This year has been quite rough for some of us.
We have experienced Love and we have experienced extreme pain and anguish. Though the pain of death is universal; each one of us handles it differently. Less than 24 hours ago, I learned of the passing of a former classmate. The news came as a surprise to many of us as he was recovering from illness and was doing much better. He left behind a family and three children.
Join me in prayer, for the family of François Xavier Etoundi, as his loved ones prepare to lay him to rest. It’s especially in moments like these that we turn to God and ask Him to restore our inner peace.
Please donate. Nothing is too small or too big. We never know when our own time will come, but we can hope that when it comes to pass; our lives, in the end, will be remembered. In the Spirit of togetherness, love and kindness, let’s join our hands as one and celebrate his life.
May his gentle soul rest in peace and may God comfort his family during this hard time.
“We are nothing but die cut shapes flowing in the wind waiting to fall.” — Joan Ambu
And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” – Revelation 14:13 (ESV)
DONORS LIST:
Joan Ambu – $75 (+ Transfer Fee)
Yannick Nke – $30
Raoul Feukia – $50
Anonymous – $25
Jean Emmanuel Kwe – $50
Marie Liénou – $30
Miriam Obele – $60
Aurelie Tomo – $50
Guy Beke – $25
Herve Ombede – $20
Willy Jouontso – $70
Donations are now closed. Thank you all for your support.
Living in the High Desert and being passionate about gardening can be challenging at times. Regardless of the care I give my plants, Powdery Mildew, white dusty spots found on leaves and sometimes on stems of plants, have always been an issue in my Rose garden during Fall and Spring; possibly due to the cool weather. I have had a few dieback, and lots of Aphids (plant lice) early this year. I use fertilizers on my plants and I have used fungicide to eradicate them and it worked on and off.
My Roses bloom all year round. This Summer, however, I didn’t see a single bloom and I noticed that the plants were a lot healthier. A couple of days ago, I spotted a Praying Mantis on my Camelot Hybrid Tea Rose and I smiled at the fact that it was there primarily to feed, which in turn helped keep my plants disease free.
Praying Mantis on ‘Camelot Hybrid Tea Rose.’
For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with Praying Mantises, especially with their strange shape. Though I have always known of their advantages in the garden; I had never witness the marvelous results they produce. The Praying Mantises are wonderful insect control in the garden, as they feed on Aphids, caterpillars as well as other harmful and beneficial insects. The Praying Mantis is an insect which does not discriminate.
Other Helpful Garden Insects:
Green Lacewings
Assassin Bug
LadyBugs
Dragonflies
Predatory Mites
Bees
Centipedes
Damsel Bugs
Spiders
Syrphid Fly
Ground Beetles
Ichneumon Wasp
Trichogramma Wasps
You can read more about the benefits of Praying Mantises here.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)
Today I am sharing with you, the story of seven siblings (Kenedy, Emer, Jackie, Emmanuel, Patrick, Julius and Genevieve), who are, to the best of my knowledge, a wonderful example of Proverbs 22:6.
If you are like me then you will admit to be drawn to the beautiful faces and smiles of the individuals on the pictures. Yes, they are beautifully made in the image of our Creator. Yes, they are unique and they are my family. What you may know or not know about them is that they have lost both parents; their Father in 1992 and their Mother two years ago, on August 29th, 2010).
Aunt Sarah was a beautiful, gentle, soft-spoken and a woman of noble character; even when she tried to frown, it only accentuated her beauty. She was a Christian who never cheated life; who believed, followed the Words of God and gave thanks in all things. Being in her presence was comforting and when she smiled at you, all you could do was smile back. She was a biological mother to seven wonderful individuals and an adoptive mother to countless. She embraced everyone who crossed her path as her own. She didn’t just tell you how much she loved you; she made sure you felt it. She was a Mother, a Friend, a Comforter, a fervent server of the Lord and she lived a life that some of us can only dream of. She did an amazing job raising her children, who are a great examples of what Proverbs 22:6 is all about.
“To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.” – Isaiah 61:3 (NLT)
Kenedy, Emmanuel, Patrick & Julius.
Some might think that in losing their parents they had lost everything. It’s quite the opposite because in losing both parents, they gained new strength. I am not insinuating that they don’t care or that they don’t feel a thing. The pain is there. It is raw, perpetual and it will only ebb with time. I know because I have walked in their shoes.
When my Sister suddenly died in 1998, Jackie was the one by my side. She stood strong by me and showed me unconditional love. She became the other voice of reason; she helped mend the pieces of my shattered heart. She pretty much took over my shadow and kept me sane. Thank you, Jackie, for everything and for being such a loving and caring person.
This is the legacy aunt Sarah instilled in her children – devotion to God, respect for self and compassion toward others.
They were thought at a very young age to walk by faith and to live by hope. They were thought to be kind, especially to the unkind and hope that their love is strong enough to move them.
They are now stronger than ever. Love grows more love and it’s in giving that we receive (St. Francis of Assisi).
“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.” – 1 John 3:1 (NLT)
Emer, Jacqueline & Genevieve.
Whenever we forgive truly and love someone with the intend to elevate them, something miraculous happens and our lives are changed. We do not have to love people because they mean something to us; we have to love and respect them because they exist and because God teaches and commands us to love one another.
Death, you must know
Is a loner
Is not sociable
It doesn’t negotiate
It doesn’t give a second chance
It doesn’t sympathize.
To some it can be gentle
And to others, unkind
Either way
The outcome is the same
When a loved one cease
The living is thorn.
Pray and be prayerful
Do not find joy in another’s grief
Do not let your anger destroy your dreams
Look around you
Be grateful for what you have
Keep your faith alive and your heart open.
Regardless of circumstances
Death is nothing to rejoice about
As much as it comes as a relief to some
It leaves others empty
And robs them of an opportunity
To cherish the ones who have ceased.
“Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that will never be again. And what do we teach our children? We teach them that two and two make four, and that Paris is the capital of France.When will we also teach them what they are? We should say to each of them:do you know what you are? You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. Your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the way you move. You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel. And when you grow up, can you then harm another who is, like you, a marvel? You must work, we must all work, to make the world worthy of its children.” ― Pablo Picasso
When my Son was born, I silently wished he stays little forever so that we could cuddle all day long. Then I wished he could walk, talk and eventually go to school. As parents, it’s sometime hard to alleviate the fears of letting our children go into the World, for the first time, without us being present to monitor. We unconsciously go into an anxiety mode and literally drive ourselves crazy over every single detail. That was exactly what happened to me.
Yesterday, while picking him up from school, his teacher told me that he is a very intelligent kid and he is the only one in his class to be up to date with reading. Lo and behold! I know I have a loving an amazingly smart kid; however, coming from his teacher, I was floored. My son learned to read books at the age of two and drew his first car at the age of two and a half. My 5-year-old could tell you the name of a car just by its shape; how crazy is this? He recently acquired a science book, which he reads every day.
Car Drawing by my then 2 1/2-year-old.
This is my approach on raising my kids (please, keep in mind that there are always exceptions to the rules).
Television. I do agree that we should set limits on television viewing, not for most of the reasons I have read and or heard of. For instance, television is not the primarily source of violence contrary to what some might think. Children in general, mimic what they live. Raising healthy children has a lot to do with stability, availability, family structure and love. How we treat others, how we behave around our children, how we nurture them and how we make them feel mold their development. Be supportive and a good role model.
Toys. It is never about the quantity; rather, the quality. Also, it’s not so much about the good reviews, but what works best for your child. That is why, as parents, we should know and understand our children in order to serve their best interests. Parents are ought to be the first and the best teachers for their children. We are the ones they admire and look up to. When we need a break from them, let us make sure we provide them with something useful. A toy that challenges their brain while keeping them entertained. When your children outgrow their toys, consider giving them to families in need or donating them to a charity.
Outdoor Activities (for those without allergies and other medical condition) is a good way to help little explorers learn and discover Nature around them. From bug hunting, helping in the garden, flying a kite, drawing on a drive way and bike riding just to name a few. Outdoor activities are a good source of physical and mental health. They boost their passion for creativity and give them a sense of independence. Make sure they are well equipped before they venture outside (hat, sunglasses that blocks 99-100% of ultraviolet rays, sunscreen, encourage them to stay in the shade and give them water to stay hydrated).
Discipline with love. Let them know their actions have consequences. Set limits to promote self-discipline and give them choices. I personally do not do time-outs. I understand it has its advantages; however a kid who knows his punishment for what he has done will start his time-out on his own to attempt to lessen it. In this case, the action-reaction becomes more mental and loses its effectiveness.
Availability. The bottom line, be there for your children. Teach them, help them with homework, talk to them, guide them, encourage them, reach out and get involved in their lives. Let them know you are available for them whenever they need you and mean it. You can help them shine by beginning to focus on their strength and building on it.
Patience. No one person is the same and each child learn at its own pace. You can’t rush them, you can’t force them and you can’t intimidate them. All you can do is support, encourage, be patient and watch them blossom. Every single child is special in its own way. Never compare your children to others because it lowers their self-esteem and they will never forget.
In the interim, I will continue being the best Mom and provider for him and allow the wonderful teachers to do the rest.
By JM Perez
