Consumate Cuya

In the Philippines the oldest brother is the Cuya. The other siblings look to him for approval, guidance, protection, and provision. If a woman is widowed the Cuya becomes the head of the family. When the parents are gone...the Cuya is the Patriarch.

I didn't set out to raise a Cuya. God has blessed us with one. We DID set up to raise a young man who would love God wholeheartedly. Mike and I did spend hours mentoring Josiah (as he does with our other sons). The other children from Stacia (3) to BreAnne (23) all look to Josiah as a leader. He's gentle with that position. He's truly a servant leader.

I've seen him step into that Alpha Male role when Mike is deployed. He's done well.

I'm humbled when I think back seven years. My WORD! Josiah was my first man-child. I had NEVER encountered the phases we encountered as he matured. He was aggressive, assertive, and we all of a sudden clashed. Then I realized....he was a young man. Men need to be driven, assertive, aggressive ...and I needed to teach change my parenting. He was not a baby boy any longer.....and so we both grew through those years. He learned to submit to authority. I learned to respect the leadership that was developing in his life. I quit trying to make him "act like the girls did" when they were this age. ::snort::

Josiah blesses me. It's been a joy to watch him navigate his young adult years. He's held a job, was promoted to manager at 17, saved and paid for college, bought his own car - cash, saved up enough for his remaining years of college, moved out and has done well on his own, he's respected by those who work with him at work...he's fun to be with. He's great with the younger ones. He's thoughtful and helpful. He's giving. He's hard-working. He's thrifty.

He's no longer a "young man" in my mind. This MAN is my baby boy....and I'm proud of the man of God he has become. Happy Birthday, Josiah. We love you.

Fourteen


Top of a mountain looking over Anchorage - what a climb! Josiah 14/ Zander 1 1/2


Hope, Alaska - 2004


Seward, AK - 2004


::snort:: Elmendorf AFB Chapel


August 16, 2005 - Arielle, Stacia and Josiah - it was love at first sight for both Josiah and Stacia. Though he looks a bit nervous in this photo! LOL


2007 - Showing Zander a good time


May 2007 - We flew the girls in to surprise Josiah the night before his graduation.


Follow your dreams, Josiah. You make me so proud to be your Mom.


Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Leaving this boy in TX is going to be hardest thing I've had to do in parenting to date.

Intimate Issues - Linda Dillow & Lorraine Pintus

Blog Tour & Giveaway

*This is the first of four giveaways this week of wonderful books to enhance your marriage. Please stop back by and enter for any and all that you are interested in winning. Yes, you can enter for all of them. No, you don't need a blog to win - I only need to be able to contact you.

Yes, I'm going to review a book on sex. I suppose that will seal my fate as an x-rated blog. ::snort:: Can you believe that CHRISTIAN women would speak, research and write a book on SEX? They have. This book is the result. This is actually the ten year anniversary edition of Intimate Issues. It's a good book. Linda and Lorraine answer the twenty-one most commonly asked questions about sex by Christian wives.

These ladies are mature teachers of the Word. Intimate Issues is biblical and informative: funny, serious, practical, always real.

From the Publisher: "With warmth and wisdom, authors Linda Dillow and Lorraine Pintus speak woman to woman: examining the teachings of Scripture, exposing the lies of the world, and offering real hope that every woman’s marriage relationship can become all it was intended to be in God’s design."

I read this book years ago, I plan to read it again - but I've been busy reading the other books that I need to review this week. I think Intimate Issues would be useful for any Christian woman who is married...for moms and engaged daughters to work through together....for some Bible Study groups (though several of my ladies were not happy when one of our studies landed us on the topic of sex - so know your group).... A twelve week study guide is included.

Leave a comment in the contact section if you would like to win a copy of this book. I have several to give away. Please be sure I can contact you. We'll draw a winner MONDAY 16, Feb. You'll have one week to respond with your address after being notified that you have won.

This book is part of 2009 Reading List.
Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Strange Birthday -

This was a strange, strange birthday for Nolan. We'll have a grand celebration next weekend.

He did get to talk to both BreAnne and Krista. Josiah came over for lunch and back again for ice cream.

Mike, Jamin and Arielle went to chapel.

The others are all sick - varying degrees. I'm hopeful that they are well enough to go to the Basketball Award Dinner tomorrow night. Zander will be....Nolan seems to be on the upswing. Stacia is about the same, but coughing a lot more.

I'm not sure about Jared....I guess he IS better....but he's still not feeling good. Maybe I'll just swing over and drop off gifts and we'll have to miss the dinner. We shall see. Each day everyone seems much better.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

TEN Years Old Today!

In our family, the age of 10 is a turning point. Yes, Nolan is still possibly a child...but we've learned the time between 10 and 18 moves very fast. If Nolan holds true to form, and I see no reason to expect differently, he'll be a full-fledged young man within 2 - 3 years. How we have loved the years of 12 - 18 with each of our children. (We love the older years too - but we aren't so thrilled with the leaving home or leaving behind part which seems to happen sometime after 18).

Ten is also the age when a military "child" is old enough to be issued his very own military id.

Nolan has a gentle heart. Many days his quiet comments or giant hug give me the *umpf* to finish my Mommy Day strong.

Nolan is determined! Nolan has had to battle with a speech impediment. Oh, the pain it caused my heart to watch other children tease him. While it hurt, Nolan never let others' trouble understanding him stop him from talking. He's worked HARD the past 6 years to master his speech problem. He has exhibited an amazing attitude through it all. I've watched Nolan win over the hearts of 3 speech therapists. ::wink:: He's quite a lovable gentlemen already.

Nolan is stepping up to the plate. We've discussed how we expect him to be moving from childhood to being a responsible young man. That's our challenge to him....to be loyal, brave and true...to take the initiative to help out, to begin taking more of a leadership role with the youngers, be more aware of being a protector of the younger girls' hearts and reputations (because the older boys are leaving home)....He's rising to the challenge. We've made some comparisons this year in school to being a child, a page, a squire and finally a knight. I expect to see Nolan moving steadily from Page to Squire in the upcoming year.

Nolan, it's a joy to be your Mom.

And...because I'm feeling nostalgic (knowing that Josiah is 20 tomorrow and was 10 just yesterday)...and I post current photos of Nolan quite often....here are some of my favorites from past years.

4 years old - Iditarod Headquarters, Wasilla, Alaska


I've always melted when looking into these eyes!


2004 - 5 years old


2004 - Nolan (5) and Zander (2)

Happy birthday, son. We'll have a big family celebration when you (and your siblings) are well.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Psst...the airplanes are to honor Nolan's Christmas/Birthday gift (radio plane) and Josiah's sky diving....his birthday is next.

Birthdays Galore

2003 - Zander 1, Nolan 4, Jared 9, Jamin 12, Josiah 14....My how the years rush by....

We have 5 boys (and 4 girls). All 5 boys have birthdays between 4 Jan and 20 Feb.

You will have to watch closely to catch all the birthday headers and tributes this week. Friends know that I'm usually fairly frazzled by the end of Feb....but this year I'm doing fine. I'm ahead in Bible Study. We're enjoying life....even with being sick.

We've done various things for birthdays - celebrated each day, celebrated one BIG day, split youngers and olders...this year we were going to celebrate Nolan and Josiah's tomorrow - it may be their last time to share their birthday - but with so many ill we are tentatively planning next weekend.

Preview of our next couple of weeks:

8 Feb - Nolan's birthday

9 Feb - Josiah's birthday

10 Feb - Mom's birthday

11 Feb - Zander's birthday

14 Feb - 25th Wedding Anniversary

20 Feb - Jamin's birthday

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

New Prayer

{I'm documenting Mommy Moments, which is after all the purpose of this blog.}

Years ago the children began saying, "God bless the cook" at the end of each mealtime prayer. I love it. I can never receive too many blessings, let me tell you.

Stacia has been vying for her turn to pray for quite some time. She has been coming up with the standard, "Thank you for this food, God bless the cook."

This last week her prayer changed. We've heard this about 4x now...and none of us have laughed...though we have smiled big at each other when we raise our heads:

"God, thank you for giving Mommy a little girl - me - that is such an angel. God bless the cook." ::snort:: Josiah was over last night and when we began eating, he looked at me and said, "Did she say what I think she said?" ::snort::

I DO tell her that she is my special gift from God. That God knew I needed one more little girl and gave her to our family. I didn't expect it to become a mealtime prayer.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

"Mmmmmmm.....that tastes good!"

Stacia has to be one of the sweetest patients I've ever met. She consistently tells me thank you when I take her temp or give her meds.

She STRUGGLES with the meds. Each and every time she has told me she feels all better when she sees me coming.....but as soon as she is finished...she throws her arms around me and says, "Mmmmm....that tastes good. Thank you, Mommy."

It does make me wonder how much stock I should be in her compliments of my cooking abilities.
Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.