Sunday, February 08, 2009

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
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Top of a mountain looking over Anchorage - what a climb! Josiah 14/ Zander 1 1/2
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Hope, Alaska - 2004
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Seward, AK - 2004
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::snort:: Elmendorf AFB Chapel
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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
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2007 - Showing Zander a good time
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May 2007 - We flew the girls in to surprise Josiah the night before his graduation.
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Follow your dreams, Josiah. You make me so proud to be your Mom.
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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.