Love Spring Break

This week is Spring Break at our house. Well, at least for the girls and me. So I see our near future very clear.

I see lots of trampoline jumping (Praise God for good weather)

I see a couple of play dates

I see a trip to the park

I see a library stop

I see lots of messes in the girls rooms

I see lots of laugh and fun

You got to love Spring Break!

A newly found passion

Lately, my middle daughter comes home with beautiful stories written by her. She has this beautiful penmanship too, and she finish the stories off with a nice picture about the story.

Even her teacher told me yesterday how much she loves playing in school with a "story starter" the teacher has.

She says she loves writting. So on our trip to Target yesterday, we found this beautiful notebook for her to write and keep her stories in.



Right away she went to find the stories she has written so she could rewrite them in her new notebook.



It may pass, but if it does, we will still have something cool from her childhood for her to show her kids one day. Her story notebook.

And if it doesn´t, this picture may be worth millions one day :) HA!!

I love to see my children developing new passions.

Family Time

This weekend we had a great family conference at my home church. We had a Spanish Pastor of a church in Puerto Rico that was such a blessing, and taught on a simple way, on a way that everyone on every level of their Christian walk would be blessed by the teaching.

As Christian moms, I think we always pray that God would show us ways that we can be better moms, better models to our children, and of ways to point them to Him. As I have three girls, I pray that God would allow me to be a good testimony to them, to be a good example, that they may learn good habits of a godly mom and wife. That is so hard, but I praise God for His mercy, because He gave me three beautiful, sweet girls despise of myself.

Some of the main points that God highlighted in my heart from this conference are

- God, and to please Him, should be the number one priority of every member of our family.

- Love is not just a feeling, it is also a choice.

- It is important that every member in the family knows the role that God has given them, and that they would do their best to fulfil it. To take a role that is not yours, is to change the order that God has for a family.

- Our husbands need and deserve our respect.

- We are to be an example to our children. We are to lead them to Him. We are to teach them to fear Him and love Him.

- We must not let materialism, lack of correction, personal sin, or poor example, destroy our family.

- We must wait on God. Abraham and Sarah decided to "help" God when He had promise them a child, and we can still see the consequences of that bad decision. He wants us to submit to His will, and wait on Him.

- We must pray together, we must have family devotions together. That would bring our family closer together.

- We must have the right priorities in the right order.


Simple points, but so important.

What kind of kingdom do I want?

Pro 14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.


Every time I read this verse, at least every 14th of the month, I am reminded right away of the power that our actions as mothers, wives, have to affect the state of our homes?

Our hands, no only can make of a house a home, or of a home a stumbling block, as a place in itself; but we can help each one of the people that live in our homes, our husbands, our children.. we can make them feel love, supported, protected; or we can make them feel push to want to find a corner where they can hide.

Our husbands are biblically the head of our house, but we are the queens of our homes,

What kind of kingdom do I want to have?

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?

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!

Make your Home Sing Monday: 7 things your kids must hear

I have been reading an awesome book that I would encourage everyone to read. It has been a great blessing to me, and I know it would to anyone that would read it. It is call “Words kids need to hear” by David Staal.

I wanted to share the main points of the book, because I believe if we apply them in our lives, our children, and our homes will be singing beautifully.

This book gives you 7 things your kids must hear. And then it goes on to give you the why and the how. I am also sharing phrases about those points that I have taken from the book and underline.

1.- I believe in you. To show them that no matter what, they´ll always have somebody who believes in them. Slow down to look and listen. To look and listen for opportunities to speak encouraging words requires a parent who willingly slows down from high speed of life; efforts worth noticing then become far more obvious.

2.- You can count on me. Kids long for someone to rely on, because life offers plenty of opportunities for disappointment. Make sure your child knows how important he/she is. Not based solely on what she says, but also by what you choose. What I am saying is that when you´ve committed to go someplace or do something with your kids, then don´t let “something better” come along and change your plans.

3.- I treasure you. Kids long to feel special, the kind of feeling that comes straight from a parent´s heart. Not as a result of performance. Not for physical appearance. Not earned at all. Children need to feel precious, prized, valued, or cherished—you pick the term—by mom or dad solely because they´re kids and because kids are worth treasuring.

4.- I´m sorry, please forgive me. Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they never failed to imitate them.

5.- Because. Don´t just tell them you love them, or they are special, tell them why, make them feel unique and treasure. As a weekly habit, challenge yourself to bring to mind how, and the reasons why, you´ve affirmed your child lately. Make sure this challenge includes the question “Have I shared the specifics with her/him?”.

6.- No. In addition to hearing you say no, a child must learn to take that word seriously enough to obey it.

7.- I love you. We can best define unconditional love by showing what it does. Unconditional love shows love to a child no matter what. We love regardless of what the child looks like; regardless of her assets, liabilities, or handicaps; regardless of what we expect her to be; and, most difficult of al, regardless of how she acts. Love matters too much to leave it assumed and unsaid.



If you take those points and apply them to your vocabulary when you are talking to your kids, I believe your home will be singing beautifully. For more Make your Home Sing Monday go over Nan´s

Anniversary bands

Today I am sharing a before and after photo by joining Alicia with her weekly meme "Friday Photo Flashback"

Sorry for the photo, but I had it only in my wedding album scrapbook and I couldn´t get it out. What I am trying you to see is our wedding bands. I think I had the most beautiful engagement ring. The most special part of it for me is that Matthew and I never went to see rings together. So he had no idea what I liked. He picked that ring by himself, no help from anyone, so to me that made it even more special and even more beautiful. It came from his heart to mine.

If you want to see this photo bigger, you can just by clicking in it.

As many of you know we just celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary. We were planning to go to Rome, but the crisis is hitting everyone and we thought it would be smarted to postpone the trip for better days :).

Still, it was our 10 year anniversary and we knew we needed to get something special for each other. Something that would be with us forever.

So we decided to buy new wedding bands. We still wear our original ones, but here in Spain, the wedding band are wore in the right hand and it is just a band (no diamond). They are also suppossed to match.

My wedding ring doesn´t fit in my right hand so I have been wearing a ring that Matthew bought me when we first were going out. I was fine with it, of course, but always wanted to get matching ones one day.

So this is what we found and we love it!

As you can see it is one part white gold and another part yellow gold.



This are the flowers Matthew got me too.


Have a good weekend everyone!

Thursday´s memes

Once again I am joining Carin for her great meme. I am liking this meme, it is making me take photos (or someone else :)) o me with the girls, something that I know, will be very special for them and me in the future.

No, the photo is not uploaded wrong. We were all having fun in my bed. We went to wake Noelia up from her nap, and turned out into a fun tickle fight :).

Also, I am joining Truth 4 the Journey on praising God for His many goodness

1.- I praise God for being able to start the chiropractor on tuesday. Although I a in major pain while I am getting the massage, I notice that the rest of the days, my headaches are a lot milder.

2.- I praise God for the rain. We have had a couple of colder days and it feels so good. I can start seeing snow in the mountains around us. It is a beautiful sight. I know soon I will be wishing for the warmer days but.... for now, cool is what I want :)

3.- I praise God for answering prayers. There in something that we have been praying about for a few months regading our family, and we are starting to see God leading. We don´t understand His will and leading sometimes, but we know that His ways are better than our ways.

4.- I am praising God for my daugthers. My two oldest ones are in love with reading, and I just love seeing that passion on them.

5.- Today I was able to share a little bit about our faith with my oldest daugther´s teacher. There is something that is going to take place in the school that we don´t want our daugthers to participate in. I was talking to the teacher wanting to know exactly what was going to take place to see if I was going to be sending the girls to school that day or not. Then, to my delight she mention that my daughter had talk to her about her not wanting to take part and why ( my little 7 year old daughter used to be a testimony!). She wanted to know more though, so I was able to share a little more. It is in times like this when I see why God put us in the school He did (public school) although I know it is not the "popular" thing to do among christians, and even not what I had in mind. God has a plan for every family and we just have to make sure we are doing what God wants us to do.

Count your many blessings see what God has done!

LoveNuts

Jill posted this questionnary in her blog the other day. I thought was pretty cool and decided to use it :)- I did ask first :)

♥What are your middle names?
Mine Pilar, His Gordon (I didn´t tell you J)

♥How long have you been together?
We just had out 10 years anniversary

♥ How long did you know each other before you started dating?
We were introduced 1 year minus 1 week after we got married.

♥ Who asked who out?
He asked me out, but I have to admit that I threw a couple of hints :)

♥ How old are each of you?
I am 31, he is 33.

♥ Did you go to the same school?
Nop.

♥ Are you from the same home town?
Nop. We were not even from the same country. My sister and her family moved from Spain to AL so my b.i.l. could pastor a Spanish ministry

♥ Who is the smartest?
He is, I believe, at least his grades proof it :)

♥ Who majored in what?
He is a business major and also has a missions major. I didn´t go to college, but I have an administrative assistant "degree"

♥ Who is the most sensitive?
Me, I think.

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Right now, in an Italian restaurant

♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Spain or USA depending on from which side of the ocean you are reading this :)

♥ Who has the worst temper?
ME withouth a doubt

♥ How many children do you want?
We are happy with the three we have.

♥ Who does the cooking?
ME, although he makes some awesome burguers

♥ Who is more social?
I think I am more open to talk to people we don´t know and start conversations. He is more shy. But everyone that meets Matthew likes him a lot. I can´t say the same thing about me :)

♥ Who is the neat-freak?
Him. His shirts have to be all hang in a certain way in the closet and they are colour organized (yeah, I didn´t tell you that either)

♥ Who is the most stubborn?
I think we hold a tight on that one.

♥ Who wakes up earlier?
Him, he is a morning person. I get up early because I have no choice. He does it because he likes to get all those things done before the rest of the house gets up.

♥ Where was your first date?
Well, we could count two different first dates. The first time we went out together he took me to a sport store because I needed to check into a football for my brother in law in Spain (there is the hint I sent him so he would ask me out—he is pretty shy), but his sister came along because we were also friends, and so the next ones after. So the actual time that it was just him and I was to a football game (I wanted to go to one) and the he took me to cracker barrel to eat dinner (yes, I am a cheap date :) what can I say, I like simple :))

♥ Who has the bigger family?
Him. They are 7 and we are 6

♥ Do you get flowers often?
I get them occasionally. Not too often that I would get used to and not appreciate them, but neither too far apart that I would miss them.

♥ How do you spend the holidays?Usually as a family. If we are close to our extended family we probably would get together with them.

♥ Who is more jealous?
I am not sure. We are not jealous people, neither has given the other the possibility to feel jealous.

♥ How long did it take to get serious?
I had him from hello ;)

♥ Who eats more?
Him, but he runs and loves sports so he doesn´t look like it.

♥ What do you do for a living?
Missionary work

♥ Who does the laundry?
Me generally, but he would help no problem. As a matter of fact he does.

♥ Who’s better with the computer?
He is probably

♥ Who drives when you are together?
He used to always drive but he hasn´t gotten the Spanish driver license yet so lately I have been driving to stay away from tickets

♥What is your song?“I do cherish you” by Mark Wills—we were into country

10 years later

10 years ago today, God blessed me with the best husband I could have dream of.

Is a dream that is lasting 10 years. 10 years full of blessings. 10 years of walking together through roses and rocks.

Still, loving each other, even more than 10 years ago.

I am looking forward the next 10 years, 20, 30, 50, 60... years together, because I know, that no matter what happens, he will always be by my side.

Love is a great blessing!

Have a great weekend everyone

Btw-- No, I am not in Rome, we had to cancel the trip :) Not a good time :)

More Photo Friday Flashback over at Alicia´s

Joys and blessings

Once again I am joining Carin for the challenge of posting a weekly photo of me with my girls.

Noelia right after her bath. This girl is silly, sweet,beautiful and funny.

My girls are going to break some hearts when they grow up.. :) you know, when they are ready to get married at 45 or something.... hehehe




Also I am joining Sonya at Truth for the Journey on praising God for His many goodness.



1.- I a thanking God for a better week with my headaches. I still have them but they are ok to live with :) I know that lots have to do with the many people that are praying for me. The prayers or th righteous abideth much.

2.- I am thanking God that I was able to go to the doctor yesterday and told me the reason for my headaches is nothing to be concern about. I still need to go to the neurologist, but he thinks is probably stress related. I don´t feel stress, but I know that with the girls, the ministry and everything else there is a lot in my mind.

3.- I am thanking God that the doctor send me some sessions wth the chiropractor though, those always help.

4.- I am thanking God that He has allow me to be married to my dream guy for ten years. Tomorrow is our 10 years anniversary. Can you believe it?!!! Time sure goes fast when you are having fun :)

5.- I am thanking God for another week without sickness in our home. Colds, flus, stomach virus, fevers.... everyone is getting them. But praise God my house has been able to stay out of it. I pray God may give us a healthy winter.

Have a wonderful blessed day.

By the way. Thanks to those still praying for baby Jenna, she is improving and her levels are normal after only 3 sessions of chemo. Praise God! They will continue with the treatment though so please keep praying.

Once upon a time...

Friday is here and, once again, I am joining Alicia at More Than Words, for her Friday meme.



This meme is a great opportunity to go through all the photo albums and bing back memories from past blessings. In this post I am also using digital photos (the last three), I hope Alicia forgive me, but I couldn´t tell the whole Once Upon a Time story without them. :)

So once upon a time, there was young american guy that had just finish college and gone back to his hometown. And there was a young spaniard girl that was going for a short trip to visit her sister that had move the year earlier, with her family, to start a spanish ministry in AL.

They meet and quickly feel in love. Shortly after they were married.

(Oct, 16 1999)

They were blessed, they were happy.

(Dec 4, 2000)

And a couple of years later, they were blessed with beautiful baby Kayla.

(May 6, 02)

They were so happy, and to their surprise, 10 months later they found out that they were expecting again.

(Jun. 2003)

Nicole was a Christmas present, and a baby doll for her older sister.

(Dec.23, 2002)

By this photo, the Lord has called us to Spain, and Matthew had finish Bible College. We were on our survey trip and getting ready to start deputation. Our lives were changing. My husband was an accountant and now we were going to the mission field. We were excited though looking forward seeing what God was going to do.

(Sept. 2004)

But they changes didn´t stop there, and in the middle of all the traveling, we were blessed with yet another beautiful blessing. Our Noelia. I remember I was feeling so sick but I din´t want to do a pregnancy test because I was just so sure it couldn´t be..... but........ it was :)




(July 28, 2006)

I praise God for His goodness. For the wonderful family He has given me.

July 2009

Once upon a time I was lost, but He found me.

Once upon a time I was a sinner, but He saved me.

One upon a time I was undeserving, but He blessed me.

Once upon a time I was empty handed, but He fillled my hands with blessings.

I praise the name of the LORD!

Prayers and Praises

The most important part of today´s post is what I am about to share. I know many of you are prayer warriors an, I know, that many of you will pray. So today I am coming to you knowing that the prayer of the righteous abideth much.

We have some friends that have been praying for years for God to bless them with a baby. God granted their prayer request and gave them beautiful baby Jenna. She is only weeks old, but we jut found out that she is in the hospital with liver failure.

They are doing test on her to find out the reason for the failure and to figure out if she needs a transplant or not.

I am also asking you to pray for her parents, Mark and Christy, for much strength for them. I know how much I hate seeing my kids with a little fever, so I imagine that this must be very hard on them.

Would you remember baby Jenna in prayer?

I am wanting to also join a couple of memes that I have done before on thursdays and that I enjoy.

"Mommy is missing from the pictures, help us find it!" Isn´t it cute. Join Carin in Forever in Blue Jeans for more mommy photos :)

Also, I am joining Sonya from Truth 4 the Journey with Thankful Thrusday. We have so much to be thankful for, and God calls us to praise Him before the multitudes that they may know of His goodness.

1.- In the last couple of days, God has brought to my mind again the blessing that it is to have healthy children. I have three wonderful, sweet, intelligent, healthy girls, and I KNOW it is only by the goodness of God in my life, and His blessings upon my family.

2.- I praise God for the liberty I have in Him. This morning we were out passing our tracts, and again I know it is by the goodness of God that we live in a country where we can freely pass out christian literature, we can leave information in mail boxes, and I can pray wherever I am.

3.- I have had headaches for the last 7 years on and off, due to knots in the muscles of my back and neck. This past month has been specially painful, but still God has given me the strength I need to do the things that need to be done. And when it is not so, He has given me a wonderful husband that has taken those "undone by me things", and done them for me.

4.- I praise God for answer prayers. I have a sister that has been away from church for many years and now she is back with her family. I praise God for that!

5.- I praise God for how He shows Himself to me by showing me the things He wants change in my life. And how He is merciful and faithful to forgive me when I fail.

And last, but not least, I would like to thank Cris from Mommy´s Journey for the cool award she has given me. It comes with a questionnary that I will do in a different time. Thanks so much Cris!!!!

Thank for reading if you have made it this far.... I know it was long!

Have a wonderful day!