He delivers

So I told him what I wanted....and he delivered! So I think he overdid this one a little...but I'm not complaining. So we aren't a hug fan of Mexican restaurants (surprised? I was a little too..but when you've tasted the real stuff from Mexico, there is just no comparison). Anyway, I am addicted to the chips and salsa from a restaurant located by us (Plaza Jalisco). Seriously folks...I could drink the stuff (Francisco tells the workers there that his wife drinks the salsa so that is why he has made frequent trips there:) Anyway, check out the picture...it's a glass of salsa and a huge bag of chips. I think he wanted to avoid trips to this restaurant for a while:) To say the least, I craved and he delivered. What a man!

PS Don't pay attention to the grease spots on the bag...it's okay the chips are fat free! ha!

A little different....

So pregnancy the second time around is a little different. With the first one I could rest when I wanted and puke when a wanted. Now...hmmm...just a little different. I now just make it to the sink in time to vomit while I pee my pants at the same time (that's right Emily Ward...you are doomed on this one:) I vomit and pee at the same time). Also while all this is going on, my son is playing between my legs and tends to think I am a jungle gym. It is quite interesting.

I live from nap to nap and hope I have enough energy to tend to my son and the other children I take care of during the day. When I feel sick all of a sudden I stick a movie in and lay on the couch while my child jumps all over me.

So yes, my second pregnancy is just a little different:) I hope I survive past my first trimester.

Guess What?

3 Amigos

Don't these guys make the cutest 3 amigos:) So sweet. This picture just makes me want to squeeze their cheeks.

Brokeness

That's right folks. I have a broken nose. And yes my 18 month old son did it. Let's just say I hope this is not the beginning of all the pain he is going to cause me in my life:) No one told me this was part of motherhood...but I guess anything can happen!

**Tomorrow, Monday I am suppose to get it fixed...please pray for me. I am scared:(

I'm missing you today

It's so strange to think that she is gone. I loved my grandma and I loved spending time with her. Sometimes we would just sit together and say nothing, but it felt comfortable. She was my friend. I am missing her today. I will forever cherish her and the time we spent together. How fast life passes by. I am thankful that my son was able to be with her for a year of his life. I pray he will remember her gentle touch and her sweet words she would speak to him or a song she would hum to him. I miss you grandma.

Just want to share....

I just wanted to write and share with you all how good and gracious the Lord is. It just hit me tonight (and about everyday) that the Lord supplies everything we need and so much more. Francisco and I smile and sometimes get a chuckle out of the way the Lord works. We are considered poor in the eyes of the world. We just make enough money to pay rent, the bills and food...the basic needs. But, we seriously live like rich people. It is so sweet to see the Lord provide. Let me share some of the things in our lives that have been given to us by other people. This list blows my socks right off my feet!

1.) Our so comfortable bed (wedding gift)
2.) Our awesome bedroom furniture.
3.) Our laptop
4.) Our printer
5.) Our Kitchen table
6.) sofa and love seat (that are only 4 years old)
7.) T.V. stand and end table
8.) Guillermo's bed and dresser (pretty much is whole room)
9.) A nice T.V. and sofa that are in our basement
10.) Clothes for Guillermo and toys and shoes.
11.) all of our dishes, cups, etc.

Practically everything in our home has been given to us. Now, these are the materials...seriously if the Lord is excited to give us this much how much more excited is he to give us his time. I have a relationship with Him not because of the gifts he gives me, but because He satisfys my deepest needs. He is the reason I was created. I am so thankful for the hope that is found in Christ Jesus. I don't worry about bills, rent, clothing, food, shelter, transportation, etc. because I know from experience that the Lord has never failed to supply us with everything we need. There is so much more to this life than materials, but I am also encouraged when the Lord blesses us with things we never even dream of having.

Precious

Isn't this a classic. This is the good-bye window. All the kids go there to wave good-bye to mommy or daddy. The one on the right is Lauren. She usually comes once a week. She is a cute one!

My gang

Num!

Here is the video to his discovery

New Discoveries

So Guillermo got this candy bracelet from his grandma. He had no idea what it was and actually made his wrist immobile when he had it on. He then stuck it in his mouth, like he does with everything and discovered that it tastes sweet. Num! He says.
So here are some pics of him discovering the bracelet...

So then a few days later he sees me wearing a necklace that looked like the candy bracelet and sure since his bracelet tasted good why wouldn't my necklace? So he dug in...sucking on my necklace and sucking a bit harder thinking maybe it would start tasting better. Hilarious. No pictures of that event. But, I do have a pic of the necklace and you will see that it does sort of look like a candy bracelet.

Mistaken Identities

Wow. I just watched the Dateline special on the Mistaken Identities and I definitely recommend watching it. You can get it over the Internet and watch it while you fold laundry:)

I am not sure if you all heard in April 2006 when 2 women got mixed up, so while one family buried the one they thought was their daughter and another sat 24/7 next to the hospital bed of who they thought was their daughter...they discovered 5 weeks later that it was a tragic mix up.

Both of the families are believers and are amazing in their interview with Matt Lauer. I cried mostly at the faith of these two families and the wisdom and truth that flowed from their mouths. It was one of the best interviews I have seen. And I thought if people don't walk away attracted the Jesus I would be surprised. They challenged me in my walk with Jesus and gave me hope. What amazing families and what amazing young women of Jesus.

Felicidades

Congrats to our friends Joel and Luz on their marriage MArch 20th. They are a sweet couple from church/Bible Study. It was cute Guillermo saw Luz (the bride) before anyone else and he just got really excited and starting cooing at her. It was funny.

Guillermo and their nephew showing some love at dinner....

The friends we sat with at dinner. Maria and her son Omar (Rosendo, the dad and Mayra, the daugther were in Mexico at the Casa Hogar for a missions trip.) They are another sweet family we have gotten to know through Bible Study.

So for dinner we went to Plaza Jalisco (behind Wal-Mart). If you ever go, I recommend tacos al carbon. Mmmmm...it was delicious! And a very beautiful wedding.

Marriage to a Mexican Part 1

So, being married to Francisco I have realized the many differences between the two cultures. Some make me laugh, some make me frustrated and some make me ponder the meaning.

Anyway, I was always brought up to fend for yourself as far as food. Now, we get together my mom cooks and we have big homemade meals. But, for the most part because of our busy schedules we would grab something to eat and run. My mom was not in the kitchen for all 3 meals cooking and making sure that my dad was fed and fed well. Waiting on him hand and foot.

Well, in the Mexican culture it is completely opposite. The woman is slave to the kitchen, but prepares meals with love for each member of her family...often she will eat the scraps because everyone has eatten the food and ran. She is then left to clean up all the mess with not a bit of help. I sometimes wonder how she finds the passion to keep on cooking.

In our marriage, we have had to find a happy medium. Why Francisco is not extreme on wanting me in the kitchen for every meal and waiting on him hand and food, he very much does appreciate being fed and fed well. I think that is one way he definitely feels loved and appreciated.

SO this brings me to my point. I am super willing to cook for Francisco and have meals ready for him, becuase I actually love to cook and see my man happy because of what he is eatting. BUT Francisco is a picky eater. Why he likes many foods from here in the States, he also dislikes many. And I absolutely hate throwing food away. So when I make him something I am taking the chance that he might not like it and then I have to eat it for a whole week straight:(

So sometimes I opt not to cook. Which then becomes an issue between us.

So the other day I attempted tamales (one of his favorite foods) for the 100th time in 3 years. I was feeling ambitious. This time they turned out!!!!!!! YES. I did it, I made them like they make them in Mexico. Let's just say the Lord shed a whole lot of grace on my cooking that night because I had the right heart about it. I have made them 3 times since and each time they taste just as good. I may sound like I am boasting....but let me tell you, after 3 years of failing I am excited to celebrate. I totally pleased my husband with some good tasting tamales! Mmmmm.

If you are unsure of what tamales are. Here is a picture below. You make the dough (tortilla) then you fill it with meat, cheese and salsa and wrap it in a corn husk and then you steam them.

Easter Blessings

So for Easter my parents decided to come to our place and cook for us. It was a sweet blessing to say the least.

My dad grilled ribs and chicken and my mom made 2 of Francisco's favorite dishes. After lunch my mom and I listened to Francisco and my dad snore as we cleaned up the dishes.

Here are some pics of the day....

As I was uploading the pics I realized that I didn't even take that many pictures. Where's the grandma? Where am I? :) We're there you just can't see us!

Catch!

So this one is funny. Francisco and I were doing the "toss a grape and catch it with your mouth" game. Not sure if you all played that with popcorn or whatever. But the point is you throw it up in the air to the other person and the other person catches it with their mouth.

Well we were all done and Francisco chucks a grape at me and it seriously landed exactly how I am pictured. So I wasn't playing, I was just looking at him and this is what the result was when he chucked it at my face. This is the original pic...I made him take a pic so I could prove it to you all. It cracks me up! We laughed for a while after that.

Breast milk anyone?

So contrary to what some people may think....I am a fairly organized person and I can't stand it when things are unorganized for me because then I can not efficiently do the things I need to do. So anyway, as some of you know I take care of children during the day. Things run pretty smoothly for the most part. Each have their own spaces designated for their things and nap time...so I am not running around trying to find a diaper or pacifier.

Anyway, Francisco and I's room has been designated the room for just the babies. None of the toddlers are to enter....that way the baby's bottles and pacifiers do not get put in the mouths of the toddlers.

Well this week we started taking care of Ella and she is almost 2 months old. Last night I realized (a little too late) I forgot to remover her bottle from our night stand. Just as I looked up my son was downing a bottle of someone else's breast milk. Um, not so cool.

I think Francisco still has not kissed him since. Oh my child...you can never underestimate what he will do. He always makes me more aware that I need to be more organized:) Or maybe more on my toes:)

My boy

Okay what is up with this face? He is definitely my boy:) I love him.

Sylvia

Oh and we can not forget to share pics of Ms. Sylvia Broffitt with you all. She is an absolute delight! We only get her one to two times a week in the mornings, but Guillermo absolutely adores her.

Life Realization

Now more than ever in my life I have realized how quick time passes by. After having a child I have become prisoner to time. There is just not enough time in my life. I see my baby growing and discovering new things and I suddenly find myself drifting off in the thoughts of him someday marrying and having his own children. I completely skip the preschool, grade school, high school, and I am right on to marriage and children. Oh wow! Despite the fact that this may seem like an obsession, I am glad I have realized that my time hear on earth with my child and others is precious....far more precious than working long hours just to pay for materials I may desire to have.

After what seemed like would never happen in my life, in May 2005 I graduated with a degree in nursing. Since then I have not passed my state boards in order to become a licensed nurse. Although I know the desire is still there I have put that part of my life on hold for a bit. I chose to stay home with Guillermo and in doing so I decided to take care of a few children. I have discovered the passion I have to teach and to nurture children. The Lord has blessed me with a few families and I realize my part in sharing Christ with the children and also the parents. It is a rare opportunity to be able to have a direct impact on the whole family, having one on one time with each person is something I love.

Anyway, here are some pictures of our friends. Guillermo absolutely loves each one of them!

Mackie and Emma (after I did their hair)...they are my after school girls. These girls have become like a part of our family and they love Guillermo so much (the feelings are mutual). I know I will miss them a lot when they no longer need a sitter.

This is Alec and Guillermo. We actually have not seen Alec for a month because he just had a new baby sister...who we are so excited to meet in about a week! Alec is such a sweet kid. He calls Guillermo, "Elmo". That is his way of pronouncing Guillermo:) So cute.

**So my whole point of this post, besides introducing you all to our friends was also to say that I love what I am doing in life. I know the Lord has called me to this right now and I am so thankful. And although I have a huge school loan (that could be paid off easier if I were a nurse), the Lord has not only provided for our basic needs, but he has blessed us richly. He has given us beyond what we need. We never go without food, shelter, clothes, transportation, gas, heat, etc. Francisco and I always say, we live like rich folks without a penny in our pocket. And doesn't that make so much sense? We are children of God and therefore richly blessed. He blows my socks off. We fully understand that we do not deserve any of this and we never entered into a relationship with Jesus just for the blessings he would pour out on us....but we are so very thankful that he does bless and richly so.