Back for Friday Photo Flashback

Hello everyone,

I have miss getting in here. I have been able to visit most of your blogs during the week, I couldn´t help it, of course I am extra tired because of that because that meant getting in the blog world at 1am :). It has been great though and I will be letting you guys about it next week.

I may still be out monday thru wednesday. The group is in Madrid and my sister (who is one of the people that came with the group) told me to try to go up on mond and stay there until wedn that they leave. I am not sure yet if I will be able to because of the girls school (in Spain they are not done until the end of June), so you would know if you see a post from me on Monday or not :).

Of course I had to be back for Friday Photo Flashback. For more FPF or participating in it go over to Alicia´s.

I must been 9 in here or something like that. I remember my friends and I doing that all the tipe. I don´t know how you call it in english, but in spanish (lessong number 1 of ¨Learning spanish with Pilar :)) is called "hacer el pino", which tranlated would mean (and don´t ask me why because it makes not sense "doing the pine".... wow, it just doesn´t translate well.... Anyhow, we used to do competitions of how long we could stay like that, we would do different types with more than one girls..... now it just looks like something I did once and would never be able to do again because, let´s face it, if you try that being 31, unless you are like gum or a gymnist, you WILL break..... or at least get hurt pretty badly.

Here I must been 6 or 7... ???? My baby face is the one giving me clues of my age there. The boy next to me is my nephew Javi. I believe I have told you before my oldest nephew is also older than me 1 1/2 years.

I´ll see you ladies next monday... or next wednesday, it all depends. Glad to be "back". Miss you ladies and thanks for all the sweet comments.

Off for a bit

Hey there my friends!

I am going to be out of the blogsphere world for a bit, or at least off the posting for a bit.

Last wednesday we had our visitors from the States coming. I had a couple of days schedule, but now I have no time to post again. I probably won´t be posting until next week. I will visit you as I can, and may time to crunch a post or two, but just in case, I´ll see you next monday???

We are having a great time!

Big belly!!

Friday again!!! Go over to Alicia´s for more Friday Photo Flashback.

I am not sure if this is pre digital or not.... I found it in paper so I guess it counts..... ????? Don´t throw me out FPF if not.... I didn´t mean to!!!!

Anyway, as you can see I was about to pop with my youngest daughter (actually I was 7-8 months there-- I have to find the photo my babes took of my belly a week before I had her.... now, that was a belly!!). Kayla and Nicole are mimicking mommy, and turned out into such a cute photo. ......aawwwwww.....

Training our kids

Before you start reading I apologize for writing the word *s-ck* in this blog. I obviously thought it meant something completly different that what actually means and didn´t know about it until my niece made it sound like it wasn´t the best word to use. I asked my husband and he told me that word is a no-no.... I am so embarrassed and feel so bad about it.... didn´t mean to offend anyone. In my defence (not that I think I deserve one) remember I am from Spain and sometimes I get some words wrong.... I am so embarrassed...... Now, if you forgive me, you can go on reading.

The last few days I have been reminded once again of the great privileged it is to be a mom, the wonderful responsibility we have in raising our children and the role we have as mothers in the teaching and the discipline of our children. All of that compact in the great book “A woman after God´s heart”. Remember I told you I would share the things that God had used to impact my life the most while reading the section in moms?

Of course the first thing she talks about is sharing and teaching God´s Word to our kids.

I remember one time when we were on deputation. Our kids where little, Kayla was maybe 2 ½ and Nicole was just 1 (I don´t think she was just yet), of course Noelia wasn´t even thought yet. It was one of our first meetings, and it was a Missions Conference. We were to stay with a family over those few days at their home. They were young like us and they had a little girl Kayla´s age, and a little boy a couple months older than Nicole, she was pregnant with their third. We had so much fun!

Our second night there, we were sitting in the living room after the church service and the father started asking the little girl Bible verses. I was speechless (yeah, I know, hard to believe). She knew more verses than me (I know the verses but can´t put lots of them together with reference…. Yeah I know….) with the references. She knew all the roman road and lots of other misc. It was amazing.

It was then that I realized that it is never too early to teach our children the Bible. They may forget it with the time, but you are planting seeds in their heart. The world is going to try to tattoo their philosophy in our kid´s heart, so we MUST tattoo the Word of God so they can fight against it... it is never too early.

As soon as we got home we decided we would work on a different Bible verse every week, and we would review the past ones every day. After a few months Kayla new lots of Bible verses. We never did much with Nicole because she was just a baby and didn´t even know how to talk. One day, to our surprise, she started telling us all the Bible verses at the same time that Kayla was!!!

Somehow we left that good tradition out and we haven´t been as faithful on that as we used to be. Sad but true. It sadden me to realize that they have forgotten all those verses they once knew, and I know it is my fault because I didn´t stay at it.

This book has reminded me about it and I have taken the decision to get those good traditions back. One verse a week, and hey, it will help me too!!!

I don´t want this post to be too long so I will share some more a different time. Have a good Thursday!

And he shall be like a tree....

For more Word Filled Wednesday click here

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

It is clear that the closest our relationship with God is, the stronger we are when Satan or our flesh puts us under temptation. In the contrary, and as it is logical, if we don´t have a close walk with God, a strong communion with Him, we will fall into those temptations as easy and as often as they come to our lives.

The Bible says that the man/woman (allow me to add woman as I believe it is for us also) that meditate in His law (the Bible) day and night will stay strong and will give fruit.

I desire to bring fruit before my Lord. It is my need then, to read my Bible day and night, to spend time in prayer with Him, and put myself under the preaching of the Word of God. Those are things that are very basic to a baby christian, but that even us "mature" christians neglect very often. It is strange that we wonder then, why it is so hard to keep ourselves from falling.

We need to stand strong with the basics.

Before I was a Mom

I am sooooooo tired. I have been spring cleaning all morning long. You know, cleaning, not just in the regular areas, but all those spots also that usually get overlook, like the windows (okay I clean those more than once a year btw), doors, under weird places, inside cabinets, on top of closets.. you get the idea.

I got lots done and the house is clean everywhere, I can take lots of things out my famous list :). I still have some left for tomorrow, but not too much. It is good that spring cleaning is only once a year.....

Anyway, that leaves me with no energy to write a post so I thought I would include in today´s this "Before I was a mom" poem that someone sent me by email. Isn´t being a mom great? I posted this same poem when I first started blogging, but most of you didn´t read my blog back then so I feel it is okay :) You don´t mind right? :)

Before I was a Mom

I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby

I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom -

I had never been puked on.

Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.

I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom

I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests, or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom

I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -

I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom -

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love,

the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

My sweet girls, I love being your mommy

Sharing some laughs

Several messages "straight from the heart/mouth of a child". Enjoy

LOT'S WIFE: The Sunday School teacher was describing how Lot's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt, when little Jason interrupted,"My Mommy looked back once, while she was driving," he announced triumphantly, "and she turned into a telephone pole!"

GOOD SAMARITAN:A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan. She asked the class, "If you saw a person lying on the Roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?"A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, "I think I'd throw up."

DID NOAH FISH?: A Sunday school teacher asked, "Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of Fishing when he was on the Ark?""No," replied Johnny. "How could he, with just two worms."

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD: A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one Of the most quoted passages in the Bible; Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter. Little Rick was excited about the task -- but, he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line. On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, "The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know."

UNANSWERED PRAYER?: The preacher's 5 year-old daughter noticed that her father always paused and bowed his head, for a moment, before starting his sermon.One day, she asked him why."Well, Honey," he began, proud that his daughter was so observant of his messages,"I'm asking the Lord to help me preach a good sermon.""How come He doesn't do it?" she asked.

BEING THANKFUL: A rabbi said to a precocious six-year-old boy, "So your mother says your prayers for you each night? That's very commendable. What does she say?" The little boy replied, "Thank God he's in bed!"

UNTIMELY ANSWERED PRAYER: During the minister's prayer, one Sunday, there was a loud whistle from one of the back pews. Tommy's mother was horrified. She pinched him into silence and, after church, asked, "Tommy, whatever made you do such a thing?"Tommy answered, soberly, "I asked God to teach me to whistle, and He just then did!"

ALL MEN / ALL GIRLS?: When little, Kelli, said her bedtime prayers, she would bless every family member, every friend, and every animal (current and past).For several weeks, after her and her mom had finished the nightly prayer, Kelli would say,"And all girls." As this soon became part of her nightly routine, to include this at the end, her mom´s curiosity got the best of her and she asked her,"Kelli, Why do you always add the part about all girls?"Her response, "Because we always finish our prayers by saying 'All Men'!"

SAY A PRAYER: Little Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his Grandmother's house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served.When Little Johnny received his plate, he started eating right away."Johnny! Please wait until we say our prayer." Said his mother"I don't have to," The boy replied."Of course, you do," his mother insisted. "We say a prayer before eating, at our house.""That's our house," Johnny explained. "But this is Grandma's house and she knows how to cook!

HAVE A GREAT BEGINNING OF THE WEEK.

Sharing Blessings

Today I wanted to share a great blessing I received this week. That blessing was given to me by my blogger friend Alicia from Confessions of a Snowflake. If for some reason you have never visited her blog, I would highly recommend you to. You will follow it after the first stop there.

So, I don´t have much luck with giveaways, in the contrary to my friend Dani that has won like 3 or 4 in the last couple of months.... You Go Girl!. So I usually dont´t enter (could that be the reason why I don´t win then?:)). But I did enter Alicia´s because I thought it was so cool. She was giving away an inspirational book that comes with a great cd. It is called "One wish for you".

So guess what.... I won!!! I was so excited and looking forward getting it. My first giveaway won and it was so good of a giveaway too!!! One of those I really wanted.

So the other day I got the package and guess what? I got an extra bonus :) inside. Alicia had talk in her blog about about a book she had read. It was christian fiction and she sounded like it was a great book to read. So, as the big reader I am, I checked it out and was going to get it and from Amazon and get it send here to Spain. But, I didn´t need to because for second time, God used Alicia to bless me and she had bought it and send it to me. And it is signed by the writer!!!! How cool is that!!!



So, thanks so much Alicia for blessing me this way. I am so glad I became a part of this blogworld where God has given me so many friends that have been used By Him to be a blessing to me in so many ways. So thanks all of you girls, and especially thanks Alicia. May God bless you greatly as you are a blessing to me.

Friday Photo Flashblack

Is it friday again?? Where did the week go? This one has really gone by super fast.

Something I love about fridays is that it is time for FPF and I am really loving this meme. I am realizing too that I need to take care of my memories much better because I have old photos all over, so I am buying some albums and given them the importance they have. Thanks to Alicia from More than Words that is hosting this great meme. The point of FPF is to get all those pre-digital photos out of the old boxes and scanning them and sharing those memories with you.

This is me and my mom when I was 2-3 years old.

And this is me wearing the typical spanish flamenco dress. This dress was actually not mine and I remember this day perfectly. My sister was visiting us with her kids. Because, as I mention before, my mom had me when she was 45, I have nephews and nieces that are pretty much my age, so instead of growing up with my sisters, I played with my nephews and nieces. One of my nieces got that dress and her, her sister and I took turns trying it on and taking pictures. I think the three of us have the same pose, in the same dress, taken within minutes from each other. No, not very original with the poses.

Happy Friday Photo Flashback everyone!

New color and new style

Hello there!

I love my hairstylish!!! She is new for me and I don´t know about you, but I am picky with my hair and I don´t just love anyone.

I don´t know anyone here that would be able to recommend me a place, so I was a little scare. That may be why I waited until my root´s color took over half of my hair... I know, trashy....

Anyway, I venture off and got an appointment in a place that I saw close to the girls school, it lookes stylish enough.... I am so happy I did.

I was just going to do my highlights because I want to let my hair grow, but lately my cut was bothering me because it was just a straigth bob that looked cute when it was short, but now that it had grown it was putting 10 years on me.... or so I thought anyway :). It was too "blah", to plain.

So after she did my highlights she asked me, "do you want to cut it?". "Well, I want to let it grow but the lack of style in my hair bothers me. Can you give it a cool style without cutting lenth?". "Sure!". " I knew then I have found a keeper".

So now, you are going to have to look at my profile picture to see the before because I forgot to put one..... sorry :(



And now, here is me now. Remember, no lenth was cut.

Here I am, all cute hair style me!

The color. I love it! Lighter than I usually do but.... love it!

The back, with short layers

The cut. A shot of the layers in the sides

Another shot.

My cutie and me. Kayla took this one :)

So, I am in love with my new hair style :). Sassy, fun and flirty.... or so I think :).

Word Filled Wednesday

Today is wednesday which means is time for Word Filled Wednesday. This is all about God. We are to share His Word through photo and verse. If you want to take a part in this meme or see other WFW go over 160 Acre Wood for it



2 Cor. 6:20 says " For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God"


We must remember we are His and we are to honor and praise Him with everything we are and do. May that verse comes to mind next time we want to please our flesh instead of honoring God. We are bought with a price.

Now look around you and find someone that do not know this truth. There are so many that do not know that their sins were bought with His blood. What a challenge this verse is to my life this morning, may it be a blessing to you too.

I´ll see you here tomorrow. I ended up getting more than just higlights :)... I love it!!!!

A new day

A new week starts and there are lots to do.

Our weekend was full of coughs, and fever. My little one was sick and I was freaking out it could be that swine flu. We haven´t been in contact with anyone that could have it, but I think any mother that has a child with a cough and fever gets at some point concern that it would be that.... or is it just me? Of course it wasn´t, but I didn´t feel better until after I talk to the pharmacist and told me it was more about pain and being worn out.... So, I kept pointing at Noelia´s elbow and knee and asking her if it hurts there :) ..... I know, I know.......

So, her and I have been cuddleling in the sofa.... I have loved that part. She seems to finally be feeling better, although now my two oldest are coughing a lot...... Flu part II???? Could be.

Next weeks we are having a blessing coming. A group from the spanish church in our home church is coming and spending a few days with us. They are going to be helping us go on visitation (which will help us to get a lot ahead in the map) and we will be showing them around Granada (which will be a great break for us too). So that means there are lots of preparation to do this week. Lots of cleaning. Lots of tracts stamping. Lots of printing.

I got some more reading done in the book I was telling you guys about last week, "A woman after God´s heart". What a blessing! I am done with the part on our husbands and now are half way with the children. I will be sharing the part that blessed me the most this week.

But for now you will have to wait. My highlights are long due and I have an appointment in 45 minutes :)!

Have a great day my dear friends!

The greatest example

Today is a especial day and I would like to wish a HAPPY MOTHER´S DAY to all the mothers out there and all the mom´s to be.

Being a mom is a great and rewarding responsability, and I think no love in this earth can be compare to the love that I mother feels for a child. You are willing to do anything for that child, nothing expected in return. You are willing to sacrifice, give of yourself completely.

My mom was the greatest example of that. She gave of herself and put her feelings aside for the well being of her children. I have missed her for the last 5 years, but I know I will see her in heaven one day.

So let´s pray and rededicate ourselves once again to be godly mothers and great examples to our children. Have a great day everyone!

(my mom at 16 years old)

(my mom, sister and me christmas 2000)


(my mom and dad with us in our wedding)

Friday Photo Flashback

Friday is here again, can you even believe it? I don´t know where my days go anymore... Anyhow, it is time for Friday Photo Flashback again and I have to say I am having so much fun looking at all my paper photos before my digital camera. When did you get your first digital camera? Mine started in Oct 2004 when my father in law got rid of his old camera and bought a new one, he passed his old one to us. I do have to say though that I miss paper photos, but I already told you about it. So, let´s start



Our wedding day. Oc 16, 99. Almost 10 years.... time do go fast when you are having fun.

I think most everyone has a ¨bad story¨ from their wedding. It could be that it was an outside wedding and it rained, or your m.i.l horrible dress. It could be the flowers not coming or arriving late. I don´t, you name it and it has probably happend to somebody. For me it was my hair... bad.... bad.... If you want to hear the story let me tell you...

When Matthew and I got engaged, I didn´t really know much from the States. After all I had only been there once before and for only three months. I could have married in Spain and then go to the States, but for many different reasons (paperwork, christian wedding, money..) it was lots easier to get married in the States. But of course I didn´t know much and Matthew... well, let´s face it, he is a guy, so he didn´t know much at all either. I pretty much handle off everything to my m.i.l who did great I have to say. I arrived in the States 2 months before our wedding because it is the limit time they give you with the fiancee visa (we won´t get into that). Anyhow, we got the invitations right away, the decorations, found the dress right away and didn´t have problems getting it done by the wedding day, bridesmaids set... you know the rest.

But the hair, that was a different story. My m.i.l always got her own hair done and also did my s.i.l, and she didn´t know anyone who could recomend a hairdresser to do my hair. There was a lady that own a hairstylish place in our church so she asked her. She gave her the name of a lady in a place call "The big Teaser".... I am not kidding with the name. I remember my m.i.l telling me the name sounded weird, but I had no idea back then what she meant (not enough english).

To make the story short, I went a few days before the wedding to see if I could schedule a try before the big date, but she was busy, I had a photo and a very simple style. They guy told me she was booked ´till the date but that she would be able to do it no problem.

Wedding date came and after 4 hours and 3 tries she was uncapable.... I just wanted a french bun people!!! Anyway, 2 hours before the wedding and I am off to my m.i.l´s house where the make up lady was waiting for me. I was late of course. I remember driving over the speed limit, crying and pulling the bobby pins off my hair. I was so upset..... I got there and asked to see Matthew. Of course they told me I couldn´t because it was bad luck.... I didn´t care, if I didn´t see him, I was going to be back luck myself :). After seeing him and relaxing I got my make up done and one of the ladies there did a brade. Needless to say I never took my veil off.... :)

Did you have a perfect wedding? What went wrong in yours? I am stressed out again just thinking about it? Am I the only one that was happy once the actual wedding was over?

For more Friday Photo Flashback go over to Alicia´s blog at More than Words

After God´s own heart?

I am reading "A Woman after God´s heart" by Elisabeth George, and it is being a great blessing to do so. Every time I can crunch a little reading time to my busy day I pick up this book because there is so much that I want to apply from the book.

I got this book a couple of years ago. My sister had read it and really like it, so she sent it to me. Funny thing is that since then I have bought about 4 of those same books, never able to read it myself. I kept given them away and I kept hearing great feedbacks from it… I was sure missing a blessing.

Finally I started it. I would like to share a paragraph talking about the wives we ought to be that I thought was a blessing and something that I needed to keep in mind. Forgive me with the translation but I am reading this particular one in Spanish:

“ I can honestly say that I became a better wife and a better Christian when I became a better helpmeet to my husband. To realize that I had a mission from God to help my husband, really opened my eyes. According to God´s plan, I shouldn´t compete with ____ (her husband´s name). Instead of doing so, I should support him and back him up in every decision. He is the one that is supposed to win, and I am supposed to contribute so his win can be possible”

Submission is a tricky thing for us wives to learn…. Or am I the only one?. We ought to give our husbands our input, but sometimes we push so hard we cross the line. I know I do sometimes. I tell him what I think we should do about something and sometimes he doesn´t agree. I know at the end I am going to do what he decides, but I am not willing to give up without a fight. I know I cross the line, and I think lots of times because I fight I make him not want to do what I say even more J. I get the opposite of what I am looking for, because after all, men feel love in part by the respect they feel from us.

I am looking forward getting some more time to finish reading about our husbands and after that is going to talk about our children. Have you read this book? What was your biggest blessing from it? Did you not like it?

A birthday??..... Already??????

That is right... Today is my baby´s 7th birthday and I just don´t know how that even happened.

I still remember her like she was the day we brought her from the hospital. All 6 lb 15oz 20inch long, beautiful lots of dark hair, brown eyes beautiful Kayla Pilar.



I remember me holding her in my arms and not believing why such a great wonderful blessing was given to me. Then it was time to feed her and I realized there is not such a thing as perfection :). She wouldn´t eat, she would just want to sleep. And me, as the new mommy I was, I wanted to feed her like she was suppossed to, but this little one just wasn´t interested. I got lots of milk and a baby who didn´t need much.... and we all know that hurts :) But she was great otherwise, alert, sweet, and didn´t cry much.


Since she was little she always had a smile in her face and a big alert eyes that wanted to discover everything around her. And she had a mommy and daddy that couldn´t get enough of her. She was sweet already then, and everyone around her just couldn´t help it but fall in love with her.

Kayla is just a great girl. She has a sweet kind spirit. A soft heart that never needs much discipline because, her just knowing that she did something you don´t like, is enough discipline for her. She is a great big sister, very protective of her two younger sisters. She now even helps with Noelia´s clothes if I need her to help me out. She loves helping out, especially in the kitchen.

She is also such a smart girl. When we came to Spain she didn´t know any spanish, but in no time she picked it up, and right away she became so fluent you couldn´t guess spanish wasn´t her language by birth. She gets great grades in school and has lots of friends because she is such a friendly girl.

I just can´t believe she is already 7. 7 is not a little girl´s age, 7 is a girl´s age.... and I just don´t like it!¨:) She tells me she will always be my little baby, and that even when she is a teenager she is going to let me hug on her and kiss her and call her little baby..... would she remember when she is a teenager?.... I actually think so, she is just that sweet.

Today daddy took her to school. She was so excited. They were a little late, he tells me, and Kayla wanted daddy to take her to the classroom. They saw one of her friends picking out the door of her class and they heard her say ¨sshhhh, she is coming¨. When they opened the door everyone started singing Happy Birthday and they all came running to give her a hug. I wish Matthew had a camera then. I am sure that was super special to her.

After all these photos of her as a baby is so amazing to think she is now a beautiful 7 year old. Where all the time go? I need to make a point to enjoy every second or before I know it I will be writting about her 14th birthday.... Okay I don´t want to think about it----

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAYLA. MOMMY LOVES YOU SO MUCH!!!!