In conjunction with the launch of the donation site at You Caring: The Olive Press of Surrender: Jenna´s Journey, our friend Suz has graciously offered to lend her talent, enthusiasm & time for her side job as Independent Consultant for Jamberry Nails, with proceeds going to Jenna´s medical needs.
What in the world is JAMBERRY, you ask??!!
Basically they are nail wraps to spruce up your nails with fun & vibrant patterns. They are ecological, easy to put on and take off, make you look fabulous & help you give to worthy causes!
(Guys, we know this isn´t really your thing but think about gifts for those ladies in your life! They will appreciate this unique gift...)
The very special thing is that she designed some especially for Jenna. We are so touched. Shown below, they are done in periwinkle blue, the color for stomach cancer. The ribbons obviously symbolize cancer and the sparrows represent care & hope & healing. The ¨J¨ on the pinky is a small reminder to pray for Jenna. Suz is amazing. :)
HOW TO ORDER: You can order ANY NAIL WRAPS YOU WANT; the proceeds will go to Jenna. When you place your order, you will prompted to respond to which party? Choose Jenna´s Jamberry. To order Jenna´s special design, you need to purchase a Gift Card and then send that No. to Suz. She will be sure that they get to you. If you live outside the US/Canada, let Suz know; you can use a special address.
Or ask to join Suz´s fb page where you can see lots of options: Suz´s Jamberry
Here´s some interesting info about the nail wraps:
And Jenna´s page on fb is: Jenna´s Journey: A Jamberry of Praise. Please ask to join if you haven´t already. You can order the specially designed wraps for Jenna or other designs of your choice - the proceeds will still go to Jenna. Suz has games & free giveaways you won´t want to miss, so join in the fun!
If you have questions, please write me or Suz via the fb site or email and we´ll be sure to get back to you!
And always remember: we are SOOOOO thankful to all of you for all you have done in supporting us this year. We wouldn´t make it without you! So thank you.
Many of you have asked about our financial medical needs since Jenna has had to switch to alternative therapies. You have been SO gracious & generous to be concerned.
Two friends, Kati & Suz, have volunteered their talent & time to set-up a site for us and make any donations possible. Just click on the widget here for ¨Jenna´s Journey¨ and you can go to the site to visit, read about the need, make a donation or leave a message.
This widget for the site is on the right hand side of the Home Page of the blog so you can access it at any time. You can also copy this & share on Facebook if you desire (or there is a share option directly on the donation site).
That question was running through my mind last night, keeping me awake...
Will I still love Him?
Will I still love Him if she dies? Can my faith survive this road of suffering, this private viewing of something so terrible?
I really, really want the answer to be YES.
But I am feeling so fragile, so vulnerable, so unrestrainedly human right now. I feel like I can´t guarantee anything, knowing how inconstant a heart can be.
It´s not that I am a stranger to pain and loss. I have already grieved, to varying degrees and in different seasons of life, the loss of 2 brothers, my Mom and both of my in-laws. But this does not make me an expert or a ¨grief success story¨. God forbid! My heart still aches and each process was - and still is - heart-wrenchingly sorrowful.
But my daughter! The one He formed in my womb! My firstborn! The one who looks so much like me and who captured me completely from the first second I met her! Can I love Him if she is taken?
Last night the silence was deafening - second only to the pounding of my heart.
So much of the time I am consumed in praying for my children - that they can love Him in spite of this painful journey, that they can believe in goodness still. I long for their faith to survive and I dread watching their suffering if she is taken - more than walking through my own.
But last night the questions came to me, haunting me, piercing my heart. I could only pray for tenderness toward Him, for resolve, for steadfastness, for an unbelievable experience of His mercy in all of this so that I will still believe in a God of love.
I also prayed for God´s reputation. For what will happen in the hearts of the ones watching all of this? Will they want to love you if You take her? Will they be able to believe in You if You can heal her but for some reason, don´t? Would I want to follow a God who allows children to die? Will I be able to respond with love & faith to them in my own grief?
I whisper to Him, ¨I so want the answer to be YES.¨
Theologians have been unable to resolve the tension between God´s love & goodness and His sovereignty. Some think it comes down to a choice between the two. To me, it really comes down to a choice of the heart: Will I trust the sovereign God to act lovingly on my behalf even if it doesn´t look like it at the time?
I have a number of dear friends who live in incredibly difficult situations. They have seen war, unbelievable pain, have seen ugliness up close and personal, have seen human devastation and injustice - all the while crying out to God for mercy, for intervention, for some sign of goodness in all of it. Sometimes life is very, very hard. What will we believe about God when all around us are ashes?
I´ve come to believe that if I don´t believe in a God who can bring beauty from ashes, life from death, mercy from cruelty, redemption through terror -He is not worth believing in. The point of a God of Life is that He can deliver it in the worst of circumstances!
I love the poignant words of Peter on behalf of the 12 disciples after many other disciples left Jesus because of some of his hard-to-swallow words and teachings. Jesus asks them, ¨You do not want to leave too, do you?¨ Peter answers, ¨Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.¨ (John 6:67-69)
Jesus captured my heart at 16. He has loved me through thick and thin. He has proved Himself to me many times over. I sincerely & utterly don´t know how to live without Him. Wouldn´t want to live without Him.
Will I still love Him?
Trembling, I breathe out my response: ¨YES, forever and ever.¨
A birthday for Jenna this year was different. One, because for the last few years we have been separated at her birthday and unable to celebrate together. Secondly, because of her health, we had NO idea how she might be feeling on August 19th and what she might feel up to doing. But mostly, because of all we have lived this year and the uncertainty of the future, it was RIGHT to celebrate all together...friends, family and extended lovely community all around the world. The friends who travelled far and wide to be here made it so special. But so did all her local friends & family. I want to remember the specialness of her Garden Party for her 23rd Birthday...
The Ambience...
SPECIAL FRIENDS & professional musicians donated their love & talent to bring live music to our patio. The neighbors were all out listening! GRACIAS, Carlos y Nuria, Nelson y Rocio y Dixon! Os queremos!!
The food was amazing & Bruce braved the intense heat for hours to cook the choripanes and kebabs for everyone. Jordan was the awesome waiter!
It took Bruce a loooong time to cook all these but they were a huge hit - as was our baked potato bar!
Baked potato bar...
Dessert bar...
Saray prepared fruit daiquiris for everyone who wanted one; they were a big hit!
The girls were all decked out:
Special gifts & special moments:
Hannah, Betty and Saray sing ¨Oceans¨ (in English & Spanish) while Vanessa does an interpretive painting... (Saray is on guitar to the left).
Beautiful Vanessa (who lives in Morocco) paints while the others sing this song which has come to mean a lot to Jenna in these months...
Oceans LIVE :)
Presented by: Saray, Hannah and Ana
Artist: Vanessa
Dani prepared a dance for Jenna and involved some of her friends...
We sang HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU in at least 5 languages! :)
We all had a fabulous time and then towards the end, the dancing began...(until Jenna was tired and we wanted to keep peace with our neighbors!)
This may be the largest selfie ever...
So sad to see it all end....but it was so perfect and we were all so happy. ¨Best birthday ever!¨, Jenna said, ¨Thanks to EVERYONE who made it possible!¨
We felt so blessed as a family to have celebrated SO WELL Jenna´s life and her 23 years. THANK YOU all for all your best wishes, love & support at this special time.
We have definitely been celebrating here lately! Between our days of vacation and now an invasion of 5 beautiful, fascinating, encouraging women at our house, LIFE & FRIENDSHIP is front & center and our home is full of fun & great conversations! It would be impossible to describe the emotions of all the LOVE in this home for Jenna and the great sacrifices made by these dear friends to be with her on her birthday. I have just been blown away by their loyalty & tireless affectionate acts...
L to R: Carolina (Italy-Lebanon), Dani, Justine (half Armenian, APU/US), Jenna, Hannah (US, Mauritania), Betty (Mexico-CostaRica, Iraq), Saray (Argentina, Uzbekistan, Indonesia)
Justine had had a plan to come since June but it was a surprise for Jenna. We actually pulled it off and it was so GREAT!! Dani & I went to pick her up at the airport in the morning and then had Justine take in her morning tea. We have her reaction on film - shock, surprise, crying, hugging, laughing - awesome. SO GLAD we pulled it off, Justine!! Justine graduated with a Business degree from APU in May, is a real foodie & everything roses, gets along with anyone and I can´t wait to see what she may entrepreneur!
For Jenna´s birthday, she whipped up a sugarless, chocolate-banana soufflé - divine!
A few days before she actually arrived, two other friends had arrived who together with one other girl make up an endearing TCK foursome that have not seen each other much but when they have it´s just as deep & dear as before. They haven´t all been together since 2009 and I have dreamed all year that they would all be able to reunite & it has come true! Of course, it was all of their dream, too, but it just seemed SO CRAZY that no one ever thought it would really happen! Thanks to 2 of their Dad´s mileage and 2 churches who are helping with one ticket and some of the taxes, they are all here together. Wow.
Reunited in Málaga, 2014
Representing Argentina, Morocco, Spain, Iraq, Mexico, Costa Rica,
Mauritania, US, Uzbekistan & Indonesia between them!
Saray is from Argentina and met Jenna there when they were just young girls. Later Saray & her family went to Uzbekistan where she spent a good part of her growing up years. She also later lived for a year plus as a high school student in Indonesia where her parents are currently working. Bruce & I are very close to her parents and have journeyed with their family all these years. It is precious to see the special bond Saray & Jenna have that goes back so many years. Saray is studying in med school in Buenos Aires and is getting married on Jan 10th!
Betty´s parents are Costa Rican and Mexican and currently live in Mexico while she goes to university just over the border. She grew up in Iraq and her parents still travel all over the region. I´m so glad she still remembers her Kurdish! She has been friends with Hannah (the 3rd muskateer) since she was little. Bruce & I are also close friends with her parents and there are a treasure & inspiration to us. Betty is studying graphic design. She has a perfect gentleman of a boyfriend who Hannah introduced her to but I will leave that to her to tell you about!
Hannah flew in from the US but grew up in Mauritania. She has fluent Arabic and has been able to intern within the region closer to us. She is studying International Studies at Princeton and her twin brother is at Columbia. Her parents currently reside in the US and are involved in Reconciliation work. Her boyfriend, who also grew up speaking Arabic, is in CA in med school in SF. With her keen interest in NGO´s and ability in languages, we can´t wait to see where she ends up!
Jenna has been with these 3 over the years at various conferences and they just clicked. They have tons of memories, lots in common & can talk international issues all day & night. They all love God and as part of this new generation want to make Him known in relevant ways through justice models. It is an immense treat for them to be all together.
Getting ready for Jenna´s birthday bash. :) I´m glad they´re all
¨taken¨ or we may have had our hands full! haha
Carolina is Italian but met Jenna during a year abroad in Beirut last year. She was a great international friend for Jen to have there and they enjoyed many meals, trips to art galleries & historical places in Lebanon. Carolina´s fascinating family is made up of her Dad who with his family owns an Italian clothing factory (she brought us some shirts!) and her Mom is a film critic who travels to Cannes and the rest! Carolina majors in Arabic and minors in International Relations. She´ll be studying Arabic this year in Paris and hopes to finish next year. We´re so thankful for her loyal friendship and although she has only known Jen since last year, she really wanted to come and visit. We are so glad she did; she is un encanto!!
Bella Carolina!
Their tea time at one of Jenna´s favorite teterías here in Málaga.
In Beirut, where they met last year.
When Jenna´s actual birthday came around on the 19th, we had a full house & happy hearts. Her 3 besties from Málaga came over in the morning to do this song & dance for her at breakfast:
L to R: Leila, Cristy, Sonia
Then they watched a DVD which was a compilation of birthday greetings from friends all over the place! I was so touched at all the time & work that had gone into that. Jenna is so blessed with so many great people.
She also was delivered some gorgeous roses from Cristy´s family:
Both Carolina and Hannah arrived during the day and they all went downtown to the old Arab castle in Málaga to walk around before dinner. Here they are:
Saray made an GREAT homemade, Argentine-style lasagne for dinner and along with fresh salad, bread and wine we had a great feast outside on our front patio. These pics are a bit dark but you get the idea...
We also were blown away by a special delivery of international cupcakes from the Galloways which were both gorgeous & delicious!!! It even included one small cake which was both sugarless & white flour-less for Jenna. :) You guys are the best!!
With all the jetlag in the house, everyone fell into bed, happy & tired!
Friday night there is a big ¨Garden¨ party with a bunch of young people invited from Málaga and fortunately, we´ll have 5 extra sets of hands for that! Some friends are donating their talents so we can have live music and I´m sure there´ll be lots of surprises since Jenna wants NO gifts, only cards or something creative that doesn´t cost money. :)
In the meanwhile, since there are 8 women in this house right now until next week, Bruce & Jordan felt it was the perfect opportunity to get away on a backpacking trip just the 2 of them! They left this morning to get away from all this estrogen!! haha
Obviously, I´m way behind on the blog because of so many things going on - guests, vacation, patio project, birthday, etc. - but I´ll be trying in this next week to catch up. We´ve been extremely busy but happy and now it´s time to ¨normalize¨.
These 10 days in particular have been an amazing GIFT. I feel as if God has given all of us this:
¨When you give it to them
(aka their food...in this case, the food of friendship),
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