Christmas table

I have been thinking about Christmas dinners.

As many of you know I am from Spain, and where here Christmas dinners have lots to do with turkey, ham and casseroles (which I love); Spain has more to do with appetizers (lots of them), seafood soup, and roasted lamb leg.... well, at least at my parents house.

This coming Saturday my family is coming over. Thankfully my sister, my nephews (her grown up boys), and a niece live close by. Like 5 minutes close by. Which is a great blessing considering that we are all from Spain. Some of them are going to be away for Christmas, so we are getting together to celebrate.

So this got me thinking apetizers. What to make, what to make. So this is what I am thinking

I found this recipe in the internet and I thought it look really cute. No, it is not very Spanish (although I found it at a Spanish web page), but I thought it looked cute, and will get the vote of the little ones.

This have King crab in it.... it just sound good.

Every Spanish table has to have some of this. Queso Manchego and Jamon Serrano.

I am also thinking shrimp (we are big on seafood), I am thinking salmon.... and a few more things.

Christmas day will be more the ham type.

So, what is it that you MUST have at your dinner table in Christmas?

Something I love from Christmas

If you are a Christian, you love Christmas. It is a time when we celebrate the birth of our Savior.

It is because of His birth that He came to this earth. It is because He came to this earth, that He was able to die at the Cross. It is because of His death at the Cross that our sins were paid for. It is because our sins are payed for that we can be forgiven. It is because we are forgiven that we can go to Heaven.

One of my favorite things that I get out to decorate my house with is my Nativity Scene. With the Tree and all the presents under, it is easy to get the focus off the real reason for Christmas. Let us not forget.

What is your favorite Christmas decoration?

What is going on?

So, I figured I should start by letting everyone know what is up.

In my last post I told you that we were moving forward with a house and that my husband had found a job. After months of waiting to go forward with our lifes, the wait was over.

Of course, it is not that we stop living, but when you live at your in laws house (Praising God for their help), your husband doesn´t have a job, and you still don´t know exactly the reason why you are back where you started (for those that don´t know, we had been missionaries in Spain - my dear home country- for 3 years), you are ready to go somewhere, to feel "normal".

We got the house, we have been here 7 months and although in the beginning I got lots done in the form of painting, decorating..... we got things to do to finish it ;). It is a new home, so there are not renovations that needed to go on, other than the adding of the fence in the back yard, but there are things that need to go on at a house to feel like home. Still, this is home, and I love it. It is funny though because after moving so much in the last years, it sometimes feels like "so... where next?". Not that I am looking forward to another move, don´t take me wrong ;).

My husband loves his job, and it has been such a blessing. Still, although we are not in the ministry full time, it feels sometimes like the job just pays the bill, we are so busy at church praise the Lord.

My husband is helping with the mission board at our home church, teaching/directing the Spanish Bible Seminary at our church (20+ students), at whatever else needs to be done. I am teaching Sunday School (love my 3 years old), teaching Spanish at our christian school (high schoolers... you got to love them ;)), and acting as my husband secretary for the Bible Seminary. Things are busy, but they are great. We knew God was bringing us back from te field, but we knew He didn´t bring us back just to warm up a pew at church. It is such a joy to serve God. We are open to go through any doors God would open.

The girls are great. They love school, they love piano, they love church, they love their friends. I praise God for my girls. They make things so much easier.

So, now that you are caught up :) .... Did I forget anything? Feel free to ask me anything, I would love to answer any questions you may have. Love being back. Thanks for those that left me a comment. It was encouraging to feel missed, it gave me the extra push I needed to get back.

Through the week I am going to try to visit everyone. Hope to "see" you back.

I have miss all of you.

Such a long time

Wow, I don´t know about you, but I feel like I have been gone forever. I do think about you often though and wonder what things God is doing in your life.

I feel like life is not leaving me any time off to do some of the things I enjoy. Like blogging.

Things are busy. Things are good, but busy ;).

How are you? I am going to try really hard to get back soon and visit everyone of you. Love ya!

A Mother´s Heart

As I have been without internet for the last several weeks, and since I have it today for the first morning in a long time, I realized how much of a hinder this internet is to my relationship with God. I have been able, without it, to have so much more time with Him, I have gotten closer and that is something I don´t want to lose. I have been missing though, pouring my heart out in this blog as well.

As a mother, I have such a burder to be the mother God´s wants me to be. I know I can´t be perfect, but I want to fullfill God´s will for me as a mom.

I look around and see children that has been given such a great opportunity to serve God, they have been given every tool they need to never have to look back on regret for a season of their lifes not being used for His honor. Still, they put that tool aside as if it wasn´t anything of importance and they want to ¨live their lifes¨.

That mind set is scary for me, as I have three little girls. I want nothing more than a life without regrets for them. I want a life lived for God for them. That leaves me praying for wisdom and seeking God´s guiadance everyday for His leading in my life as I lead them while my husband is at work.

" My Lord, my God, I beg for your wisdom in my life. Wisdom to raise my girls in your love and fear. Help me to teach them and not to break them. Show me when to discipline and when to love. Help me to disciple in love. Guide me and lead me to be a mother that glorifies your name. And to you, my God, I´ll give the honor and glory for everything you are going to do. In the name of Jesus. Amen".

Proverbs 4

Toothless Wonder

Toothless wonder is a book by Junie B. Jones, one of the latest my daughters have read. Have you read June B. Jones books? , that girl is too funny.

Anyway, toothless wonder is also my oldest daughter´s latest nickname (try to say that 3 times really fast). With a month short of turning 8 she has lost her first tooth. Which is amazing enough since I guess any more kids start losing teeth at around 5... ??? I don´t know I just don´t remember it being that early when I was little.....




Yeap, she looks like she was crying before the photo. Daddy had to pull it and the idea didn´t go very good with her....



My girl is growing up.... The funny thing is that now she has 3 more that are loose, she is going to be a toothless wonder for sure pretty soon ;)





But she still has a pretty smile!

Showers of Blessings

A lot sure has happen in the last week. God open and closes door in His time, but when His blessings start, they sure come down fast.

A week from last friday my husband got an email from a job that we thought was pretty sure, they had hire someone else.... it was hard because it wasn´t the first time, and he really didn´t have any other leads on any other jobs. Friday night ad saturday was hard, but we knew we would praise God even in the storm.

On monday morning he got a call from an old job giving him a phone number of someone she knew from church who was looking for an accountant in a fast growing company. He had an appointment for an interview for 10:30 that same day, and after a great interview he was told that he would be receiving an offer letter within the day. He did and he was schedule to start working on thursday. On friday we met a lender and we got pre-approved for a mortgage and on saturday we found the house we would love to live in. We are going to try to write an offer today, but for what the realtor told me, they don´t have any other offers and she is sure we would be able to get a great deal (I already think the house is a deal all together).

So here I am a week later, praising God for His blessings, and for His trials and so looking forward to go furniture shopping and gathering decorating ideas.

God is so good! Even in the middle of the storm!

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,

from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the LORD,

which made heaven and earth.

Ps.121:1-2

Can you help me out please?

Hey everyone,

I was wondering if you could help me with something. I have notice that when I write post it won´t show or give you the option of comments. I don´t know why and I haven´t done anything to change that option so I am not sure what the problem is.

Do you know what the problem is? Do you see the comment option on the post you read in my blog? Now watch it working on this one ................. I will look silly.

Well in case it happens what usually happens and you know how I could fix the problem, send me an email to pilarstark(at)gmail(dot)com. Thanks so much!

Trials and changes

You know, I sure don´t like to go through difficult times.

It is hard, it hurts, it is confusing, it challenges my faith and if hard enough, even my beliefs. It makes me feel bad and get sick of myself when I fail.

But it also makes me spend more time on my knees, praying, seeking the Lord. It makes me realize once again that I can´t make it on my own, that I MUST learn to trust in Him. It teaches me about God, His love and His wisdom. It makes me see Him in everything, His hand orquestrating every situation to give me His will.

I don´t like trials, but I sure can see why I need them. God is molding me in His hands, making me the christian He wants me to be, for His honor, glory and for His use. That I may be the vessel He wants me to be.

Things are lighting up and I am excited. What is God doing in your life? What trials is He using to make you what He wants you to be?

How Deep the Father´s Love

Isa 53:5-6

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:

the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;

and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

May we all remember the price of our salvation. Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Spring break!

We are having beautiful weather and on top of that the girls are on spring break, so I can get myself to sit in the computer long enough to write a post and visit with you´ll (yeah I live in the south ;)).

I am heading outside with my beautiful girls and enjoy the great weather.

Have a great day everyone!

Saturday's reflexions on a Monday

I wrote this saturday morning and I thought I would share with you.


" While I am here, sitting outside in my in law's house, under the sun of a beautiful saturday, seeing my girls playing while I read my Bible, I am reminded once again of God's blessings.

I have so much to be thankful for; but it is so easy to gorget when things are not going the way you would like them to.

Sure, we are still waiting on God's direction for us and waiting for a job for Matthew, but God is taking care of us.

Sure, things have been crazy the last few months with the move and all the changes, but I see my girls happy, healthy, sweet as always, well behaved and soft to spiritual things.

God tells us that if we follow Him, He will never leave us, not forsake us. Sometimes God's will is not clear to us, especially if we are in that "waiting" time; but His promises to us are still true. He doesn't leave us, not forsake us, no matter the way it looks.


Php 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content"


Now, if I can only remember this lesson learned every day! ;)

Thoughts of peace and not of evil

Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jer 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart

I can't wait to come back to blogging and be able to tell you all it has been and is going on, but right now I wouldn't even know where to start.

We are just waiting for God to open doors and lead. There is nothing harder than wait patiently in the Lord when you can't see what is coming ahead, but at the end it sure is worth the pain.

Everyone have a wonderful weekend.

Celebrity look alike

So, if you are in facebook, you know the theme right now is to put in your profile a photo of your celebrity look alike right?.

I found one that looks just like me right now.... are you ready?











Yep. this is me right about now........

.... although I think this guy looks better than me......... I feel so sick.. Where is my medicine!!

Does he qualifies as a celebrity? I found him in google.... HA!

One of those days!

Today is one of those days.

Last night I got a call from the director of the school where the girls go, asking if I could sub for the 1st and 2nd grade class since their teacher is sick. My husband is out of town (the one day he is schedule to go out of town) but I got my sister to take care of my youngest while I was going to be in school, so my answer was SURE! anything helps right now.

So at about 2:30 in the morning my youngest starts throwing up and has been since.

Noelia, my youngest one, was blessed enough to be gifted with one of those viruses going around and has thrown up about 15 times since 2:30 am last night..... poor baby.... What are the chances, she wasn't even sick....

My husband is out of town and I have been sick for the last week, so that makes the stay up all night even more fun! HA

Of course I didn't get to sub, praise God they were able to find someone to sub the sub at 6:30 am. HA!

So much for my getting back full force to blogging uh? Murphy's law anyone?

Little Update-- Wow, it has been so long!

Hello everyone,

Wow, it has been a while since I blogged last. This has been some crazy few months, lots of changes and lots of ajustments to even still be made, but here we are, still and always trusting in my Lord.

Needless to say, we are not back in the States, back at home in Madison Alabama. We have put our missionary work in Spain behind, but we are still praying that our future would still have much to do with missions, because it is our heart. Matthew has an open door helping the person at our church that handles the Mission Board out of our church (hopefully I made sense there). God is showing us reasons why it was time for us to come back. His timing is perfect!

Matthew is looking for a job, we are waiting in the Lord to answer that prayer. So we are house hunting, but really not in full force since we have to wait for the job first. Patience is a lesson we are learning. His timing is perfect!.

The girls are in school, christian school, and loving it (and so am I, what a difference!). Our home church has a great school and the girls couldn't be happier. To them it seems as they never left. They love the church, the kids' clubs, the sunday schools, Patch the Pirate club, the friends, the family.... but they do remember Spain for it is now a part of them too.

So, I am back to blogging, hopefully full time. It was a nice break though, but I was missing it.

Sorry I was away so long, did you miss me? Well.... I sure did miss you!