* Balanced nutrition and variety * Feeds a family of four for about one week for only $30 * Nutritionally balanced, fully cooked meals for seniors or people on the go.
Angel Food Ministries is an opportunity to save a significant amount of money on groceries, and is not dependent upon need or income; in fact, every box you order results in donations back to other Lighthouse Ministry.
The New Menu is now available. Check out www.angelfoodministries.com for ordering information, or just click on the Angel Food Ministry button on the Church’s web site, www.lightcc.org
Now go give it a try!
Lighthouse Christian Church 4700 Masa Drive Oceanside, Ca, 92057
I just got this emial from my doctor about my surgery. He said,
"I just found out today that Naomi's surgery has been scheduled for Jan.28th not the 7th like I was told. I had not received a packet on her surgery yet, so I called. Good thing I did they had not even scheduled a pre-op appointment. but now we have a pre-op appointment on the Jan. 20th."
Wow talk abt complications. Oh well, I get more time to hang with friends now :)
This is a story that has just happened with me, that I want to share with you in hopes that you will share it with others. My only wish is for this inspiring message to be told.
It started with a good friend of mine helping me write a blog all about my history with my tumors. We worked all summer on this blog and it is a good blog, but I never thought of it again as I got swept up in school work. Then last Saturday, the 13th, was my mom’s work Christmas party. My mom and I were both at the end of our funds for Christmas and of course stressing about having money for everything. The party did this give away thing where we randomly picked a white envelop, and inside only 30 envelops were a 100$ bill. When the time came to open them, me and mom BOTH got envelops with the money in it. Our prays were answered for Christmas. The next day, Sunday the 14th, I was at church where we heard the message about Mary. Then I heard about the financial decrease My church had and I was shocked and saddened, so I reached in my wallet and noticed I had 25$ with me. I kept thinking that it was too much and I needed the money for Christmas, but then I prayed “Lord you know me and my needs, so here is my thanks for giving me that money in the first place. Please continue to bless me”. I put the money in the basket but I kept thinking “what have I done?! I just gave away 25 dollars?!” Thankfully though, I blindly trusted God in that moment and went on with my day. Monday evening, the 14th, I met my Grandparents for dinner like I have done a few times in the past. Once we sat down to eat they handed me my Christmas card. Now almost always they give me a check for Christmas and every time I never look at it with them there. However they said for me to open the card and I was like “really?” but I opened it. I was shocked. I said “are you sure, is this for real?” and they said yes, enjoying the moment. My mom then looked at it and nearly fainted going “what is this for?!” Finally my Grandma told us the story of were that money came from. This is what she said:
“We read your blog online and decided to try and get some money for you to help with the surgery. So we sent your blog to our lawyer in France and he loved your blog so much, was inspired by it so greatly, that he went in search of a way to get you funding.”
He came though all right, for not only did I get a large sum but my brother and sister did as well. My grandparents told the story and gave the checks to them personally, and I was told my sister cried when she got her check for $2,000. On that Sunday I had asked God to bless ME but of course he did more than just that, he touched my family as well, and for that I am so much more the grateful.
I am blown away now at the series of events that unfolded before me. I have no doubt now that God’s hands are upon me, protecting me. Not long ago I feared, mostly, the unknown after effects of my surgery, but now I no longer worry, for I know he will light me a path thorough that darkness of unknowns. Even now I am still caught up in it all, my mind just reeling. At just the slightest thought I begin to tear and I can’t stop saying “thank you God”. I find this story very encouraging and I hope you will pass it onto others so that they may start to trust God more and worry less.
I was tring to find a song that best matched my mood, however I kept finding love songs. So here is finaly the one song I could think of that best matched me :D
Here is some basic information for those of you that don't know my medical condition.
I have Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF-2). I was diagnosed with this rare, non-malignant, tumor disease at the early age of 4 years old. This disease is progressive and because of that I was monitored by doctors all of my life. Most of the procedures became routine, even for a young child growing up. Doctor visits and testing always seemed normal.
I love to read. I also enjoy writing, creating, and designing short movies and videos. I also love going to school. I know that sounds a little bit odd, but I do. When I was 16 years old, and a Jr. in High School, I wasn't popular but I had a few good frinds. I was a straight ‘A’ student, friends with most of my teachers, and always considered a teachers pet. I was planing my futor even then and enrolled in Maric College to learn how to become a massage therapist.
Near the end of my Jr. year I began to experience “black outs”. My mother was told by the doctors that my tumors were growing and surgery pluse radio wave treatment was my only answer to helping me with my symptoms.
I was told worse case situations and was scared to death of the possuble outcomes of this surgery. I knew I would wake up deaf at least. I never liked doctors, then or now, they never really know what to do since this is such a rare situation.
When I woke up from surgery the first thing I said to my mom was, "mommy, I'm deaf", she nearly fainted. My right ear was totaly deaf and I lost some of my hearing in my left ear due to the radio wave treatment. This treatment was conducted to help stop the tumor from growing.
As if that hardship and trama was not enough to make my 12th year in high school difficult, I had back surgery and eye surgery on both eyes. My doctors said they needed to remove tumors on my spine and keep my eyes from swelling (an effect caused by the brain surgery). After the sugery I also lost the movement of the right side of my face, I hated my self for so long after that, thought of my self as deformed. I can talk perfect still except some letters I cant say right.
All of this happened around the holidays; my birthday, holloween, thanksgiving, and christmas. It was the hardest year of my life and I missed a lot of school, which really stressed and depressed me because I believed stongly in attendance. Many people recated devistated and I hated getting their simpaty. I lost mostly all of my friends that year. They were fine around me but they would talk and joke and laugh among them selfs and would exclude me without meaning to because I couldn’t understand them. I felt so alone. Ironically, and luckly, I had taken up American Sign Language (ASL) before I even knew this was going to happen to me. Talk about premonitions.
I seemed to pick it up easily. Maybe that’s because I knew deep down inside this was the only way I was going to be able to communicate with people. I had many conversations with my ASL teacher and I began to make new friends. I had to drop out of Maric College because I needed to concentrate on my sign language.
The doctors have still been monitoring me, and MRI's are still a regular. I had eye sugery again only a few months ago (yr 08) because they where sweling up again, I don't know why. Unfortunately, I found out that the tumor on my left side, the one I had radio treatment on, is starting to grow now. Sometimes I get headaches from the pressure of the tumor pushing on my brain nerves; however, I am highly energetic and highly motivated. I love being in school and my new passion is ASL. My goal is to become an ASL teacher. I have learned to appreciate being deaf. I do not want to look at myself as handicapped. I may have had challenges but I am a fighter. I believe in overcoming challenges.
Currently, I am in school trying to finish up with my general education. I have already completed all of my ASL classes and ultimately want to get my teaching credentials. I have come out of my shell and am learning to socialize all over again, just in a different way.
I trust in God and know He is with me. I even volunteer at my church through severly orgenizations and working with kids. I have learned to become proud of who I am and I don’t feel sorry for myself.
Recently, I was told that my left tumor is growing. I have to have to surgery again, and it will take away what little bit of hearing I have left. I am able to hear sounds, but I can’t make them out words. This is fine, Its the other things, the unknown things, that scare me.
I need to stay away from self-pity and remove myself from negative thinking. I want to encourage other people and show them how to overcome all things. I think it is because of my faith in God and support of my family that I am able to feel this way. I also remind myself to take one day at a time and know that God is always with me. He will never forsake me.
I love to write stories. I have only a few that are finished, but many that are near finished or just started. I write all kinds of stories, all though I prefure to write childrens stories. Some of my favorit stories that I have completed are: "Man on the Moon" and "The Friendly Dragon". I hope to one day publish something that I have writen. If ever that happened I would have so many people to thank that I wouldn't know where to start.
Besides writing stories, I also love to write poems. These are my most favorit poems I have writen, but I have many more.
Death Doth Called to You If there is joy I’ve never seen it, If there is love I’ve never felt it… until you. But what can I do, Death doth called to you.
Your face was my shining star in the darkness of my days. Without you I roam about in nothing but a haze. Your love is all I ever knew. I never wanted someone other then you.
And now your gone but the misery is still here, And at night the memories of when you held me bring a heartbreaking tear. I grieve for your sweet smile… your soft lips, Oh I’d do anything to give you one last kiss.
If there is joy I’ve never seen it, If there is love I’ve never felt it… until you. But what can I do, Death doth called to you.
Love’s Chasted Kiss Tarring of the heat destroying of the sole, nothing can be worse then what I’ve just been told.
Raging in anger crying in despair, I’m, nothing to you so why do I still care?
Heart reaching, eyes searching, sole weeping, for thee as I wonder how you have a such hold on me.
Will there ever be an end to this aching love? Will you ever again cherish my hug?
Days, weeks, months go by, but still when I think of you, I begin to cry.
My hearts love for you is still abyss for nothing is more treacherous then Love’s chasted kiss.
Empty Hearts
My heart is braking with each passing day. When I’m away for you I can feel the pain. The pain of lonely hearts, and empty soles, of far away glances and sickening colds. Make this pain decease and giveth my heart its longing peace. Or I shalt truly die in the place of my empty hearts divine.
Slow Down
Slow down and notice the green in a leaf, the feel of the sun on your face, and start to feel relief as you began to slow your pace.
The wind in your hair the blue sky above the joy to just not care this is what I love.
Come away with me now sit on the corner there I'll teach you how life can become fair.
It's not a secret It's all around you never noticed, I bet but all you have to do is just Slow Down
Father, Lord, God
Oh gentle father that I adore Pour your loving grace onto me, And may I be at peace forevermore As I humbly bow down on my knee.
Lord, whose mercy rains all Who gives me strengthen when I am weak Who is with me even when I stumble and fall, You are the love that I seek.
Oh, loving God of mine You are there when I pray, You make my life shine, And I trust you even on my darkest day.
Father, Lord, my God I pray down on my knee That you will clear my heart of this doubting fog, For I… will… always… worship thee.
My Child
From the depths of thy’s fevered mind, do I not hold you to a bind? Come forth to me, my child, it is your time. Say good-bye to the life that was, and come join the life that does. Joy, singing, and love could there be anything more, my child, then joining me up above? Come I will lead thee through and more, come I will not leave thee at the door. This is it, now you are here. Do not, my child, tear, for thy’s life you have left, you have a new one now, my dear, nothing but the best.
Photoshop is the name of a program used to change your photos. It can be symple, like croping and resizing, or complecx like transparent, and overlaping. Here are a few exsamples of my creations.
"In the Shadows of darkness I shall fear no evil, For God’s light will direct me to salvation."
These are movies that I filmed, edited, and crated on my computer. One of my favorit things to do is make movies, now I can share some of my skills with you :)
Now, 2 movies I made that show a lot of my family. One is a slideshow of pictures from christmass, but the other is live video. Warning: the christmass video is long.
When I was younger, I did not like to read. I remember when I was in seventh grade, Goosebumps was the only type of reading that seemed to perk my interest. Goosebumps is a children's scarie story series. My English teacher would not allow me to write book reports on those kind of books, which forced me to read uninteresting books.
One day I spent my entire lunch period looking for a book on the data base that I needed for my English class. I found a book that intrigued me because it looked like a good scary book to read. I located the book on a metal rack. Great, I realized the book wasn't what I thought it was. What a waste of time. I got so mad I threw the book back on the shelf, which caused another book to fall and it landed right in front of my feet. I moaned out of frustration. I picked the book up, but before I put it back, I noticed the cover. It looked interesting, but I really didn't have the time to see if it was. My time was up, the school bell rang, I had to get to class. So I decided, why not, and checked out the book.
Later, I read the book and loved it. I was hooked. It was the first in a series and when that series was over, it made me want to read all the books by that author. The book was called, "The Face On the Milk Carton" by Carolin B. Cooney. I tell everyone this story on how I didn't choose that book, but the book chose me. Now, since that one book, I have been unable to stop reading. That one book changed my life.
Now the list below is a list of all the books I read last year (2007). I have been listing each book I read for 3 years, this (2008) being my 3rd year. I love to talk about books so if u see a book you read too on my list then dont be afriad to leave a comment, to talk to me about that book. :)
Read Books of 2007 January 1st ~ December 30th
37 books 12,653 pages
1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone 309 p. ~ J.K. Rowling *** 2. Harry Potter and the Camber of Secrets 341 p. ~ J.K. Rowling *** 3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 435 p. ~ J.K. Rowling *** 4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 450p. ~ J.K. Rowling ***** 5. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 870p.~ J.K. Rowling ***
6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 652~ J.K. Rowling ***** 7. Danse Macabre 483 p. ~ Laurell K. Hamilton ***** 8. #2 Saints 353p. ~ Ted Dekker ***** 9. The Last Sin Eater 324p. ~ Francine Rivers ***** 10. #1 Odd Thomas 399 p. ~ Dean Koontz **** 11. #2 Forever Odd ~ 334 p. Dean Koontz *** 12. #3 Brother Odd 364p ~ Dean Koontz 13. #1 Blessed Child 348 p. ~ Ted Dekker ***** 14. #2 A Man Called Blessed 368p. ~ Ted Dekker ***** 15. Thr3e 404 p. ~ Ted Dekker **** 16. #1 Showdown 366 p. ~ Dekker, Ted *** 17. Watchers 483 p. ~ Dean Koontz ***** 18. Night Chills 367 p. ~ Dean Koontz ** 19. The Harlequin 422 p. ~ Laurell K. Hamilton *****
20. #1 Only you, Sierra 163 p. ~ Robin J. Gunn *** 21. #2 In Your Dreams 140 p. ~ Robin J. Gunn *** 22. #3 Don’t You Wish 139 p. ~ Robin J. Gunn **** 23. #4 Open Your Eyes 139 p. ~ Robin J. Gunn **** 24. #5 Without a Doubt 146 p. ~ Robin J. Gunn **** 24. #6 With This Ring 149p. ~ Robin J. Gunn **** 25. #7 Open Your Heart 156 p. ~ Robin J. Gunn **** 26. #8 Time Will Tell 149 p. ~ Robin J. Gunn **** 27. #9 Now Picture This 167 p. ~ Robin J. Gunn **** 28. #10 Hang on Tight 153 p. ~ Robin J. Gunn **** 29. #11 Closer Then Ever 152 p. ~ Robin J. Gunn **** 30. #12 Take My Hand 138 p. ~ Robin J. Gunn ****
31. Prophet 416 p. ~ Frank Peretti ***** 32. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 759p. ~ J.K. Rowling ***** 33. Girl in the Shadows 390p. ~ V.C Andrews **** 34. Strange Candy 257 p. ~ Laurell K. Hamilton ***** 35. The Choice 272p. ~ Nicholas Sparks ***** 36. Devil’s Corner 387p. ~ Lisa Scottoline ***** 37. Forbidden 309p. ~ Caroline B. Cooney ****
I am almost 22 years old. I go to Palomar College and will soon be transferring to Northridge University to become an American Sign Language teacher. Currently I attend Lighhouse Christian Church. I am passionately involved in the children’s ministry program. I love helping people and working with kids.
My Dad and Stepmom
My Grandparents (dad's side)
My sweet baby half sister
My Sister & Mom 
Me & my Uncle, Phillip
