Friday she became a 2nd Lieutenant (reserves) Army Nursing Corp

So it's been about 9 days since she heard the definite news of receiving her Army commission and the excitement of it.. hence she celebrated by going skydiving with a friend on Sunday afterward in San Diego. She is now hooked!

It was Friday morning Jan. 30, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. that Ashley said her oath and signed on the dotted line to become for now a reserve in the Army Nursing Corp. here at our home. Her proud parents, two brothers, and grandparents Van Essen were here to witness. The Army Reps Sargent John Stoner (medic who served two terms in Iraq) he is the recruiter from the local area who she was in contact with at APU, and he handled the discussions and a meeting with her dad, the application process and the waiting to hear as to whether she got her commission. So he and Colonel Bruce Britson another recruiter arrived to administer the oath, which she wanted to say outdoors in front of our own flag (wasn't to great for pictures). At the end of Bruce Britson administering the oath to her, John Stoner than handed her a silver dollar which is a tradition in that you than give this silver dollar to the first person to salute you and so on when you salute another officer for their first time they will give you a silver dollar... Which he said at graduation, you can accumalate a pocket full of them. At this point Ashley outranked John Stoner. And than she signed about 50 pages of commitments and the directives to pay off her college loans with Colonel Britson signing them as well to make them official. And about an 1.5 hour later it was a done deal. This was basically to seal the deal with the Army. They have only a few months in the year that they accept the next years of skilled recruits and they advance in at the stage of an officer, foregoing the process an enlisted recruit would take. And it assures them you don't change your mind at the time you graduate. I have viedo but not to smart with uploading that yet.

Just after the oath was administered by her superior Colonel Britson

Colonel Britson, 2nd Lieutenant Symens and Sargent Stoner

The witness gallery L-R; grandpa, Brian, Shane, Grandma, Dad, Sargeant Stoner

I, Ashley Nicole Symens do hearby agree.....

With Colonel Britson's signature, it's official

The proud parents and their daughter who is now an Army Nurse

Grandpa, Ashley, Grandma with the newly acquired gift of Army coffee mug

Now she will continue with schooling, graduating on May 9th, and taking the NClex nursing boards test in the early summer. With the anticipation of passing first time, or the second if necessary. But than she will make sure that she has the rest of the summer off to travel. Her plan is seeing family in the midwest like grandparents long awaiting her chance to visit longer than one weekend in 6 years, vacationing at the river and is in a wedding at the end of July. after 6years of hard work and no breaks having worked at Disneyland every weekend, and full time during breaks in school schedule. She has had a great month since quitting of relaxing and studying. She's so much more at ease!

Sept/Oct is a group that will be "activated" for duty into the officers basic training at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. for 9 weeks. Three days before the date she leaves there will be another commissioning ceremony which moves her from reserves to active duty. Officer Basic Training this has been described as "death by power point" to bring the officer up to speed on protocol, procedure etc and some physical training but nothing like an enlisted person. The perk of being a skilled officer. There will be 3 weeks of gun training and some haz mat training. But Britson said that overall it's pretty light stuff. And she will work in the hospital there during this same time.

This entire pay package that she will receive and paying off school loans up to $120,000. over the 3 years and that she is just going to step right into working in a hospital under the auspices of being an Army nurse is really a great one. If she signs on for another 2 year commitment they will pay for any master programs she is accepted into, take care of her moving expenses and that will be where she will be assigned to a hospital.. So it's really a career option that she can make to stay in or to than be in the reserves and become a civilian. With the economy and cutbacks.. for now she would regret not taking the opportunity. We are proud of her in pursuing this, and than when she had a ton of information, came to us with our perspective and insight.

John Stoner had just received word that he was accepted into PA school (physicians assistant) and will be transferring to Fort Sam Houston in Texas during August. He will finish here in CA at the end of June and than take a month off to transfer his wife and kids and to take time to go visit families. He will see Ashley when she arrives, and he will salute her!

Now she will learn to like "Green" as her wardrobe basic color!

Go Army!

A new Alpha begins..

Tonight was the start of a new 10 week session of Alpha at Emmanuel.. I am privileged to be a small group leader and see first hand the work of the Lord which brings people for so many various reasons to participate. It is unlike anything I having grown up in a traditional church had ever been a part of. And if it was going on, they were meeting in disguise in some special room with those who knew what they were doing. We on the other hand as small group leaders of Alpha, really, don't have any idea what WE are doing, BUT the holy spirit is just everywhere going before us, walking with us and directing where to go next and we are willing.... And he's bringing in the lost from places of trials, sadness, hardship, disgrace, simple lives, hard circumstances, life battles that wouldn't darken the door of a church doorstep on a given Sunday because they just don't feel they fit the mold of acceptable as they are or they've done alright on there own and don't need "God". And than there are some who have actually been in church for years, decades, and yet are empty. It's awesome. Because we are no different than them, we all need Jesus.

Last Thursday was a huge celebration of 10 years of Alpha at ERC. But let me back up, as the week before this on Thursday (two weeks ago) about 25 of us met at the brick building and broke bread (had pizza, salad, soda) and than we broke off into every office upstairs with cell phones and lists and lists of people to call. Roughly 700 people to call. Some had already RSVP'd that they were coming and so we just thanked them for the interest and hey bring a friend, some were recent visitors to ERC and we reached out an invite to the celebration (free dinner, concert, some testimonies and dessert) and hey bring a friend, and than if they were interested, we explained the 10 week Alpha starts the following week and bring a friend.. and some on the list were just plain cold calls and you do the same explaining what Alpha is about..

So the Thursday of the Alpha celebration party comes and 275 people from over 10 years, and some new folks show up and it was a great time of just welcoming, getting acquainted, extended a hello, inviting to the next session and or just hearing what God has been doing since they once attended. Celebrating what Alpha has meant for so many who that was a big door they stepped through from a life serving themselves, or the first time when they had ever heard of Jesus loving them... And for some, they hadn't been back to church since they last attended Alpha but the phonecall/postcard invite was what they needed and here they were... (not a coincidence)

The typical buffet alpha dinner was followed by a concert by Mike Eldred and his two daughters who I believe were Lindsey and Macklin.. sweet young ladies who banter well with there dad and who love the Lord and have beautiful voices. Mike & his wife came to ERC about 15 years ago as wild bikers and just came through alpha, were loved on by the Korver family, served at ERC and are now living in Arizona for last couple of years serving the Lord there. There were many testimonies of ordinary people who now follow Jesus because of an invite to Alpha, or are small group leaders who share the hope that rescued them. From this night, there were 147 interest cards for the next alpha!

Now the typical alpha session will vary in number, but roughly 35-50 is a good guess-timate of attenders but you just never know.. Tonight we were thinking that it was possible for the 147 to show up and had squeezed the tables/chairs for dinner up against the space for the group talk anticipating 110. The count was 79 attenders and 23 leaders. What an awesome night it was. The place was packed and hoppin!

I have been involved with Alpha for about 3.5 years and there are 3-10 week sessions a year. (I'm not really sure when I started) but now just lead a womens small group each time. After two years with my friend Susan as a co leader, she has taken a break during her sons senior year of baseball season but we continue to lead on Saturday mornings together a bible study.. So I am now with a woman I have known through the Valley school system and call a friend, Rene and we look forward to what's ahead.. She's never attended Alpha and has never led, so she's qualified and tonight went great. God is good.

So pray for each of those attending that they will have open hearts, open minds to what God has lead them to participate in that can greatly change the rest of their lives.

Isaiah 43: 18-19 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

crazy day at the office

Today was a manic day at the office... and working with some numnutz is frazzling... While I fall into the trickle down of information on where zipcodes flow in buildings for the "bigs or smalls" for ground and air of a package in transit. Whether it is good or bad information, I than run with it.. I have to implement it into training materials (of paper handouts and for posting for loadside and sort employees and than transfer it to the computerized training and test) within anyone of the district UPS buildings in So Cal. So Cal consists of Hubs in Cerritos (two shifts), Anaheim, Laguna, San Diego, San Marcos, Chula Vista and one airport Long Beach. So it is a encompassing job and it is forever changing.. but I can control the number of misloads with transferring BAD information if I find it to be bad but I ususally catch it and than call someone to the carpet!

Ideally having two weeks notice to work out the bugs and get a plan to the employees before it goes into play.. So what usually happens with that is that you work it all out, it either changes or they decide "not" to do it at all...

But as it happens quite often, the best laid plans and intentions of an IE Planner need to be adjusted on the spur of the moment and the plan sticks and all is well. And than there are times like Monday when an IE Planner throws out a "huge" realignment in the Laguna building to start Wednesday, and which is emailed to me at 1:oo a.m.on Tuesday. And so when I come in on Tuesday quickly start the process and I must say complete it in one day of pushing it hard.. And than I come in the office on Wednesday and read the email that comes in the early a.m. saying "we've put the plan on hold" and can you get the computer testing "back on line for the previous plan by tonight".. aahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! The paper part is easy, just go back to the previous excel file and we're good to go, but the computer is tedious. So I spent the better part of today tediously reworking the computer program. Late this afternoon get two separate phone calls from one of the operators Eric in the Laguna building who at one time worked in Cerritos alongside of me and I for him and we get along. (cuz I have no management credentials, just the power) And he mentions a couple of lineup changes that have been made in the past and yet when I get skipped in the loop, nothing transfers to the computer testing and so it brought him to ask. So we straightened that out and tomorrow I will again work his testing computer program to get things in the right working order.

So after he thanks for for the help and for quickly getting them back in good materials, I mention to him that with the "axe" coming down on heads indescriminately that I might need his backup.. he affirms me by saying he knows many managers who would go to the mat for me ... ha ha ha

This similar occurance came up in the Cerritos building last week of coming across by accident some lineup changes made and yet no official "grapevine" notification, and so for the time being I earn my living by "catching" the gaps and guffaws made in plans that do or don't work..

It's hard to make a living in this economy and so I will just bite my tongue (sometimes harder than others) and just keeping seesawing with the times and... collect my paycheck!

There is no denying it in writing....

Tonight after a long day of work and attending a marriage builders class with some friends at church, finally arrived at home to open the mail. A letter from Aetna was in the pile and so opened it with an anxious wondering..... About the fourth paragraph down it gets to the point that they were upholding there previous finding of a denial of the appeal. They acknowledged all of the findings that were included, and case studies, but the gist of it being that my insurance policy does not cover anything experiemental. There was about 1.5 pages of niceties about further appeals possible within a 60 day period.. But denied none-the-less.

At this time, I will be waiting to make that decision as to whether to end the process or to advance on with it. Twice denied using the same information, and the patient not being of any concern due to the fact that FDA does not give approval for the procedure specific only to the ankle which is my case in point and until than insurance will have no reason to acquiesce. It has certainly been a frustrating 2.5 years dealing with it, and I not sure what I'm feeling on the thought of continuing with it. Is this in the denials, the Lords answer to the prayers of doing what is right???

And than a surprising bit about "a survey to let them know" how the process went, so that they can be improving it.. hmmm, not so sure now would be a good time to answer that question.

step one accomplished ~

Ashley at the beginning of Fall I believe it was, started to look into and contemplate after a couple of Army nursing recruiters visited the APU campus the possibility of taking this route after graduation. So many discussions, reading up on it, Greg went to the last meeting with the recruiter. Now before they left for this meeting, they worked out what questions needed to be asked, how to ask them, why you ask them, and that Ashley was going to do all the talking because well, this is about her life. Greg had numerous "money" questions that he was sure he wanted answered to assure the payback of student loans..... The three of us went out to dinner that night to fill mom in on the details while fresh in there minds, to discuss what they heard and what they still needed clarity about. So I said "what are the pros' n cons'?" and in the excitement between the two of them the list seemed to go on and on for the pro's... she goes in as an officer not having to go through regular bootcamp, but instead 6 weeks in San Antonio Texas at Sam Houston hospital, and training is essentially death by powerpoint and 3 weeks of gun training, she will receive excellent training in top notch facilities and would be better than a civilian hospital committment of employment. She looks forward to travel around the country during the training period, Her Ob/Gyn training is definitely in HI for four months and so that is a good gig when that occurs. The chance for travel after training and she's given her assignment, if she gets any of her top ten destinations for assignment-top 3 are Germany, Italy, and Hawaii. And the biggee is that for the 3 year committment, she will receive $120,000 towards a student loan which she has already gotten completed in her name. And if she makes an additional 2 year committment, they will pay for you to get your Masters Degree, moving her wherever she gets accepted to a school, they pay your moving costs and she than becomes assigned to a hospital in that area because you will take two years to get your master degree completed.. And so about a half hour later when she took a breath, I asked "are there any cons'?" and I looked at Greg and asked "she didn't sign on the dotted line already did she?" and Ashley laughed and said "he wouldn't let me yet"... The only real cons were "leaving family, friends, missing normal activities in life". She is pretty sure that she would regret not taking advantage of the opportunity. So we agreed that it was a very wise decision and much to consider and think about and pray about. No real pit in the stomach from mom, just the overwhelming emotion of missing her.....

Ashley sent in all of the application requirements for a commision in the U.S. Army in the Nursing Corp. in mid November 2008. They originally gave her a date of Mid December when she would hear the answer.. But there was a delay, and on she was told that Jan. 7 her paperwork would go to the review board and would hear within two weeks. So Jan 22 she was notified from her recruiter liason, that she is now officially a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nursing Corp. :) So one day very soon, she will be first commisioned into the Reserves with a signing on the dotted line and taking an oath. And than she will finish the last semester with graduation on May 9th. She will than be required to pass the NCLEX boards sometime during June, July or August when they are administered. Upon passing that is what will set in motion the date of her departure.. Approx Sept/Oct is the guesstimation right now..

She is the maid of honor in a friends wedding on July 24 and so that is one thing she will need to make sure is not affected by a departure date. She is going to go out to Minnesota for a week after graduation to grandpa/grandma's since it has been awhile since a trip like that.

So time is short and it will forever change the lives here at the Symens household. One we are proud of Ashley, and are ready for her to move into the next phase of life with excitement. This weekend she is planning to go skydiving, yep, the adventurer begins.

today marks the 26th married year....

Today January 21st is our 26th wedding anniversary (1983).... wow, the time has gone by pretty quickly, when if I could remember what I might have been thinking it would be like at the start of life on the verge of matrimony - I was clueless. And it's been filled with alot of memories of great, good, loving, traditional, meaningful, shared, blessed, joyful, maturing, exciting, surprising, secure, safe, growing, meaningful, relaxing, loving oh I used that one already.... it has also been stressful, trying, hard, sad, sorrowful, reflective, maturing and more than a few struggles along the way. So I think that sums up what is all part and parcel of being married regardless of who you are. But it is telling as to how you survive marriage with the necessary and appropriate skills to walk through each of these emotions together rather than separately. That is the tricky part, because without good role modeled mentors towards being mature this can be the dicey part...

We can admit that we had quite a rollercoaster along the way and sometimes, screaming for the ride operator to stop the thing so we could get off! As you can tell, cooler heads prevailed and we kept it together. Not knowing what we were doing other than most of the time just walking away from the situations as they came up. mmm, the best we could do at the time to survive, but not really healthy. In the midst of life we were blessed with 3 kids in five years, and they are a treasure. Ashley (23), Brian (21) Shane (18)

I will admit that much of our early to middle year struggles stemmed from poor communication skills (by both) to share the depth of some things. I was struggling with the torment from anger of lifes events, guilt of poor choices as a youth, lack of confidence. By the grace of God, there finally came a time that I finally gave in to the healing that had been in front of me many times that I had refused often. And yet it was so needed to be healthy on many levels of emotional and spiritually and relational. But I refused by my stubborness to walk the hard road because I feared the "maybe" that honesty might bring by admitting them outloud. And yet when the dam finally broke on May 17 & 18 of 2006, freedom finally reigned in my heart, in my mind, my soul and in our marriage. Who knew....... I had a day of just reconciling with my God in the sand of Sunset Beach in a beach chair, with a bible, and alot of prayer, tears and confession. I felt that when I had left that beach that I had surrendered to his will, laying down my will and looking for a fresh start.. alas, I actually held onto a little bitty part of what I didn't want to give up and God wasn't having any part of that..... he had already started working it on Gregs part, by having me leave up an email correspondence with a girlfriend on the computer screen where we were chatting back and forth as she struggled with some life issues... It was somewhat revealing and yet not what it appeared to his "read between the lines" ... I was an alpha small group leader and so on the 18th I headed off and yet had a pit in the stomach told me that something wasn't right and I needed to go home. A good friend who has walked this healing with me, prayed over me and home I went. Only to find that Greg was out walking the street-thinking, and so I found him. We sat in the car at the corner for about 3 hours.... having the most honest, truthful, revealing conversation of our lives, that included tears, smiles, hiccups, forgiveness for each, grace for each and a committment to the new us. The most unimaginable thing occurred, Freedom, love like never before, compassion, friendship and we haven't looked back, only toward how to love each other each day. It's been the best of 2yrs 8 months of our marriage.. God is so good

Greg approved this blogs content..

WAIT A MINUTE it's not decided!!!!

Regardless of what the clinical supervisor on the phone from Aetna told my "spy" on Friday... I received a letter today from Aetna acknowledging that they on Jan 09, received the packet for appeal, and the letter was dated Jan 12 and it stated 15-30 days for notification.. So until I get the actual denial letter, there's a shred of hope for a positive decision.

But, should it actually be a 2nd real 2nd denial, I will most likely hold off any further action toward the surgery. I have been praying earnestly for "an answer" and perhaps two denials could be the answer and I'm missing it.. So that is what I am considering and will need to take some time before the one last appeal with employer that is still the last best hope.... but for now, still praying that the God I trust will bring peace in this.

thanks for listening and praying ya'll.

speed of sound appeal response ~

I'm not necesarily meaning that this appeal process for the major ankle surgery that is needed to remove the lesion has gone by quickly, cuz, well... it hasn't.. but during this 2nd appeal to the mercy of my insurance company for compensation coverage that started right after Thanksgiving, I had really just not given any worry to it, did some praying on it though for sure.

I received this Monday my copy from the surgeon of the letter that was sent to Aetna as the cover introduction. After reading it through, I felt that he covered many good points about the prospective surgery success by himself, success in Europe, my state of the ankle without it and future issues that might occur. I did not receive the 1.5 inches of dull reading on statistics, procedure, and Medical Journal reports, but thought that it would give them at the appeal board much to consider. My surgeon went on two weeks vacation in December and so I think that the finishing touches were not completed until after the new year to the cover letter. So anyway........ if you remember, I have a medical office "spy" who as soon as I asked her, went into the mode of inside operative today during her lunch hour, contacting Aetna and getting the low down on the details of all that they knew and what they would be willing to give out. The last appeal she learned many interesting points of moving through the system for answers. She is good, cuz I received my answer HOT OFF THE PRESSES before the letter was even drafted to be sent to the patient and the doctors office.

Aetna appeal board received the appeal letter on Thursday Jan 15th and the originial denial was upheld on Jan 16th by Dr. Barry Smith.. That is what I meant by "speed of sound" response - it's like WHAT, did you even read beyond my name and assigning a log number of eight digits to it before they stamped "denied again" on it. So the phone guy Scott Clowder, clinical supervisor who had to deliver the bad news to my "spy" gave her some tips for what option I have left. My employer UPS is actually the "owner" of the insurance plan and so I can consider making the appeal through my HR at the Corporate HQ in Atlanta where they meet weekly in a committee that considers medical appeals.. He said sometimes this is a viable option.

Right now, I will just consider the option and what to do next AFTER the weekend. Today was not a good day before I got this news and so I have not had a full meltdown yet, nor do I suspect that it would help......

144,000 flee the state.......

Today it was reported that 144,000 people fled the state of California in 2008 and the dream many spent most of there lives chasing after is grittier or a fleeting memory. Now in a state of 38 million that isn't a huge number, but it's the why they left, as to the where it will continue to spiral for some time to come...

* 8.4% unemployment rate in November.

* 236,000 projected foreclosures.

* last month a 100,000 jobs were lost in the state, one cause is 2000 public works jobs cancelled because the state couldn't afford $16 million towards them. And yet "arnold" says we need to build more schools, roads, and transit.. (see tax increases coming)

* California facing over 18 months a $41.6 billion dollar budget hole that is predicting raising taxes, cuts in education and postponed tax rebates. No fiscal responsibility by lawmakers who have more than enough money to cover what is required, but they waste more than they take it.. it's not a surprise that we can all understand what the legislature can't comprehend, that's no way to run a budget. somebody has to do without and they always pick education, highways, and public safety. these become buzz words for why they need to raise taxes.. The Constitution was written with government providing these things as first and foremost.

* the median price of a home has nose-dived one third from the 2006 peak. Most median priced homes are out of reach for the middle class. Many children can't consider buying a home in the community they grew up in.

* The housing market eliminated $1 trillion in wealth.

* dead end public schools.

* unchecked illegal immigrations.

* clogged traffic has robbed CA. of its allure.

An interviewer was speaking with an 38 yr old engineer who is seeing his wages go down and his cost of living going up, is moving to Denver Colorado and has a house purchase in the works. He's selling his 3 bdrm home in Nipomo about 80 miles north of coastal Santa Barbara where his yearly property taxes will go from $4300 to $1300. A substantial beginning to downsizing the family budget.

We know alot of people who over the last few years who have picked up and moved to some different states of Colorado, Idaho, Oregon in order to be able to one get out of the concrete jungle where they have family and friends, but yet the ability to "breathe" while living has been realized. For some they have lured some of there family and friends to join them in the adventure and so that does make it easier. Some of us are thinking that's an alternative we'd keep open, but for now can't make the leap and are glad we bought our homes alooooong time ago and are still "breathing" here in CA while we make a living and a life. But for many we know who are in the struggle that has them trying to hang on while having to make some hard changes to lifestyle or location possibly to start over we keep praying for good resolutions whatever way it needs to work out.

I remember decades ago when many Califonians moved to Oregon and boy was there a ground swell of anger from the invasion. The Californians were mistrusted and ridiculed for the move. There was no welcome committee dropping by with a basket of goodies and a handshake.. Well, get ready here it goes again...

Your Biblical obligation to (the soon to be President) Barack Obama

I read a lot of blogs and I came across this one today, and although it was written soon after the election was held, with the inauguration just around the corner, it is something to ponder. We will reveal ourselves in how we handle and/or how we behave in many aspects under a leadership who we might or might not agree with. But the Lord knew this would be the outcome and it is going to happen, what are we going to do to bring glory to the heavenly Father in our individual actions, but that it wouldn't bring him shame.

happy reading and reflecting;

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Your Biblical Obligations to (the soon to be President) Barack Obama
Written by Erick Cobb
Wednesday, 05 November 2008

I think it is really important for our mission here and for our own spiritual growth that we respond biblically to the election of Barack Obama as president.

The two of you that voted for Obama won't need this, but for the rest of you: please prayerfully consider your biblical obligations to Barack Obama when he takes over the presidency.

1.) Submit to President Barack Obama as God's Sovereign Choice for Our Country
* Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. Romans 13:1-7

* Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. I Peter 2:13-14

We are to submit to the leaders God has put over us unless submitting to them we cause us to sin against God (Acts 4:19-20). This command is actually much easier for us to do than it was for the believers it was first written to. Their emperor was Nero, who liked to light Christians on fire and feed them to wild animals and yet they were called to submit to him. Surely, out of love for our God, we can joyfully submit to Barack Obama as our president. God has not given us a command that is too difficult here (I John 5:3).

2.) Respect President Barack Obama

* Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. I Peter 2:17
We are to respect Barack Obama. During the Clinton years it was far too common for Christians to disparage their president through bumper stickers, t-shirts, and the comments they made. If that is your impulse, please grow up. God commands us to show honor to our leaders. It is unacceptable for Christians to speak disrespectfully of their president. You can (and should) speak out against his policies, you can even get involved in four years to remove him, but while he is president you must speak respectfully of him.
Once again the emperor Peter was talking about here was Nero, who by the way was not an elected figure, they had no say in who the emperor was. In obedience to God, watch how you talk about our president.

3.) Pray for Barack Obama Daily

* First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. I Timothy 2:1-4

If you have never been in the habit of praying daily for the president, this would be an excellent time to start. President Obama has a lot of challenges ahead of him. Pray for him everyday.

Pray that God would reveal himself to him, bless him, give him wisdom, and keep him safe. We are teaching our boys to do this every day.

It is interesting that when Daniel found out that judgment was going to come upon Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:19) he was visible shaken and declare that he wished it would happen to the king's enemies instead. And Nebuchadnezzar wasn't really the king you would want, now was he? - trying to BBQ Daniel's friends and all. And yet Daniel cared about him and wanted him to be blessed, not judged. You can have that same spirit towards Barack Obama as you pray that God would reveal himself to him, bless him, give him wisdom, and keep him safe.

For the next few days as you talk with believers and unbelievers about the outcome of this election you have an opportunity to be refreshingly biblical - and truly counter-cultural. Let's show the world (and other believers) that Christians are not a bunch of cry babies and sore losers who put all their hopes in having political power. Whining, fear, and bitterness are not fitting for us who believe God is up to something in all that he ordains. Let's show the world (and other Christians) that we have a happy trust in God's sovereignty. Let's show them that we are prepared to joyfully submitting to, respect, and pray for Barack Obama, out of a deep trust in and love for our God. Or.....you can do just what the culture expects you to.

Keep in mind our cause, the spread of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, does not depend on having political power. In fact, our cause has most often thrived when it had no such advantages! The Kingdom is breaking in even now, the fullness of it will soon appear!

Hurray, it's the last day

Today is the last day after 5.5 years for Ashley at Disneyland. It was her first job ever, and she began it right out of high school. While it was a better paying job than most, and the hours were plentiful during the many school breaks and overtime plentiful during the summers. It was a bit demanding during the school schedule as well for her, but it was her bulldog determination to accomplished them both well. She was able to make her private school tuition and so that is a great feat and she worked very hard. But it's only the happiest place on earth for those who visit it a day or two at a time, not for the employees as it's a tough crowd to work amongst. So I took a picture of her in her uniform as she embarked on the last day. This will give her the last semester of nursing school to be just about excelling and finishing well. Not having the distraction of work will be a great relief. She has made plans for post graduation and should be hearing shortly as to whether those are to be realized, with the Army nursing corps application currently under review and anticipated answer in mid January. More later when we know.

the pinning ceremony will be May 8, and graduation will be May 9th

Christmas pictures posting

These pictures come from Our Christmas at home, Christmas Day tradition at Uncle Ron & Aunt Alices and than our weekend in Madera with the Van Essen's ~ tons more posted on flickr.com/photos/symens to be seen

the official Symens kiddo's Christmas picture 2008the man will no longer be lost with new GPS

camping gear for the dirt bikerwhat did Ashley get?The Shanester


CHRISTMAS DAY - VAN MEETEREN'S

Shane, Christian Taylor and Ashley

The men downstairs watching sports
The women upstairs playing catch phrase
Santa brought Greg a prophetic shirt
our family picture #1
our family picturer #2
the Lloyd Van Essen clanthe original 5

Lisa, Stacy, Lorinda

(yes, I missed the Gray memo)

grandparents with all of the 7 grandkids

~ LET THE Wii TOURNAMENT IN MADERA BEGIN ~

Shane getting his groove on in dancing

and than Brian

doubles tennis
niece Sydney/Brian against niece Brook/Shane
Bowling
Lisa using her true form (we girls did that)Boxing
the father Bryan vs daughter Brook

THE FOUR BUNCO TABLES OF COMPETITORS

The New Year has begun

Happy New Year to anyone who "might" be a reader. Do I have any? hmmm

Today is a beautiful day in our neighborhood... Greg left me to sleep after he got up and sleep I did, crawling out at 10:30 am.. (sometimes I'm related to Rip VanWinkle himself) and we are still in our pj's all day with NOTHING, let me repeat NOTHING on the schedule but watching football bowl games. All of the kids were gone overnight to friends, and it was intently foggy last night and so I texted Shane at 12:30 and told him to just sack on his friend Kevins couch rather than risk the drive home in the fog and against any drunk drivers. Ashley sent me a text at 6am that she was at the Rose Parade (surprising) as her school friend Ashleighs dad has a store on the parade route and they were there to serve breakfast to there employees and the policemen in the area. So she got a great view of the parade, something I didn't tune into this year. Ah we are on vacation, maybe we will go to Pasadena tomorrow and walk the area where they display the floats. Maybe

We watched an exciting Nebraska/Clemson football game with NE winning out. There were other games but can't recall the who or what they were... Now currently watching the rout of Penn State by the USC Trojan warriors in the Rose Bowl. Next game is the Fedex Orange bowl between Cinncinatti and Virginia Tech.. I might just be putting on a hat and heading out to pick up dinner for us and Brian (who's sleeping in between texting).

The last 8 days has just seemed like an ongoing string of Saturdays, and it will be extremely difficult when Jan 5th rolls around to actually get back onto the regular routine again to the office. But in this economy, a routine we will gladly accept for as long as we are blessed with it.