Passion for Paraguay

I love new beginnings. I love new things. There is a buzz-an emotion that comes when you get something new or start of a new venture.  On Sunday Dec 31st, while visiting the Altar Church of God in Tampa, FL we were challenged to enter into the new year with thanksgiving. Its the password and the attitude God so much enjoys hearing from you and me.  But before getting myself ahead and move into 2024 I want to take a few moments, to look back and say Thank You. My amazing family : I have an been blessed with a family that God has gifted me. They each have their personalities and are on different stages in their relationship with the Lord and each other. Family is the small community that God gives us to work on our pride, greed, patience and selflessness. There are moments that I need some space - I have to admit - to catch up emotionally, but I having Nancy, Marcos, Nicole, Anahi and Dominick in my life is the best gift. They have thought me so much about God and unconditional ...

I can’t say enough how Julie's words in her journals have blessed me. Over the 12 years of our marriage, we occasionally read to each other entries from our journals. But only occasionally. Why read each other’s journals when we had each other in person? In person, we could talk and share insights, struggles, and dreams. We met every morning for Paraguayan tea time. It was a ritual, a sacred date that we considered one of our daily highlights. Missing the 6am tea time was almost a transgression of a family tradition. Today during my early tea time, I opened a journal from six years ago. Julie was sharing her struggles as a mother, wife, and daughter of the king. A few months after Timmy’s birth, she wrote: "It’s my first Mother’s day ever. Thank you God for the privilege of being a mom. What a life change I have had in the last six months. Timmy has consumed so much of my time and energy but it is all worth it. Timmy is sitting up unassisted and soon, will ...