most important.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Over the last two years, my time and effort has been on trying to build in a controlled, predictable life for us to live in, protected. I have found myself frustrated when things don't go my way, etc. Sometimes I feel that I have been focussed on obtaining certain outcomes at the expense of simply enjoying/living life.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">I realized that I need 'down' time with Devon besides our walks. The other night we laid in bed together and were talking about what we had learned from the testimony of a friend that had to serve time in San Quentiin in order for the Lord to do the work that He wanted to accomplish.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">We started to talk about the reason that we have suffered loss and how the Lord might want to use that. It was nice 'together time.' Devon said that the Lord wanted to use us to bless others that have also gone through a loss.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">A verse that has come to mind this week is:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">"The Lord your God is with you,</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">he is mighty to save.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">He will take great delight in you,</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">he will quiet you with his love,</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">he will rejoice over you with singing"</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Zephaniah 3:17</span>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-81298437909912277592009-04-02T19:54:00.000-07:002009-04-02T20:07:04.547-07:00update<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;">Hi Everyone,</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#333399;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#333399;">It's been a while sine I wrote on the blog, and for that I apoligize. Life has been fairly well regarding school (to an extent) and home life. Wow, how time flies! It's almost been two years sine my mom (Gail) passed away. The two year mark will be on June 7th, 2009. :( I know very sad. I know she is in a better place and she has it good, but my father and and all of you who are reading this are the ones suffering the loss. I wish she was still around to see me graduate and make my way from becoming a humble school boy, to a young man. I hope my efforts to be a a nice young man will make her proud. It's hard to praise and thank God for the life she lived when I also look at the fact that she was still very young when she passed away. She was a angel in the flesh. Now she is gone from this earth. now the more I think about it, the more frustrated and angry I become at God. I ask him why did you have to take away my mom and my dad's wife? I get so furious at times that whenever someone refers to me as a Christian, I wince. I wince because I don't want to do ANYTHING with God at times. Then I slap myself in the face and say... if God could get mehrough this far. He could still carry us through for the rest of my life. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#333399;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#333399;"> Much Love,</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#333399;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#333399;"> Devon Yoshimine</span>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-87310679847053786142009-02-21T00:15:00.000-08:002009-02-21T00:18:14.419-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9-3Dh7XAyd7JmAsC1YOVrHJTgm-3kPIqWwn2Qc5QNi19Yq1hyphenhyphenGfGpZG2XjSPKUMNnDjjLhMpFQNvbjenL3-vZYG3VTshQQReoiNM77N_cxvnxCTbxmyHzuO8IbLHk0T77PQEyzI8wmc/s1600-h/Greg+and+Gail"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305161665935366610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh9-3Dh7XAyd7JmAsC1YOVrHJTgm-3kPIqWwn2Qc5QNi19Yq1hyphenhyphenGfGpZG2XjSPKUMNnDjjLhMpFQNvbjenL3-vZYG3VTshQQReoiNM77N_cxvnxCTbxmyHzuO8IbLHk0T77PQEyzI8wmc/s320/Greg+and+Gail" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:180%;color:#333399;">Gail is still smiling down on us.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:180%;color:#333399;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:180%;color:#333399;">Thanks, Gail.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:180%;color:#333399;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:180%;color:#333399;">Love, </span></div><div><span style="font-size:180%;color:#333399;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:180%;color:#333399;">Coastside Cougars and Jon and Devon</span></div>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-76249998071139005632009-02-21T00:09:00.000-08:002009-02-21T00:12:43.663-08:00Hero Tales<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVa7_YkXGMAnQNFIVkj3SAhrnt5hTpmReUzwqBfnDT1ORIQzN9_T5nODPhDlS6x2aVk0xyd3Um8Wp6XdLklx0nNZ3oHhantMlRdmkQrOSR2hEflOEk3Wg0wOT5UfCdAjrVni8ysy_5-30/s1600-h/020.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305159904740216802" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVa7_YkXGMAnQNFIVkj3SAhrnt5hTpmReUzwqBfnDT1ORIQzN9_T5nODPhDlS6x2aVk0xyd3Um8Wp6XdLklx0nNZ3oHhantMlRdmkQrOSR2hEflOEk3Wg0wOT5UfCdAjrVni8ysy_5-30/s320/020.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">Our Heros. We are meeting @ LaDiDa Coffee House in Half Moon Bay. We will be using the Overcomer Series.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">True stories of ordinary people who became Heros. Please join us.</span></div>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-25948408798292415902009-02-19T20:28:00.000-08:002009-02-19T21:15:18.297-08:00Catching Up<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Mom and Dad Yoshimine came up to stay with Devon and I between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. This was a welcome and timely visit for us this year. I work on Fridays of Thanksgiving weekend, so there are no trips down to SoCal for Thanksgiving. Since our move to NoCal, Thanksgivings have been small gatherings. It was a treat to have Mom and Dad with us. With Dad being almostg 85 and Mom over 80 now, it is really something for them to travel, but they do. And it is a big deal to us. This visit was a perfect segue into Christmas 2008, which was particularly lonely for me.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">We didn't talk a whole lot. Their love was a quiet love, but it spoke loudly. We sat in the same room doing our own thing, keeping each other company as time passed. Theirs was a comforting presence to Devon and I. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">The loss this past year, felt more 'in your face'. I felt empty, moving on into a New Year without my love, facing an uncertain future. I began to realize who and what I had lost in my relationship with Gail. I felt extremely 'poor'. Then God stepped in...in fact Mom and Dad's presence served to remind me of God's presence with me.....memories of how good God has been to me and how he had blessed me with such a wonderful, loving and fun woman, kind of overcame me...and filled me...It was his continuing revelation of his enduring Love. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I read Luke 2 before Christmas as the angel reveals some bewildering and amazing promises to Mary. He talked about the future and Mary's part in His plan. I love her response to her Lord: "May it be done to me, as you have said." I prayed this prayer about my (our) future with Him.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">God gave me such wonderful encounters with family and friends during the visit to family down in SoCal. A nice walk to the Huntington Beach wetlands with Mike Toguchi, Vince Chiya, Devon an I. Touch football with the family. A lunch with guys that I met with for years when in their high school years. The annual Hunt Tamale New Year's Eve party and visiting with friends. A breakfast @ Corner bakery in Brea with Jeff Sano, Steve Yahata, Jordy, Devon and I to talk about the June Lake Fishing trip. Breakfast and a walk with Brian.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">All needed. All good.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Then later in January, 2009, the Lord opened up other opportunities to share conversations with other widows and widowers. This has been very helpful for me because we are able to understand one another. I had a lunch, a breakfast, a visit, E-Mail conversations and a lasagna dinner with Devon and another family. A grief group is starting up at my church soon. I plan to attend. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Devon may have a similar opportunity. We recently completed an intake for Devon for a grief group of teens that have lost parents. I hope that Devon will have this opportunity. Please pray that this, or another opportunity.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Please pray for our Bible Study Fellowship study of the life of Moses. It has been the best study yet for me, even in Leviticus and Numbers! </span>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-641984967445944582008-12-19T19:10:00.000-08:002008-12-19T19:21:24.637-08:00So Empty and Yet So Full<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330099;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I feel void of that listening ear....Gail had a good one...and it was always available...well almost...but there when I needed it...<br /><br />Now alone and kind of empty....sometimes lonely, sometimes desperately so. What to do??? What to do? Where to go??? Now what???<br /><br />I stop and remember....how I got here and who it was that got me here. And I don't think there's any miracle in that??? </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#330099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#330099;">A sometimes 'silent' partner is still a partner.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#330099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#330099;">I realize what I have is because it was freely given to me, without any expected in return. Love was given not randomly, but wholly and fully for me. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#330099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#330099;">He is sitting by...hanging out..</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#330099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#330099;">There is much abundance here. What matter of love is this???</span>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-36989958547792989292008-11-18T05:44:00.001-08:002008-11-18T05:52:16.703-08:00Hope for the Future<span style="color:#6633ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#6633ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6633ff;">I am in the process of planning for Devon's future after high school. Sometimes it feels overwhelming because I haven't done it before. I want to do the right/best thing, but what is that look like? I don't know.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6633ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6633ff;">But I can't just stop there. There are two friends of ours whose daughters have already gone this path so I am meeting with them soon to hear how they processed the decisions that they came to.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6633ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6633ff;">Support services. A source for services/funding for individuals with disabilities is "Regional Center". Devon was a client when we lived in Orange County and then was reassessed 6 years ago and was found not to be eligible. His disabilities are not apparent. Anyways, I have contacted "Regional Center" to appeal the decision and they have asked me to provide all the information since the last test in 2002 so that it can be reviewed and a decison can be made.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6633ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6633ff;">Please pray for this outcome. It is not a dealbreaker, but it would sure be helpful.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6633ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6633ff;">More to come....</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6633ff;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6633ff;">Jon and Dev</span>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-83880575530104066882008-10-31T19:49:00.000-07:002008-10-31T20:15:53.827-07:00Dear Mama<span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong>Devon has been missing Gail lately. He likes this song called 'Dear Mama' by Tupac. It makes him cry. That's good because Devon doesn't cry too much usually.</strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong>We are getting by ok. I probably don't ask for enough help when I need it. Gail seemed to be telling me early on, 'if you need help, ask for it'. </strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong>I'm meeting with Devon's vocational instructor on November 7th. We are going to talk post high school options for vocation and education. Devon, I think wants to go to CSM College of San Mateo which is cool. The fact remains that the cirriculum is college level and he will have to perform at this level.</strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong>One possible option is for him to take one or two classes and work. This way, he can ease into the college scene and focus on doing well. He certainly has the drive and tenacity that Gail had. He's like a bull-dog and doesn't give up easily. He is really resilient in a God-shaped way. That's encouraging. There is a CSM extension in Half Moon Bay, so it may be possible for him to take his courses here in town. At some point, I would like him to get onto the college campus.</strong></span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Please pray for this transition. </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">We are wrapping up our counseling. The last time we met, my counselor asked about the future like Devon transitioning into the post high-school life and me transitioning into life without Gail and Devon. Wow. How is that going to happen? Please pray that I go the Lord with these questions and hang out with Him through this and get his take.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Thanks.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Jon and Devon</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#000099;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#000099;"></span></strong>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-41424905456719411492008-09-19T04:17:00.000-07:002008-09-19T04:49:42.248-07:00time out<span style="color:#333300;"></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#333300;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#330099;">Life goes on......</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">I like the fact that devon and i are continuing to walk together in the mornings. It's not a long walk, but it's important and something that we have been doing together on a regular basis. </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">I've come to take these walks for granted because they have become routine.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">This morning, I was thinking about Gail back at the hospital and their was some grief and pain and then God took me sovereignly by the hand and showed me how our lives have been ordained before the beginning of time and how He made it possible for us to be here in HMB for 9 years being family. I again saw how loving he is and how he has taken care of us every step of the way and will contnue to do so.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">Devon is a senior in high school now and enjoying school. He is taking the following classes:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">Us Government</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">Mass Media</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">Weight Lifting</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">Workability</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">English</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">Independent Study</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">He gets to give announcements to the entire school on TV once a week a LOVES it. He's such a ham.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">He's enjoying watching football these days and is a huge niners fan. We went to a recent niner/green bay game and he went crazy. Where did that come from???</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">Devon will, after two years hiatus begin BSF on September 30th. This year it is on the Life of Moses. I'm thrilled that he has an opportunity to do this again as it was great the three years that he did it earlier, studying the Minor Prophets, Acts and Genesis.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">He is enjoying time with friends that seem to always like to come to our place. So we always have guys over. This weekend, we are inviting some girls over for a hoops activity and a barbque for some hang time.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">He is also part of a team ministry to some elderly residents here in Half Moon Bay. Our sunday school class helps with this once a month ministry. Devon recently gave his testimony. If you want to hear it, you can go the Mariners Community Church Half Moon Bay website and go to the podcast on August 24th.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">His testimony goes back to our days living in Anaheim when Devon accepted Christ at the Harvest Festival when he was about 5 years old. It's rich, and classic Devon. If you listen in, you'll get some laughs too.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">Devon and I were all set this summer to go to Redwood Christian camp with family and friends, but the Lord had other plans for us as we went with our church high school group to work with the Navajo on their reservation in Arizona.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">What follows is a snippet from our time there. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">Elsie, the matriarch of the Navajo family gazed at the horizon as approaching storm headed toward us, and said, "It won't rain here." </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">"It will rain over there", pointing to her left, then pointing to the right, she said, "It will rain over there, but it won't rain here."</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">It <em>poured</em> down rain for two days in that parched, thirsty desert. The cisterns underground that catch the rain water off the roof were filled to overflowing. Wow. There were pools of water everywhere. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">It reminded me of Psalm 84.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">This 'interruption' in our work gave way to going under cover with our Navajo friends, the Codys and we talked and laughed and spent time together.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">We all knew, that God was up to something way beyonod our limited comprehension. I knew that God was speaking to my barrenness and desert wasteland of my own soul. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">He couldn't have ever spoken more loudly than he did that day.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">Our three day sojourn with 4 adults and 9 teens onto the Navajo reservation 30 miles east of Flagstaff, became walk of healing in the midst of great sorrow, for they had lost the martriarch of their family Betty, 6 months before we came to the Rez.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">They were not sure if they were going to let us come because of their grief. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">The very first day of work with the Cody family brought a sense of what our trip was going to be about as the patriarch of the family, Johnny Ray and I sat on a log taking a short break. He told me that he had lost his wife earlier in the year. I shared briefly about my loss as well.....</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">What flowed out of this was a wonderful three sojourn with the Codys through their grief. Indeed there were Streams in the Desert.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">May these streams continue to flow into your hearts as the Lord who provides.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">Love,</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#330099;">Jon and Devon</span>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-3220134396943810662008-08-17T12:47:00.000-07:002008-08-25T05:16:33.402-07:00Navajo Family Times<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHk0bYechiNS_c95AhIDF4X_Ugf73OZk_LF0_WTF6tgUPlMfvo2PDQtwnUbr6LMSLLlkZ2sGva9yDw2lm50_cZDVvjJFH_l_FGaQ5ulzrcJOL8U0_UxcMhQ-v5SGLXTdIwZrE-Qd-2-k/s1600-h/IMG_2526.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235576078558969938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsHk0bYechiNS_c95AhIDF4X_Ugf73OZk_LF0_WTF6tgUPlMfvo2PDQtwnUbr6LMSLLlkZ2sGva9yDw2lm50_cZDVvjJFH_l_FGaQ5ulzrcJOL8U0_UxcMhQ-v5SGLXTdIwZrE-Qd-2-k/s320/IMG_2526.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">hello everyone,</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">Boy was the trip excellent!! Me and some of the youth group from my chruch went to Arizona and worked with a Navajo family. But let me start from the beginning. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">On Monday at noon was our flight out of San Fransisco. We arrived in Phinoex around 2:30. Then we rented a van and put our luggage, and 14 other people in the van. Then we ate lunch in Phionex at the nitourious Wendy's. Mmmm the chili was good considering that they have fingers in it. Just kidding. We met some people from this organization called Wondervoyage. The people were named, Shan, Jason, and a intern Shara. They explained the one rule that we had on the trip. The rule was not to act stupid. That was the one rule. Shan and his group had a different car. We went on Monday to a nice resort in Sedona. We debrifed about what we were here for and we were preparing our hearts for the next three days serving on the reservation. Then we unpacked, and relaxed for the next few hours. Then we went into our cars and went into the city of Sedona. We ate at this Chineese cafe all you can eat. After we went back to the resort. We had a oppurtionity to look at the stars outside of the resort after we got there. I was just in awe that God made all of that. In Half Moon Bay I can't see that in Half Moon Bay because it's always so dang foggy. Then we just hung out inside until 11 and the boys went into their room and the girls went into their room. What a relief!!! On Tuesday we woke up at seven a.m. and started to pack. After we packed and put our stuff in the car, we ate breakfeast at the resort. We left at eight. We arrived at the reservation a few hours later. I was suprised that the reservation like the houses were spread out. It was like a barren desert. To be honest it was kind of depressing. We stopped at a church were we were staying. We met the Monorch of the family we were working with. Her name was Elsie. She was the niceist person you would have met. Then after we unpacked and got settled in we went to their house/ranch deeper into the reservation. Their house was made of wood and cardbord which was shocking. But they each accepted us into the family like we were one of them which was really powerful and minisering. Once we got oriented and met the family, we had lunch. We had some true guinuine indian food called turkey sandwhiches, chipes, soda, gaderade, and water. It was tasty. After that they wanted us to tear down their old fence and put all the scraps of wood and metal into two seperate pials. It was hard work but we did if efficantley and quickly. Then that day we burned the wood and with the metal we threw away. Then we had dinner. We had some indian corn meal, and had some lamb I think. Then we had a oppurtunity to fellowship with the family and with one another. We were talking about ourselves and also learned about the way they live. Most of them have jobs have jobs in the nearest city called Flagstaff to support the family just to live. They don't have the luxuary like the rest of us do. They have t.v. though. They don't have running water though or fast food reasturant's on the reservation. All of that is in flagstaff. Some of the Navajo people do live in Flagstaff. But the people who live on the reservation just try to get by on minimum money, food, and get water from the water whole. I learned not to take my life for granted. I thought I had it hard but they really have it hard. One of the senior members of the family said there has been a death in the family. His wife died a few months before we came into the reservation. Just that we got invited in while their loss is still so fresh is a incredible honor and minsitired to me personally in volumes that words could not. I could relate to him in a sense because I lost my Mom just a little more then a year ago. Then after we felloshiped we went to the church and we debrifed and eventually went to sleep. The first night some kids claimed that I was sleepwalking which I usually don't. Well at least I don't think I don't. On Wensday we woke up at 4:30 and had to be at the family's home by 5:00. They were worshiping their God the dawn. The way it works is that we face the dawn with a fistfull of cornmeal and spread it down and across so in a way it symboylizes the cross. They just don't know it. Earilier the previous day we were debating whether we should perticipate in the ceromoney because they have obviously diffirent belifes about who God is. We decided to pirticapate in it unless God was calling us otherwise. See our reasoning is that we wern't worshiping the dawn, we were worshiping the God who created the dawn. In our hearts we were worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ and him alone and that's fo sho!!! </span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">Then we had breakfeast which was cornmeal, eggs, becon, and indian oatmeal, which was not bad. Then after we started to do diffirent tasks. Some people decided to work on the house and some others decided to go to some other family's and do a little home improvement with other families. I decided to go help with the other family's. I went with three other boys plus two leaders, Craig and George, and we cut some wood and other material and we added some stuff to the house which is kinda like shop class in a sense. I loved to see the smiles on the Navajo people as we fixed their house and ministired to them at the same time. Then around noon we went back to the main base house to eat lunch. We had sandwiches and sodas again. Yeeehhh!!!! After that another group went to help the other families while my group and some other of the other of the youth group stayed back at the main house and cleaned up the ranch from the tumble weeds, sheep poop and horse poop. After that we put some of the wood we gathered from the fence on Tuesday into another pile and burned it. That took a few hours. Then we had a break. Then we countinued until dinner time with that same task. For dinner we had beef and beens and salad, cheese and cornmeal. It was pretty good. Oh did I mention while we were working it started to pour on us bullets. So we went inside to have some good old fellowship with the family and with each other. After we ate dinner we talked some more about their way of life and how they support each other and they said most of them have jobs in Flagstaff to support the family. We stayed there until 8 thirty. Then we went to the church and debrifed about our day as we were out on the front porch of the church looking at the stars. We were also awestruck that on Thursday would be our last day of working on the reservation. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">When we woke up on Thusday we woke up at 8:30 and went on the reservation at nine. On the last day I had a feeling God was feeling us up with his energy and we did everything we could to help them because it was our last day. We cleaned the tumbleweed and piled it up and burned them. We cleaned the sheep pen, and other things with a smile on our face like we did for those three days. On that day it rained on us for a hour but we got to fellowship with each other again, which was nice. When it stopped we went back to work. I was entertaning the kids there, and keeping them happy while the parents were working with us. That really inspired me that the Navajo people actually worked with us dispite thier loss and did it also with a smile on their face. So while we were there to minister to them, we were also getting ministired to as well. For dinner we had lamb ribs, and corn meal which was not bad. Later they had some sheep head and other parts of the body that were to sample if we wanted. I was brave enough to have some of the sheep head. It was kind of rubbury but it was a good experince though. After dinner each one of the people from our youth group from mariners including the leaders shared about what we learned and or what we were thankful or what we got out of the trip. I was thankful and awestruck that they accepted us into the family as one of their own. I was also amazed that they worked alongside us even though they had a death in the family and the husband smiled while we were there. One of the Navajo women said the husband that experinced the loss has not smiled since his wife's death. And it was the first time he smiled since her death. Then after we all shared, which was good but totally unexpected, one by one each one of the family members got up and shared what they learned and shared what they were thankful for or whatever they wanted to say. The widower got up last I think and he shared his hurt inside and started to cry in front of everyone there. It was sad but I think it was a God moment at the same time because he was thinking probaly he was amongst friends and family. After each one of them shared we said our goodbye's which took mabye a half an hour. Then we headed back to the church slept. The next few days were just chill time. On Friday we woke up around seven thirty and we started to pack. </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">I want to go back.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">Love,</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;color:#3333ff;">Devon</span></div>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-86703553011111680372008-07-17T18:07:00.000-07:002008-07-17T18:10:40.312-07:00High School Exit Exam Heaven...<span style="font-size:180%;color:#333399;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:180%;color:#333399;">Newsflash......Devon comes up big as he rides the coattails of the Holy Spirit and crosses the Math Exit Exam threshold!!! There's no looking back now, only thanksgiving to God and moving forward.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:180%;color:#333399;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:180%;color:#333399;">Hurray!!!!</span>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-76880693374997805992008-07-16T23:09:00.000-07:002008-07-16T23:45:29.424-07:00A shoulder to cry on...<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#006600;">Devon just returned from his annual summer sojourn to SoCal. Grandma Merry came with him. The first week was difficult. The last year, devon and i have been kind of attached at the hip and for him to be gone felt different than in last years when he went down.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;">As time went on..it was a roller coaster. I realized that I really hadn't really made time to fellowship that much wi</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;">th others while Devon was at home. It felt kind of awkward...I felt alone...and lonely. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;">With Devon gone there was space. There was room. The question was, what was going to happen in this space? What would this space be filled with?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;">As it turned out, I was able to mourn and be sad...I started to read Gail's journal which I had never done previously. This was good to do. I read a lot about her feelings, her thinking, her disappointments and dreams. It was an opportunity to see the world through her eyes. Who and what was important anyways?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;">Most of the writing was about devon. The journaling was done over a 3-4 year period, which was helpful. It brought me in touch with the depth of her love for our son. It was real and present in the here and now. It really made me miss her. Her words were speaking both lament and encouragement for me. In fact, a picture that the Lord gave me was that we were still walking side-by-side both holding the hands of Jesus. The thought and reality of still being able to be enjoined together in this life was pretty overwhelming. I did not feel so alone.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;">It was both sweet and sad at the same time. My mourning went deep. What we had was so special and yet sweet because we are together still. Gail's spirit lives on. I became so thankful for all the time that she spent with Devon and the absolute voracity and tenacity with which she loved the both of us. A true reflection of Jesus.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;">This space also offered an opportunity to get away by myself for a brief fishing trip to Tioga Lake. I returned to the very spot that Gail, Devon and I, together with the Fukuzawas and Yahatas had fished a week prior to Gails passing. I had first gone by myself about 6 years ago, sleeping in the car and fishing hard then ending with a cool quiet time of reading the Word and journaling.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;">I almost bolted the lake without the journaling. I stopped at an overlook of the lake and had my lunch at a picnic table and hung out, journaling. I recalled the Word or the Lord to me six years ago, "Begin with the end in mind" What kind of legacy would I leave? It brought me back to God's Word and BSF(Bible Study Fellowship). </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;">I started attending BSF as a result of God telling me that his Word is from everlasting to everlasting and that He wanted Devon to know of his goodness through His Word. Devon and I attended BSF for about three years and then there was not a high school leader available. So Devon could not go. As time went on, my attitude soured and this last year, I just went through the motions. I signed up for this upcoming fall, but I started telling a few friends that if the high school program isn't available, I would quit. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;">I then wrote down the books of the Bible that I had studied through BSF and started to think of life without BSF. The Lord encouraged me that there was value for me attending BSF this last year. I gave what I had, and I showed up. I also had the opportunity to ride with a friend Taylor and I realized the value had a lot to do with the friendship with Taylor who, toward the end of the year had the opportunity to bring two precious orphans from Russia for a 5 week visit. We shared stories of expectant parents and the anxious anticipation. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;">I had dinner with Taylor and his wife the week after the girls left and was filled with such joy to hear how blessed they were. I came to realize that the year of BSF was all worth it just to see God work in our friendship and to partake in the Lord's blessing of their time with these girls which they wish to adopt. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;">I realized how patient that the Lord has been with me. I had felt so sorry for myself. I couldn't see His plan. He is so gracious! I made a commitment to continue to pray that somehow that there would be a high school program available for Devon. If not, that God would have a better plan for Devon's study of the Word of God. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;">Please pray for us as we walk out our lives holding onto Jesus, often in fear in trembling. We believe...help us in our unbelief.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;">God Bless you all!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;">Love,</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#006600;">Jon and Devon</span>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-88649220309933986442008-06-21T18:03:00.000-07:002008-06-21T18:17:55.821-07:00God used a lot of people to help Devon pass Algebra.<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;">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.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;">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...</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;">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.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;">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??</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;">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. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;">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.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;">Give Devon a call or get together with him while he's down, he doesn't have much planned.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;">Love,</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#333399;">Jon</span>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-43560650096864926082008-06-04T21:19:00.000-07:002008-12-09T02:02:37.229-08:00Remember Gail ......June 7, 2007<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyGwpb6zGZ4ztSnArW9qXD5z_Mj2h13vykwyPR1ZOT8O1tXuMuIJqNM2NFm05LBol01tmmAqvVqa-iYtOYaRh6XRmhvBm1-xoVQiQEhNY4XjSg0y5LZeOiBxn2EUDPYRlITgNUwTOAHY/s1600-h/blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208247527184059218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFyGwpb6zGZ4ztSnArW9qXD5z_Mj2h13vykwyPR1ZOT8O1tXuMuIJqNM2NFm05LBol01tmmAqvVqa-iYtOYaRh6XRmhvBm1-xoVQiQEhNY4XjSg0y5LZeOiBxn2EUDPYRlITgNUwTOAHY/s320/blog.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">Hi Everyone,</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;">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.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;">Sincerly,</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#000099;">Devon and Jon Yoshimine</span></div><div> </div>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-8720708243577951182008-06-01T23:05:00.000-07:002008-06-01T23:11:00.830-07:00Homecoming 08 @ June Lake, Ca.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hi everyone-</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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.<br />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.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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 </span><a href="http://www.marinerschurch.org/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">www.marinerschurch.org</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. or something like that. There are two Mariners, so go to the one in Half Moon Bay.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Right now our plan is to come down on June 7th to spend Gail's anniversary with family, then drive home.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">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.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Love,<br />Jon and Devon</span>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4526801209972321024.post-68551429832850092512008-05-14T05:48:00.000-07:002008-05-14T05:53:08.820-07:00A letter to my mom<span style="font-family:verdana;">Mother's Day for Devon and Jon.</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Devon wrote this letter to Gail. We tied it to a helium balloon and let it fly up to heaven. This letter evoked many tears from the both of us as it was a sad day. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Dear Mom,<br /> I really miss you. How is it in Heaven? I hope you enjoy it. Thank you Mom for all the things you did for me like: cooking, loving me when I was in a bad mood, cuddle, and spend time with me. There is nothing I could do to repay you. I really miss having you around. I miss your smile and your kindness you always showed to me no matter what mood I was in. Thank you. I don’t know what life brings next. You’re the best Mom that I could ever have. Now I don’t know what to do without you. Will I ever see you again? I feel so helpless without you, because I was so dependent upon you. I want to thank you though for the impact you made on my life, as well as many others. You made me into a better and stronger person as a result. I hope I can honor your memory by my life. I love you.<br /><br /> Love,<br /> Devon</span>Jon Yoshiminehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02146360652942947176noreply@blogger.com3