Mom use to say

Whoever said that raising girls is easier than raising boys probably hasn't had kids of their own yet.  Kids are kids and no matter what gender they are - there will always be challenges.  Don't get me wrong, my kids are awesome.  But everyday I hear my mom's words come out of my mouth.  Every so often I would jokingly tell my kids, "I don't really miss grandma because I hear her almost everyday."  I hear her every time I'm barking out orders, stopping a fight, rushing the kids out the door for school, scolding over sloppy homework or messy rooms. I use to think my mom did not make any sense.  Now I get it.

My mom use to say, "take a nap because I want to rest and I can't sleep if you are awake."  I use to wonder why she couldn't sleep if I was up and about.  But now I know because it never fails.  The moment I lay down to take my little break, one of the kids would stroll right into the room and complain about what the other sibling has down to her.  Or I would hear the two older ones arguing about something.  Or the youngest would be nowhere in sight and all of a sudden a crash would signal where her location actually is.  So yes, the kids need to be napping (and right next to me so that I can make sure they are down) so that I can nap.

My mom use to say, "you need to fold your clothes again and this time do it right."  I didn't get this either.  But now I know.  After the kids fold the clothes (this is when I busy myself to something else), they put away their stash.  Sounds like the deal is done.... until the next day when they are changing.  They pull the third shirt from the top, and suddenly all the improperly folded clothes give way.  Do the kids stack them back neatly.... noooooo.... they leave it as it is.  So the once neatly put away clothes are now in shambles.  So yes, I too tell the kids to fold the clothes again and this time do it right.

My mom use to make sure we were all around the table during dinner and studies have now shown that a family who dines together tend to raise successful kids.  My mom use to make sure we prayed before going to bed and now this habit is still with me.  My mom use pray over me and my sisters before we went off to school - while she combed our hair we could hear her praying under her breath for our safety and for our academic well being.  She always dreamed of being a lawyer but only had a third grade education - so it was never going to be.

My mom use to say, "you are lucky you have a mom."  She said this because she grew up without one.  Her mom died when she was only six and grew up with a step mother who told her she needed to stay home from school and help out with the house work.  At the time I thought - you call this lucky?  She always seemed to have a never ending list of chores and it felt like it was her goal in life to make life miserable - she was not at all like the Beaver's mom.  But now I know.  I was lucky to have a mom.  She taught me the importance of selflessness and hard work; the importance of striving towards a goal; and the concepts of taking care of my husband and my kids.  So yes, I too tell my kids, "you're lucky to have a mom.... cuz I sure miss mine."

MY VALENTINES STORY

Valentines is just a few days away.  I got my first kiss from my husband on Valentines Day, 1998.  I never get tired of telling our story and my kids never get tired of hearing it.

I met Fred for the first time in 1993.  We had the same set of friends from church but we never met prior to this.  The reason is that I became a Christian in 1984 attended a northern branch of the church (Yigo Assembly of God Church).  A year later, some of the kids at the central branch of the church (Teen Challenge - now known as Saint Paul Assembly of God Church) befriended me and invited me to start attending the youth group with them.  It wasn't until early 1986 that we moved to the central location to join the youth group there.  By this time, Fred had already left for Hawaii to attend college.

We were like two ships sailing in the night;  I left for college in 1987 and he came home to visit family.  The following year, we were both on island but Fred was only on island for a few days before he had to return back to Hawaii for a family emergency.  I graduated from Biola University in 1991.  I loved southern California and decided not to return home.  However, God had something else in mind for me, and I eventually made my way back to Guam in 1992.  This was the year Fred graduated from Willamette University's Law School - he slowly made his way back to Guam - real slow - he didn't get here until about six months later.

We met for the first time at a bible study that was made up by friends we both knew since youth group.  I knew his mom and his sister - but this was the first time I had ever heard of or seen Fred.  Yes, if you are keeping track of my time line - I met Fred for the first time in 1993.  We became good friends and I started to admire his strengths, his character, his desire to serve God, and his great smile.  So with the great advice of one of our oldest and dearest friend, Paul, I asked Fred out for the first time in 1995... and Fred said no - "I just want to remain friends and don't want to confuse our relationship."  For some strange reason, this understanding drew us closer - encouraging each other to seek God first in our career decisions.  So I thought perhaps he was now seeing me in a different light and in 1996 I asked him if he'd like to be more than just friends.  I was almost certain he felt the same way, but the words that came out of his mouth was not what I wanted to hear and once again he said no.  That should have been enough for me to walk away from the friendship right - after all he rejected my offer twice already.  But we were friends and I valued that more than anything - the relationship was built on the common ground that God was the Lord of our lives and that we wanted to serve him - it was built on friendship.  So I stuck around.  And again - we became even closer - sharing the need to join a prayer team to pray for the leaders of our church, the leaders of our island, and our unsaved family members.  And in 1997, I asked him for the third time... he said no.

-like fireworks in my head -

He left for Hawaii in the fall of 1997 and then flew off to Washington DC for work - so he was away for almost six weeks. This gave me time to work on separating myself emotionally from him.  But when he returned, I again sensed we were even closer.  Valentines was coming up and I wanted to spend it with him - so I asked him if he could go with me to chaperon a high school dance - no threat of romantic understanding - safe - so he said yes.  But the night before this, we caught a movie.  This is nothing new - we always catch a movie - but this time his hand rested on mine and it stayed there the entire show - it was the worse movie I have ever watched but who cared - he was holding my hand.  The movie ended late - we didn't care - we didn't want to go home.  It was just a little after midnight when he finally sealed the evening with a kiss - it was like fireworks in my head. - Our first date was the George Washington High School Valentine's Ball (we were chaperons).  My first flowers were bought at a grocery store because by this time he had already stopped at two different floral shops unsuccessfully - the sympathetic florists tried to help him - but I'm certain that the tears that rolled down their faces were from laughing so hard. But for me - it was all perfect.  Who cared where it happened and what he gave - he finally said yes.  We got married a year later.  Now we have three beautiful girls.  Can't complain.

Jacqueline's Testimony before the Guam Legislature

Date: February 8, 2011

 Dear Madam Speaker and Senators of the 31st Guam Legislature:

My name is Jacqueline Nishihira, and I am a fifth grader at Saint Paul Christian School.  I know Mr. Paul Pineda in several different ways.  I know him as an administrator at SPCS.  I’ve also known him as the senior the pastor of our church, as one of my parents’ closest friend, and as my uncle.  Regardless of what hat he wears when I am with him, he always instills the importance of studying hard, of working hard, of helping others, and having fun.  He not only tells us to do these things, I’ve seen him live by it.

He enjoys working with kids.  Whenever I am around his office, he always takes the time to say hello.  I know how busy he is so I think it’s really cool that he does that.  I think it makes kids feel important – makes us feel like he really cares if we do well or not.  He’s funny too – once he said he was the Last Air-bender and made the vents of the air-conditioner move side to side to prove it.  Well, I believe he can do a lot of good things for the youth of Guam – even though he really isn’t the Last Air-bender.

I think he is wise and he makes a good leader.  I think he would be good for the School Board because he knows a lot about education and he knows a lot about kids.  He would make a great School Board member.

Sincerely,

Jacqueline Nishihira

5^th Grader at SPCS

Yet Will I Praise HIm

January 19, 2011

A few months ago, my daughter's pediatrician was concerned that Sydney might have Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.  I have read there are only a handful of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis specialist in the United States soI felt blessed that there was one not too far from Guam.  So we went on a journey to discuss with knowledgeable doctors on what to do to help my daughter.  I felt like everything was going to be okay.  But after the appointment, I left with only one answer, my daughter did not have JRA.  But I did not have the answers to why she ached all the time.  Why did she have bouts with prolonged fatigue.  Why did the typical scarpes and scratches that a nine year old would get tend to take forever to heal.  I left the appointment discouraged, disheartened, confused - dare I say - a little depressed.

I emailed all my friends who had been praying for her - "She doesn't have JRA!!!!" And they all sent in their "Praise the Lord, God is good, Hallelujah." And I hang on to this truth - that God is good.  He has my daughter in His hands.  He is her healer.  He is her strength - and mine too.  I lean on the fact that when I can't find the strength to look up - He is the lifter of my head.  Which why it seemed so timely (God's time always is) that I received my weekly devotional from Dr. Tony Evans reminding me that God knows exactly what we face, what we are going to face, and He will be there every step of the way.

So, regardless of what we will face - whether my daughter's illness will bring more questions or will be met with healing -"Yet will I praise Him. I will joy in the God of my salvation.  The Lord is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet and He will make me walk in the heights."  Habakkuk 3:18-19

I don't have answers but I do know that I can still say Hallelujah and Amen because He is my deliverer, my healer, my Lord.

Trials of Parenthood

Parenting is such a paradox.  It is the best and yet trying thing that can ever happen to you.  I would love to take a break away from my kids but what is a break if my kids aren't there to enjoy it with me.  Mind boggling isn't it.   My kids have become my life and yet I often search for an identity apart from them.  It's been so long since I've been me and not Jacqueline, Sydney, and Jamie's mom.... just me.  But that title has been one that I don't think I can live without.  It should be the most honorable title but it is often over looked, taken for granted, etc.....