The best times are the simplest times

I am having a great time. I am playing with my 2 ½ year old. We are playing with a flashlight. She turns it on and I have to “catch” the light and then it is my turn to flash the light and she “catches” it.

I am also amaze on how much she is talking and how clear, although her paci is still hanging from her mouth… I need to get serious about that. J It took her longer to start talking than the other two took, but the other two were learning only one language instead of the two that Noelia speaks. I have read about this and for what I see it is normal for a bilingual baby to not start really speaking until she/he is two. I am sure there are many kids that spoke earlier but for Noelia 18 months is about the time she did. She could say things before then, but speak as we would call it, not until then. Now she understands and speak english and spanish, sometimes she still mix them when she is speaking but generaly she chooses one or the other depending in the mood or who is talking to her.

I am so amaze with my children, they are so smart. I am so proud of them.

So Noelia is over here having a “conversation” with me, naming ever place in the house and the room (she chose English today). Blessing me after my sneezing. Asking me all short of questions about the light….. and I am writing???..... ladies, first things first. I got to go have some more fun with my girl.

25 things about me-- didn't it used to be 7??

1.- I don’t like to write facts about myself because I am always very critical of myself- I will try to control myself today :).
2.- I lived in two different countries (Spain and USA) and moved 9 times (Madrid-Spain, Jaen-Spain, Madrid-Spain, Huntsville-AL, Harvest-AL, GA, Huntsville-AL, Asturias-Spain, Granada-Spain).
3.- I enjoyed deputation very much. I think that time help me grow in the Lord and mature as a person. It taught me to be a servant, to live by faith, to be more “social”; and I was able to feel so much love from people that didn’t know me at all.
4.- Dr Pepper is my favorite drink but we don’t have it in Spain
5.- Love, love, love Starbucks Frappuccino. I actually don’t like coffee at all and there is a story of why I like Fraps. My grandma used to make “ice creams” from chocolate milk and coffee (for separate). When we went to her house in the summer she always had those. The first time I tried Starbucks Fraps (about 2 years ago), the memory of the taste of my grandma’s “ice creams” came back.
6.- I would like to lose about 20 lbs but lack of discipline and self control is keeping me from it.
7.- When something difficult comes to my life, something that I can’t do anything to change, I just don’t think about it or ignore it. It is my way to deal (or not) with things.
8.- I love to read, scrapbook and take photos but for some reason I haven’t done any of those three things for the last month or two.
9.- I don’t think I could make it without my husband and my girls.
10.- I have had headaches for the last 8 years pretty often and pretty strong. When the first one came I didn’t know the reason why so I went to the doctors and they did all kind of test. I had a continual headache at that time for 3 months. I would go to bed with it and wake in the morning with it…. It was fun.. not
11.- Before children I worked as a secretary/accountant, a day care “teacher”, a Spanish teacher and in Sears. Secretarial/accountant work is what I enjoyed the most.
12.- With three girls I can handle messes but there are times when I looked around and then suddenly go bananas and need to pick up right then or I get pretty nervous.
13.- If I stay up very late I get very nervous also and can’t got sleep
14.- I don’t like for people to touch my elbows, knees and feet. Why would they want to anyway?
15.- I hate tickles
16.- Love the sound of my children laughing
17.- Love everything about my husband…. although at times…. Ha!
18.- I am afraid of not being the godly example my girls need and the helpmeet my husband deserve.
19.- Love the color red but I only own a red shirt and a red sweater…. Go figure.
20.- I am the youngest of 6 (5 sisters and 1 brother)- My dad always says me and sister Belen were accidents (we are the ones after the boy haha). A funny story about that is that once my mom was talking about losing a child. She was the second oldest (I guess then I am the youngest of 7). Her name was Pilar (yeah like me) and she only got to live 10 days I believe. My mom went on to tell us that after her, she wanted to name one her daughters Pilar (my mom’s name is also Pilar) to continue the tradition, but she was afraid that the baby she would call Pilar would also die…… yep, she called me Pilar…. It was really funny and I had fun giving her a hard time about it for the next couple of minutes.
21.- I always wanted to go to Vienna—maybe one day :)
22.- I hate when it is time to do the meal plans for the week
23.- I miss my mom everyday (she passed away 5 years ago next may) and I am afraid that my dad would die without getting saved.
24.- I can’t wait to see the church here in Granada full of people
25.- I love when you guys leave me comments


So here is the twist. Leave me a comment with something about me that is not listed here (you don't have to be nice). If you read this post, consider yourself tagged.

From today's devotional

Psa 66:8 O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:
Psa 66:9 Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.
Psa 66:10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
Psa 66:11 Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
Psa 66:12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealth

Here and there

Hello everyone again,
I was waiting to download my photos from my phone (I forgot my camera when I went to Madrid) to write a bit about my short trip to Madrid, but I have no idea how to do that (new phone), so whenever I figure it out I will post them, and until then I will let you know how it went.
So, it went very well... :) that was short hehe. Olga and I left Friday morning to Madrid in the bus, long trip and although the bus wasn't bad, who can find a bus comfortable ?? :). Anyhow, we got there with time to show Olga around Madrid since it was her first time there. I sure love that city :), after all it is my home city. Of course, I found Starbucks close to Plaza Mayor and got me the bigger Coffee Frappuccino there was..... sooooo goooooddddd. I was hoping to get one more before we left but.... didn't happend. :(
The meeting started at 9am on Saturday. I was able to see a lot of people that I haven't been able to see for a long time and that was a special blessing. We had over 130 ladies there, all of them from different churches in Madrid. Also a reminded to me that with time, churches grow :).
They also had a lady from a Christian store in Madrid so I purchased three books.
We had to leave early though so we could catch the bus back to Madrid. I was so tired when I got home I went right to bed.

On Sunday we had a good service with Olga and Lauren. I pray soon God will increase the number of people coming to church. It is hard at times but I need to remember that it is not m work but His and it is Him that gives the increase.

Let me tell you a story that happend to me on Tuesday. First thing in the morning I got a call from our bank, our gas bill had come (for the heat in the house) and the amount was 530 euros (about 700$). I don't have to tell you I felt a heart attack coming.. :) I haven't been receiving our gas bill before hand so I wasn't aware of the amount. Of course I figure there must be a mistake, either that or we were the nice neighbours paying for the whole neigbourhood's bills.... but it was our first real gas bill since we move here and I wanted to be prepared. I called the gas company and talk to the lady. She asked me to go outside and told her the count of the gas. Praise the Lord, there WAS a mistake. Our real bill was under 100 euros (for two months). The lady told me that they must read the count wrong... you would think so...... I think I am going to camp in my window and wait for the "gas man" with glasses on hand.

A couple of days off

I got a post almost ready to put in here but it will have to wait until Monday. I am going to be out of town for a couple of days for a Ladies Meeting in Madrid. Will be back on Sunday night.
Please pray that it will be a time for me to take a break, for safety in the road (bus), for a much desired time of fellowship with other ladies from other churches, and for the Holy Spirit to talk to my heart.
I'll see you ladies soon!

More random thoughts- about something I know nothing at all

I don’t understand much about politics and neither I am going to pretend to do it, but, as a Spaniard living in Spain, but loving the United States as my second country, there are certain things that got my attention about yesterday’s speech of President Obama and the repercussions of it even here in Spain.
All morning long, we have had the Presidency speech going on in Spanish tv. We have had people commenting about it, all of them completely excited and in love with the new President of the United States of America. What is weird? Never before there has been so much attention or interest for a new president in a different country. Spanish people admire him, and wish for someone like him for our country. It doesn’t help that our politicians are a mess here in Spain.
They seem to be looking at him for leadership, as if he is the one that is going to save the world from this crisis. He got them all in his pocket. I am speaking about Spanish people here.
But what is ever weirder to me is that at times President Obama was talking as if he was going to lead the world. Is the US just the first step for him? Scary… It seems to me like the time is close coming.
Something that left me speechless was a few comments I heard/read. In a newspaper in Spain “Obama speech to the world”, and another one, very frightening to me; in the show I was watching where they were talking about the whole deal, viewers were able to send comments via msn and they were showing them in the bottom of the screen. One said: “Are we sure this man is not the Mesiah that is to come?”….. wow.
To the ones that don't live in the States, Are you living a similar situation about Obama in the country you live in?

Random thoughts from my devotionals

There is nothing more difficult that wait in the Lord, at least for me it is.
When you pray to God and you hear no answer. When you are asking for His will in your life, when you are searching for His path to follow and you see no light. When you ask Him to confirm something… still waiting…. " Be still my soul"

Psa 25:4 Show me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
Psa 25:5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day

You search your heart and you don’t see a sin that you are hiding from Him. You are surrender and your are seeking Him.

Psa 25:12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
Psa 25:13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth

I am holding on to His promise to show me His way. I am keeping my eyes on Him “for he shall pluck my feet out of the net”
I know the answer will come, I know He will confirm my heart.

Psa 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Psa 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psa 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Nothing much to say

Hello everyone,

As the title of this post says, I have nothing much to say. It is the reason why I haven't been writing much the last weeks. I want to, really. When I am laying down in bed, right before I go to sleep, I get tons of ideas. Then the morning comes and..... all gone....

One of my new year resolutions was to blog more.... I FAILED.... although it is not the only one I am failing on.... still time to retake them, and get serious about it.

So what do you do when you are all out of blogging ideas?

Mrs Boyd was posting some "Confessions" about herself... thought that was a good idea but... not sure. What kind of things do I write about? hehehe.

I will be back as soon as I get some inspiration.... Until then, I really love reading what you have to say in your blogs. And if I don't know who you are leave me a comment so I can know you are there. You guys are great!

God's love

Rom 8:28-39

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified:and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
He that, spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This wonderful Bible verses are the ones that I am going to be memorizing during the months of January and February.

Isn’t God’s love amazing?. As I read these verses I am reminded once again of God’s unconditional love. I think we are so selfish. We talk about love, but eventually, if hurt enough, we will turn from that love, and we will say we are doing it out of self preservation. Too many lies, too many times left out, too many things said, too many apologies and pluff…. They can kiss that love goodbye, no more chances, we had enough!.
Still, when we come before God and we kneel before His feet and ask Him to forgive us, He does. God doesn’t count the times we let Him down, the times we have chosen out path without any regards of being God’s will or not. The many times we chose to please our flesh, knowing that wouldn’t please our Savior. The times we were like Jonah, and run away from His will, His calling to our lives; Or we did it, with as little desire as we could put into it, as if we were saying “ Fine I am doing it, but I don’t have to enjoy it”. Still God is out protector, our shelter, our high tower. He is the one that waits for us like the Father of the prodigal son and makes a fest when we return. The One we can always turn to. The One that made us more than conquerors. The One we can always count on. The One that spared not His Son, but delivered Him up for us.

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Me the missionary-- Some thoughts

Walking by faith and not by sight….
That is definitely a motto for the ministry here in Spain, and can turn into a struggle, as I have seen happening in my life in the last 2 years as a missionary.
Spain is a hard mission field. It is not wasted time though. I am a Spaniard; I was saved here in Spain, and surrender my live for the ministry while I was here in Spain. I would be going to hell if it wasn’t for the missionaries that invested their lives in me.
But, at times, now from the missionary point of view, sometimes it is hard to stay focus in the task before us.
I still don’t understand fully what a missionary wife goes through when moves to the mission field. I know the language; after all, Spanish is my first language. I know the culture, I don’t share it because I am a Christian and any culture is wicked in the sight of the Lord, but I know it and I understand it. I know that people are not yelling, they are just talking. They are not fighting, they just use their hands a lot when they talk. They are not rude, they have a sarcastic sense of humor (I do share that one J).
But I know what loneliness is, and you know I feel it because I have mentioned it in my last two posts (hehe). My family lives 5 hours away, a lot closer than before, but still far enough to not be able to see them more than once or twice a year and for a very short time. I don’t have friends here, and being a mom, I don’t have very many chances to meet new people.
I know rejection, for I see my husband going out every day, passing at least 1,000 invitations every week for our services (mailbox by mailbox) , and then visiting, doing what he can to show God’s love to them. And then Sunday come, and may not be anyone coming.
I know spiritual battles. I have seen the devil try to destroy my family in every way possible. I have felt a great evil presence while praying with someone unsaved for their souls. I have felt walls before me while sharing the gospel with someone (Daniella, do you remember Luz?). I have felt like I was throwing pebbles to a big stone wall while out on visitation. I have seen the devil messing with my mind, trying to convince me that it is not worth it, that my efforts don’t matter anyway.

Still I serve a great God that has allowed me to know spiritual victories. To lead people to the Lord. To hear them cry thanking God for taking them from the hand of the devil. I have seen prayers answer in great ways. I have seen God supplying every need. I have seen God healing hearts, marriages, spiritual lives. And although I am unworthy, He has allowed me to take a part in all those miracles.

To walk by faith and not by sight….. To keep my eyes in Jesus instead of circumstances. To remember it is not done by who I am but for who He is. Not for what I do but for what He has done. Not in my timing but in His perfect timing. Not giving the results that I want or expect but for His glory. Walking by faith and not by sight……

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

…. BEWARE, very long post, some boredom may occur.

So, who doesn’t do New Year resolutions and in the beginning of the year look back and realized that sometime in the middle of January they started to neglect doing those things they were so excited about doing just 2 weeks earlier…. If there is one of those out there that has met all of their commitments from last year….. don’t share it with me or I will feel guilty… keep it for your own.
The truth is that every year I make New Year resolutions, in fact most of them would be repetitions of the year before, those that I didn’t meet. This year of course, it is not different. I have many things that I want to do as an individual as also implement in my girls. But this year, I am going to do my very best to meet them. And to be accountable to someone I am going to share them with you. Now, I am going to need you to help me stay committed… so, there they go… some of them anyway
1.- Bible memorization—I am one of those people that know my Bible and what it says, now where……. ????? that… I am not so good at. So I am going to start memorizing more in hope to help me be more faithful to God and more of a blessing to those around me.
2.- More prayer and Bible reading. Every year I have the plan to read the whole Bible in a year, which is an excellent plan, but this year (as I started doing somewhere in the middle of last year) I am going to try to do something different. Instead of reading the Bible in a year I am just going to read and do more Bible studies. I keep a notebook to write notes about the things I feel God is talking to me about, or truths that pop out as I read. I found that many times I read something that God is using to touch my heart, but if I don’t dwell on it for a while, it goes on and I don’t make any permanent decisions about it. So write them down makes me think about it and makes me apply it in a more personal way. You may have to bear with me as I may share some of my ramblings with you….
3.- Exercise—Well, there are not all just spiritual resolutions. I really want to lose about 20 lbs. I understand some of you are nice enough to tell me that I don’t need to lose weight…. Well if you are one of those people, keep it for yourself; I need other kind of encouragementJ. I thought that once I came to Spain I would lose the weight that I had accumulated from pregnancies and deputation. But then the truth came, and instead of losing weight I put on another 10 lbs…… I always been small and I like it that way to tell you the truth so…. Here is the plan. I think my problems are dinners. Here we eat dinner late and I do it extra late because I like to put the girls in bed and get in my pjs before I do. I eat mostly sandwiches and chips…. Not healthy… so I am going to eat salads or something light. My other side is that Matthew bought me an elliptical machine, that my neighbor next door was selling when she moved, and I know those machines are great for exercising so…. Let’s see what happens. If that doesn’t work, then maybe some serious diet may have to be done but….. that may be the key of me failing this resolution because I am not sure I can do that…. Anyway…
4.- More blogging—Loneliness is one of the hardest things a missionary can face. I am a very outgoing person that loves to socialize, but since we move to Granada I haven’t been able to do much of that. The growth of the churches here are slow, and with me being a stay home mom (which I love, no regrets here) I don’t have many opportunities of getting out and meeting new people… I understand that, and I am okay with it, but let’s face it, everyone needs people to communicate with, and even if no one reads this blog J it feels good to let those things out.
5.- More time with my girls- Yep, more quality time. Because I am with them all the time, I don’t think so much about spending time with them. So I want to sit down more and read to them, color with them, do crafts with them….. After all, they are only this age for a short time. It hit me the other day, Kayla, my oldest; she is going to be 7 in may. 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is not a little girl any more, 7, you are a girl when you are 7…. My baby is going to be 7. She tells me that she will always be my baby. She says that even when she is a teenager she is going to let me hold her and kiss her and call her my little baby…. Should I ask her to sign something on that??? Jhhehehe
6.- Family night- From now on, Monday nights are family nights. Matthew and me and the girls….. having fun!!!
7.- Devotionals with the girls- We always had family devotionals, but it is something that is easily put aside and substitute by a fast Bible story before bed if there are lots of things to do or have people over. From this day on, it is a priority. The family that prays together…..
8.- Scrapbooking--- I am soooo behind it is silly!!! Today I got a special treat from my husband and something that I have been wanting for a long time….. a scrapbooking spot. My scrapbooking things have always been store somewhere and then pulled out when I felt like doing some, but usually it takes me longer to get things out and later picked up that the time that I actually get to spend scrapbooking. This summer I got some done because I brought things down to the playroom area (most known as the garage, the coolest part of the house in summer), but of course if it is now 80 degrees or higher out there, that part of the house doesn’t get many visits. For that matter, I don’t scrapbook. So after a while of having people use our office as a guest bedroom (which I am thankful for all the visits, that was not a complain) we got our office back. We moved the girls desk there because we needed the room for a big girl bed for Noelia (my baby is in a big girl bed now!!!!! L ). So now I am using it as my desk and Matthew bought me some shelves for storage. I will post photos soon. Anyway, I need to get up to date with at least the girls scrapbooks. I enjoy scrapbooking very much so I should be able to do that right…..
9.- Stop and praise God more—We get discourage way to easy…. I get discourage way too easy if I stay too long looking at the trials, and difficulties of life. I need to look at God’s blessing and praise Him for His goodness. There is certainly so much to be thankful for, and I spend way to long doing the complete opposite. We are also doing that as a family. We are starting a Praise journal which everyone in the family is going to get to take a part of. I am actually very excited about it. Praise God!!!!

Well, so far that is it. There are other things that I want to do but, this post is way long already. I know that having it in the blog is going to help me remember them. I am also keeping a copy of it and leaving it in the “desktop” of my computer. And of course, I have you to remind me right????

Break is over

This is a photo taken at the Lyons house on thrusday after church. From left to right you have the Puente Family (my sister and her husband), the Milla Family, the Lyons Family and the Starks (yep, my eyes are close, I am just that good with photos).

Sweet Sergio a couple of days after being born, already at home, he is really too sweet.

Aunt Pilar and Sergio. He got little socks on his hands because he is just that cute and can pull it off :)

Part of my family (and an extra one) during New Year Eve dinner at my sister's house. I ended up cooking and had the tipical american: ham, green bean casserole, sweet pot. casserole, mashed pot., and then some apetizers: shrimp and canapes.

Hello my friends,

It has been a while since I got here last. We have been in the big city.
After the week of Christmas fun while the Andrews were here, on the monday before New Years we packed our car with 2 sick kids and headed up to Madrid to spend the end of the year with my family.
My sister Paqui, who lives in the States came to visit and see her first grandchild being born. Also my nephew and his wife came for the same reason (in this case would be the first nephew), so we really needed to go up and see them since we won't be able to for a few years (talking about the family that lives in the States of course), although the idea of possibly having to stop to clean up the car after Noelia got sick didn't sound like a very good idea.... poor baby :(
But praise the Lord, she didn't get sick and all we had to deal with was a cold from Noelia and Nicole.
We had a good time visiting with them on monday night and tuesday, and, with the best timing of the world, arrived my 4th grand nephew, Sergio Puente. What a sweet little boy he is, and how much fun it was to hold him as much as I could while I was in Madrid. He certaintly will be the reason for more often trips to Madrid..... him, and the Starbucks Frapps...... did I enjoy those two things.... ;) (For those wondering, although I don't imagine there are too many of you out there, I don't much care for coffee at all, but love Starbucks Coffee Frapp. but we don't have Starbucks in many places here in Spain, so when we go to Madrid, which there you have them everywhere, I take advantage of it and have them as often as I can-- they had one in the way of the hospital where Sergio was born.... ;))
It is always great to spend time with family and friends. It was encouraging to also go to the church in Azuqueca for the midweek service. Loneliness is a huge deal for missionaries, so a break from it and some christian fellowship with them was much appreciated. I will post a couple of photos of our trip.