as i begin year 66 here on earth...

I find myself thinking back on this blessed and full life that God has given me. It is to Him that I give back all praise and glory for everything that He has done! None of it is of my own making -- He alone deserves all the glory!!

He gave me the privilege of having godly parents in Drs Gadiel and the late Marge Alcala Isidro. As the eldest of their 3 children (4 if you count the brother who was miscarried), i'm sure i was the guinea pig but also the start of their great adventure in parenthood. although my siblings and i are far from each other (in more ways than one), i'm grateful for them and the lessons i learned from them about being part of a team (especially since we sang and played our instruments together -- trumpet for Rey, clarinet for Bev, and saxophone for me -- when our Dad would preach in different churches in the Midwest when we lived in Deerfield, IL from 1965 to 1970) and learning to love each other despite our differences.

i'd like to give a shout out to my cousins on my Dad's side--Liza and Vera Pepito-- who remain my favorites to this day and those on my Mom's side who i spent time with when i was younger--Kuya Boy, the late Warren, Jocelyn, Jackeline, and Wilbert Wee. and to the Alcala cousins i've connected with in recent years, either in person or through FB--the Montiels, the Castandiellos, the Ricaforts, the many Alcalas in Mindanao. i hope to someday meet them all in person but, if not, we will meet for sure in that land where no one says goodbye :-) 

i thought my childhood was pretty magical. i'm sure there were hard times, especially since we were very poor, but they don't overwhelm my memory bank :-) i don't remember my childhood friends when we lived in Cebu (ages 0-5) but i've heard stories about my siblings and i playing with MKs (missionary kids) and speaking English even at a young age (at my Mom's insistence). i do remember my childhood friends when we moved to FEBIAS (ages 5-10 and 15 to 19)--Fely and Jean Majo, Frances Siodora, the Gusto kids, and the MKs whose parents were with the mission organization formerly known as FEGC, like Sue Bedell, the late Larry Haglund... Then there were my friends from Caloocan Bible Church where my Dad was pastor for several years--Jem Apelar and his sister Faith who is now with the Lord, the Guingons, Jessica Fernandez, the Nieuwsmas, the Chatas, Butch Soriano, the Ronquillo sisters. There are my close friends from in and around the two compounds of FEBIAS and FEBC--Em Perez, Ali Aguarino, Robyn Reynolds, Lynette Tackett, Abe Navarette, Janet Gay... A significant part of my teen years was spent at Faith Academy where many of the friendships formed during those 4 years are still very dear to me -- Angela Simpson, Joel Eyestone, Leah Eaton, Becky Costerisan, Bill Ebert, the late John Carvey, just to name a few! 4 years at Trinity College (now International University) brought additional special people into my life -- Ruth Geisler, Alex Shu, Debbie Christensen, Steve Pruett, David Murphy, Greg Tasker, Bob Depuy, Sheryll Barker, Linda Thompson, Sharon Rose James.

special mention must be made of my 2nd family -- the Lacanilaos, especially Ester, my mother-in-law, my brothers-in-law, Kuya Sam, Norman, Bhe, their spouses -- Ate Myrna, Malou, and Cindy -- and my nieces -- Kaye (husand Tom), Trisha, Esther Ruth -- and nephews -- Nate (wife Angela), Steve (wife Jeng), Paulo, Jonathan, and Miko. they bring me much joy and i thank God for giving them to me through my wonderful husband Dan!! 

looking back on 66 years makes me realize just how RICH and FULL my life has been so far. obviously, life hasn't been the proverbial bed of roses -- my own family of 3 kids, their spouses, and 9 grandkids has been through some traumatic episodes -- but, i thank God for His love and mercy, for keeping us safe from harm and danger, for providing for all our needs, for helping us stay close to Him. God TRULY has been very good to me and to my family. That's why, as long as I have breath and my body holds up, I will follow Him wherever He leads. Right now, He has led us to a ministry in Palawan with TEMI (Telos Euarestos Ministries, Inc). With His help, we are praying that we can complete the task that He has given us there in Brooke's Point with TEMI Bible School and that He will provide for someone to take over when we're no longer able to travel back and forth from the States.

I don't know how many more years God will give me on this earth, but while I'm alive and kicking, i want to always live in a way that glorifies and points people to Him. i know i fail often at this, but He is merciful and loving and continues to give me "second" chances. That is just too awesome to comprehend or understand! But, I've found that living for Him and following Him is the only way to live one's life here on earth... And when it's time for me to go home, I want to go singing, "Jesus led me all the way. Led me step by step each day. I will tell the saints and angels as i lay my burden down, Jesus led me all the way."

it's best to accept this reality as soon as you possibly can...

 

i couldn't resist...

 cuz this is priceless!!!!

yes!!!

 

6 days before my 66th...

 

how are you doing?

decided to post this here also so i would have a record of my thoughts regarding my Mom's final days...

February 25, 2010 at 10:03 PM

it's been almost 2 months since my mom was promoted to glory. friends are always asking me how i'm doing and sometimes i find it hard to answer. a few days ago, a friend from college asked me in an email how i was doing. after waiting a couple days to respond, i sent her the following reply: "i'm actually doing OK -- thanks for asking. there are moments when i think about my mom that make me cry, but it's not an overwhelming grief. just a sadness that she could still be here, if only... but, i know that God's ways are beyond our comprehension and maybe if my mom had lived a little longer, she might not have gone as peacefully as she did. even in a coma, her testimony still shone through as many people told us that they had never seen a person in a coma with such a serene expression on her face. i miss the intangibles -- how she was just in the apartment below us, how she performed her duties and responsibilities in the seminary and the church with such excellence, her laughter, how she loved plants & animals... those are what make me tear up... but, other than that, i'm really doing OK. it helps to be super-busy! i really thank God for being made to plunge into taking her place as soon as the burial was over... but, if i'd had my druthers..."

when i think back on that first text message from ptr manny llamera that said my mom was back in emergency, i really didn't realize just how dire her situation was. during her hospitalization in 2008, she also was in a coma for several hours but the medical staff were able to bring her back. i think that i believed back in december that they would, once again, bring her back to us. even after i saw her in the hospital, hooked up to all the machines that were keeping her alive, it still didn't really register. it was only after i spoke with the neurologist and after the brain scan results came back that it finally hit me that my mom's condition was irreversible. but, there was always a part of me that prayed for a miracle. i believe that God can STILL perform miracles today, if He so chooses. up until she took her last breath, there was still a part of me that thought she would open her eyes, look at us and say, "why am i here again?"

my mom's cardiologist asked me if everyone had said their goodbyes. she encouraged us to tell everyone in the family to call and talk to my mom, to tell her that we loved her and that we would be OK even after she was gone. all my kids called almost immediately, even though i know it was hard for them since they were half way around the world from her. i contacted my mom's sisters who called and told her to get well and that they were praying for her. they had no idea that she had very little brain activity and only the machines were keeping her alive. but, they meant well and i really appreciated their willingness to show their love to their eldest sister. even after everyone who wanted and needed to say goodbye to her had called, still she hung on. it was really like she was waiting for someone else. i thought it was my nephew kyle. later on, i found out that he was having difficulty getting through, but i know that my mom would have understood and she probably knew he was making the effort to reach her one more time.

when the end finally came, it was still so unexpected. although the doctors told us that that day might be her last, we were still hopeful because her heart rate was strong although her blood pressure was lower than they would have liked. a younger sister whom i have never met FINALLY got through to the hospital. i held the phone to my mom's ear and after a minute or two, asked my aunt if she was finished talking. she said yes and i thanked her for calling and hung up the phone. later on, i found that this aunt and my mom had not seen each other for more than 50 years!!

however, during the call, unbeknownst to me, because i had my back to her heart monitor, my mom's heart rate suddenly dropped down to 40-something. this caused the midwife, who had just that day started taking care of my mom, to take a sharp breath. after the call ended, she checked my mom's chest and it was very still. and just like that, my mom was taken by angels to her heavenly home and welcomed personally inside those pearly gates by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. honestly, it didn't really register with me that she was already gone. she just went so peacefully! throughout her 19 days in the hospital, she never once lost the look of peace and serenity on her face. everyone who visited her, especially her doctors, commented that they have never seen anyone in her condition look so peaceful! remembering that look has brought me much comfort because i know that it was all of God that she was peaceful. she was ready to go. she had been ready in 2008 when she had her last asthma attack. however, God gave her one more year and then, in 2010, He said, "Marge, it's really time for you to come home."

God's timing and His ways are REALLY BEYOND all comprehension. i won't lie -- i would give anything to have her still here with us! i really thought she would be around for her 90th birthday -- we always thought she was such a strong woman!! there are so many things i wish i had done that might have helped keep her with us a little longer. but, i have to rest in the fact that GOD had my mom's days numbered from the very beginning of her life and He knew that she would be in heaven 27 days before her 80th birthday.

oh, i know i'll have many more moments of sadness and many tears will be shed because it's so hard to lose your mother. but i KNOW i will see her again someday and that keeps me grounded, keeps me moving forward, keeps me focused on the ministry here in cebu that she helped start with my dad. i know she would want me to pick up the baton, continue the work that she did with such efficiency and excellence, and run the race until it's my turn for the Lord to call me home.

my theme for the month of March 2021...

 

this is scary, if it comes to pass...

By Dave Ramsey

HERE'S WHAT NO CASH ACTUALLY MEANS:

A cashless society means no cash. Zero. It doesn’t mean mostly cashless and you can still use a ‘bit of cash here & there’. Cashless means fully digital, fully traceable, fully controlled. I think those who support a cashless society aren’t fully aware of what they are asking for. A cashless society means:

* If you are struggling with your mortgage on a particular month, you can’t do an odd job to get you through.

* Your child can’t go & help the local farmer to earn a bit of summer cash.

* No more cash slipped into the hands of a child as a good luck charm or from their grandparent when going on holidays.

* No more money in birthday cards.

* No more piggy banks for your child to collect pocket money & to learn about the value of earning.

* No more cash for a rainy day fund or for that something special you have been putting $20 a week away for.

* No more charity collections.

* No more selling bits & pieces from your home that you no longer want/need for a bit of cash in return.

* No more cash gifts from relatives or loved ones.

WHAT A CASHLESS SOCIETY DOES GUARANTEE:

* Banks have full control of every single penny you own.

* Every transaction you make is recorded.

* All your movements & actions are traceable.

* Access to your money can be blocked at the click of a button when/if banks need ‘clarification’ from you which will take about 2 weeks, a thousand questions answered & many passwords.

* You will have no choice but to declare & be taxed on every dollar in your possession.

* If your transactions are deemed in any way questionable, by those who create the questions, your money will be frozen, ‘for your own good.'

Forget about cash being dirty. Stop being so easily led. Cash has been around for a very, very, very long time & it gives you control over how you trade with the world. It gives you independence. I heard a story where a man supposedly contracted Covid because of a $20 bill he had handled. There is the same chance of Covid being on a card as being on cash. If you cannot see how utterly ridiculous this assumption is, then there is little hope.

If you are a customer, pay with cash. If you are a shop owner, remove those ridiculous signs that ask people to pay by card. Cash is a legal tender. It is our right to pay with cash. Banks are making it increasingly difficult to lodge cash & that has nothing to do with a virus, nor has this ‘dirty money’ trend.

Please open your eyes. Please stop believing everything you are being told. Almost every single topic in today’s world is tainted with corruption & hidden agendas. Please stop telling me & others like me that we are what’s wrong with the world when you hail the most corrupt members of society as your heroes. Politics & greed is what is wrong with the world; not those who are trying to alert you to the reality in which you are blindly floating along whilst being immobilized by irrational fear. Fear created to keep you doing & believing in exactly what you are complacently doing.

Pay with cash & please say no to a cashless society while you still have the choice.