Seventh Sunday in Easter

I enjoyed today's church service a lot. Rev. Dr. William Lytle, the Moderator of the 190th General Assembly of the UPCUSA, one of PCUSA's predecessors, was our guest preacher. His sermon was great! After church, our parish had a meeting, then I had to go to work. This is the first Sunday I had to work in a very long time. After work, my husband and I went out to dinner. Tomorrow will be a busy day.

Sixth Sunday in Easter and Mother's Day

I enjoyed today's church service very much. After church, I helped clean up a bit, then went home to take a nap. After a three hour nap, my husband and I went to Fry's Electronics. (Sometimes it seems as if we never shop anywhere else together.) We treated the following people to dinner at Kazoo: my Mom, my Grandma, my sister, her husband, and their two adorable children. Their kids are quite cute: a feisty yet sweet toddler boy and an adorable and peaceful newborn girl.

I am thankful for the many mothers in my life: my Mom, my Step-Mom, my two Grandmothers, my four Great-Grandmothers, and my little sister, who is also a Mom. I am also thankful for all the story-time Moms and Dads who bring their children to the library to listen to me read stories, sing songs, and even play my 'ukulele. I am also thankful for all the Moms at my church.

I'm also thankful for people such as Donaldina Cameron, a missionary who rescued hundreds of Chinese girls and young women from domestic slavery and prostitution slavery. Although she was not a biological mother, she was called “Lo Mo” or “Old Mother” by the girls and young women she rescued.

All of these women are excellent role models for me.

an afternoon of hula and an evening of jazz

Today, my hula halau performed at May Day at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton. Two of my friends came from Oakland and San Francisco to watch me and the others dance. Our halau performed three kahiko dances, one Tahitian aparima, sever 'auana dances and one ori Tahiti dance. I danced in one kahiko dance and one 'auana dance.

After the performance, the three of us wandered around the vendor area for a bit, then we went out to dinner. After we said our goodbyes, I drove home.

After resting for a bit, I went to church to see a jazz concert at my church. I'm not very familiar with jazz; however, I certainly enjoyed the concert. The young musicians are very talented.

Metanoia: Repentance: Turning Around

When I was a child I was optimistic, idealistic and hopeful.

As I grew older, I gradually became more cynical, materialistic and bitter.

Over the last few months, I returned to the optimism, idealism and hopeful aspirations of my younger days.

My cynicism, materialism and bitterness have crumbled away. I still have a few crumbs I need to brush off.

Perhaps I still need a touch of skepticism and reservation in order to remain realistic.