Saturday, April 30, 2011

Oh Jeans

Ever have one of those moments that you don't know what to do? Don't know what the ethical thing to do is - don't know which action will make you feel better????
I've had 2 of those situations happen within 24 hrs to me!!! And to think I could be $120 richer if I acted a different way.

Yesterday checking out at Michaels, I see $20 bill laying on the ground, I pick it up and ask the lady at the register beside me if it's hers. Of course she responds yes!!! I do really think it was hers, b/c she was older and very thankful for my honesty. Ugh! There was that split second that I was hoping she would say it was not, and I could take it home with me. :/

Then today - randomly we decide to go to the College, b/c they are having a big yard sale. All different people come and "buy" a table and can try to sell things. So we go, I randomly know a couple of the sellers, paroose (sp??) around and happen to see 2 pair of jeans that are my size, Gap and The Limited brand. I wonder if they will fit, and ask the seller how much she wants for them. She tells me $.50!!! Of course, you can't beat that even if they don't fit, so I pick them both up and hand her a $1 bill.
First thing I do when I come home is try them on. Both of them fit pretty perfectly, which I'm ecstatic about, then I reach in the back pocket of the second pair and pull out some money. At first excitement wells up, then I look down and see a $50 then I start counting it and see 2 more $20 and a $10!!!! That's $100!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW as Richard and I look at each other in amazement and excitement. But not too long and the "what should we do" thoughts come into our heads. Technically she sold them to me, technically it was her responsibility to check the pockets. WE are home and the college is about a 20 min drive. Should we drive back up there? No, it's too far for returning $100 that may be rightfully mine. I don't know who she is, but I do know someone else there. So I look up my friend's number and give her a call. Hoping she confirms in me that it's ok to keep the money. . . she finds the lady - and asks her if she just sold a pair of jeans. Well she remembered me - and my friend tells the lady that I found the $100 and gives her my phone number to give me a call!
Secretly I hope that she forgets about it, or just lets me have it or never calls me. Then I start thinking, should I be willing to meet her somewhere, or mail it to her????
Either way I'm feeling sick - if I kept it, it would probably make me sick, now that I know she needs it and wants it back, I feel sick about losing it. No win situation I guess.
She does call me, and her mother goes to my church come to find out, so i can bring it to church tomorrow. She gave me a story about how much they needed the money etc, etc, etc. I try to not let her hear my disappointment.
So I'll be giving it back!!!! I know in the end it's better to be nice. It's better to do the right thing. Somehow I don't feel better yet though. It would just be nice to have $120 in my hands right now. :)
Oh well. We are fine without the money and not struggling right now - so we should be happy to help others. I really am too - just need to stop thinking about the what if's. :)
I'll be glad in a couple weeks when I'm not dealing with the "should I have tried to contact the person and give it back" guilt.
Just being honest with you all with how the right thing is sometimes so hard!!!!!
Would would you have done? Interested in finding what other options I had. :)

Friday, April 29, 2011





Today I have a ton of things for a blog post going through my head and yet, I have nothing to write about. Weird how that happens. . . .
I was just thinking yesterday about how wonderful it is to be a mother. I get to set my own schedule and say yes or no to whatever I think I can/want to handle. (and usually ppl are understanding b/c you already have kids :). I don't have to get ready in the morning, it can take me as long as it needs to, or I can choose to get dolled up just to run to the grocery store. I can play outside relaxed with the boys and nothing else to worry about. I can cook, clean and organize however I want. I can go socialize pretty much at my own leisure with whomever I want. (ha) I'm trying to remember that being a mom isn't always going to be like this. It is this way b/c my boys are young. It will be different when my boys are going to school with that schedule and homework, and everything else that comes with it. So for right now, I'm thoroughly enjoying my days at home. (it helps that both my boys are on perfect schedules right now, and most days doing what I require of them)

Right now - I love my days.
Now don't get me wrong, I have my moments or even days that I just want to get out of here. That I've heard enough whining to cover the ocean, or that I've seen one to many tantrums from my 2 yr old, or one too many cat naps of my 7 month old. But overall, who could ask for a better life. Spending each and every day with my two most precious blessings.

On another note: I watched a little girl today and one one wednesday - boy are they different. So timid walking around outside while my 2 yr old is jumping off of everything possible and running as fast as he can to his destination. So quiet and peaceful. My boy is well behaved, but he is a boy! And what can I say. . . except that he is a boy!!!! There are many boys surrounding me and my extended family - so I'm not used to girls. Soon I'll be watching 5 boys 3 and under once a week!!!! That will be a lot different I think.

And side note: I really think my boys are so so cute!!!!!!! Every mom is allowed to say that about her own kids no matter what.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

What did we do for Easter

Our Easter weekend

We started out on Good friday, celebrating Daddy's birthday by having cookies and scones for breakfast, and then we went to a friends house to decorate eggs. It was fun to hang out and play with other friend's toys; but the whole egg decorating activity might be better in another year or so. :) it was a fun experience though.

Easter Sunday was a great day!!!! Woke up to such a sunny morning which was so refreshing for the gloomy cold weather we had been having. Got to take some pics outside which is always so nice. and even got some fun things in our "baskets". (except mommy was too cheap to buy them so we didn't really have the basket part :))

This is "US". Some days we love taking
pictures, other days we
love to annoy our parents and
not smile nicely.


We had a nice service at church and then rushed home for our wonderful Sunday afternoon naps. Mom and dad had to make some food, but us boys slept beautifully, and I'm sure mom and dad were really happy about that.

In the later afternoon we went to a friends house for some AWESOME food and a great egg hunt!! It was a very fun weekend full of activities. It was fun once again to play with tons of other kids, and all new/different toys.
We are so thankful for the Cross, and what Jesus did for us, and that he is risen and in Heaven. It's so nice to have one whole day to reflect on that - although my prayer is that we will be living it always.

Graduation?!?!?!?!


Haven't posted in a few days - not sure what's been happening but didn't have time, but don't have anything to show for my busyness, it's weird how that happens sometimes. :)

So as I've alluded to a few times on my blog - we're sorta heading to a big transition in our lives. We've been taking our time deciding and praying and figuring things out. Richard has always been "slower" but wiser at decision making than me, and we compliment each other well.

So I'll back up a little. We moved to Scranton area in November 2007 to start Seminary classes in the Master of Divinity program at Baptist Bible Seminary. We came committed to doing 2 full years, and staying out of debt, paying for it out of pocket. Our (richard's) goals were to take as many biblical language classes as he could, and as many theology classes as he could in that time, and also work through some issues he wanted to nail down in his mind.
We also wanted to discover who we were going to be as a couple. What kind of church we wanted to be in long term, where God would have us minister, and what kind of ministry, and to start our family.
It's been about 3 and half years. And we are probably going to move this summer. It's sorta hard to announce to everyone, b/c I don't want to be taken the wrong way. We hate that we wonder if people will think we're bailing on something, or that we gave up, or that we just don't like it here. None of those things are true, so we want so desperately for no one to think that of us. it helps us to remember the goals we had when we came and to realize that all those things happened. It's just time to move on.
So in admitting that it's time to move on, (if we stay we feel like we will just become stagnant in our lives, and complacent and just drift in life, but not b/c of our current situation, more b/c we have an ulitmate goal of being out west in a church out there) - comes the whole question of school!!!! it's something we both have thought A LOT about!!!!! we are committed to not take out loans, but we also want to have a degree and something to show for the work that we (really only Richard) has done. It's easy to start wishing you had someone else's life that gets a good job that pays for seminary, or a good church situation that helps, or people that for some reason things work out towards going through a Master of Divinity. but we have to always come back to our convictions and our goals. And God's ultimate purpose in our lives - to glorify him and serve him by loving others. So classes at this point aren't too much of an option and we honestly sought after different scenarios to see if they would work out to further school, and none of them seemed to pan out. So we take that to mean - God is ready for us to move on.
So what do we do with the over 33 or 35 (or something like that) credits that we have paid for and done all the work for. Well, God graciously has allowed Richard to transfer them to a Master of Arts Program here, and he will be graduating on May 7th with a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies. Which will not prevent him from one day continuing on with his M. Div degree, but allows us to leave here with something in our hand and the time and money here not wasted!!!!!!
This is a huge relief to us!!!! An unspoken prayer that God so mercifully answered for us.
We are so thankful that this was able to work out! And it makes us feel so much better about moving on.
Now we wait for God to show us exactly where and when and how to move on. We do have a couple options we are looking into - but we are patiently and confidently waiting and trusting on the Lord to show us the way and guide us.
But I will be one proud wife, watching Richard graduate with a Masters. :)

Friday, April 22, 2011

Happy Birthday



We love birthdays in this house!!!
Today the love of my life has a birthday. I'm so thankful he was born. I'm thankful for his family in raising him to be the man he is today, and I'm thankful that God chose for us to be married.
You see - I liked him for a while before he "returned the favor", and I wondered if he would ever love me, and now we have the best life ever!!!! :) He really loves me so much and shows me every day.

I made his birthday dinner last night - I made baked Chicken Parmesan, parmesan knot bread things, and a salad with homemade japenese ginger dressing. HE LOVED IT!!!!!
I also made his favorite cookies (peanut butter dough with snickers in the middle!!!!) I am terrible at keeping surprises, I had wanted to put them in his lunch wihtout him knowing - but ended up just showing him the cookies in the morning when we got up. :)
Tonight we are going out to eat and that in and of itself is a huge celebration. :)

Also on a side note: my 2 year old does not care about coloring or making his dad a card at all. I had a wonderful idea, and Carson lasted exactly 1 minute with the little "craft" I wanted him to do. Oh well. Maybe next year. and I had to add the other picture b/c I think it's cute :)

Multi grain Pancakes

Here is the other recipe that I was asked to share. We routinely have breakfast for supper. It's a lot cheaper and for me - syrup with peanut butter on warm pancakes or waffles is comforting. It's an easy cheap meal, why not. I'm thankful Richard is ok with this theory too. :)
This recipe was given to my by my sister in law. She made them one saturday morning for us. They are hearty, but the little bit of cinnamon is so good!!!! I also added some vanilla, just because. :)

Multi Grain Pancakes

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup cornmeal
  • 2 teaspoons granular no-calorie sucralose sweetener (e.g., Splenda ®)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 egg whites
  • 2 tablespoons plain nonfat yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons skim milk
  • 2 tablespoons water

Directions

  1. In a medium bowl, stir together the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, oats, cornmeal, sweetener, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, yogurt, milk and water. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, and mix just until moistened.
  2. Heat a skillet over medium heat, and coat with cooking spray. Pour about 1/3 cup of batter per pancake onto the skillet. Cook until bubbles begin to form in the center, then flip and cook until browned on the other side.



This picture is not my picture either - it was the one on the recipe thing from Allrecipes.com. They taste way better than they look in this picture. hahahahaha

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Banana Bread

Again - I in no way claim to be a "chef" or "baker" - but recently have been asked about a couple recipes, so I'd thought I would share.

Does anyone else feel like their cooking isn't very good?? I can make a meal exactly like my mother does and just am not as fond of it. Maybe it's the work that I myself put into it, or the ingredients or the memory that heightens the flavor, but I just think my food isn't that great. And I try a new recipe with very high expectations and excitement of how it will taste and am often disappointed.

But I do enjoy cooking/baking, and I love doing it for other people and for my family. So I keep pressing on, and maybe one day I will be a "chef" or a "baker". :)

First one on the list is my Mother's Banana Bread!!! My husband claims this is the best banana bread he has ever had. . . (I think he's just nice to me). I have no idea what would make this recipe different than other's but here it is.

Banana Bread
1 cup Sugar
1/2 c. butter
3 mashed bananas
1 egg
2 cups of Flour
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt

Cream the butter and Sugar. Add the Bananas and Egg. Then add the dry ingredients. Simple as that. Although I will add, I never make this without adding some chocolate chips to it. And sometimes nuts. :)

Bake 350 Degrees for 1 hr.
Makes muffins too, or mini loaves or whatever you want to do with it. :)

(wish I had pictures but I don't :( )

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Buenos días

I grew up in Ecuador, South America ( I always add that b/c someone did ask me if it was in Africa one time). That means I speak/write/read Spanish fluently. This talent is nothing I did for myself. Probably if I actually had to work for it, it would never have happened. I don't remember a time when I didn't know Spanish. I learned how to speak/read/write English and Spanish at the same time. My mom used to not allow us to speak Spanish inside our house so that we would not forget our English. This "talent" has become very beneficial to me my whole life. Every job I've ever gotten was b/c I was bilingual.
I had high aspirations of teaching my children Spanish and wanting them to be somewhat competent in a second language. At first with my firstborn, I would talk to him as a baby in Spanish throughout the day. Then it started getting harder and harder for me to remember. My excuse - Richard doesn't speak Spanish, so our household is not Spanish at all! And lets face it - who talks to a baby very much. I found it hard to talk with him when I was getting no response from him at all!!! ha.
Then - he started learning words. I thought "perfect, I will teach him the spanish words". Have you ever tried to teach a kid how to say ball or please in Spanish? Not easy to say at all!!!! (pelota, por favor) So again I stopped. :( I wonder if my kids will learn it at all. And to be honest with myself it's up to me. :(
Now he talks a lot and has quite a big vocabulary. So I would really like to be intentional with teaching him the Spanish words. I thought videos like this will help me. (disclaimer - some out there have terrible pronunciation, and I will not stand for that in my house, but this one is good)


Sunday, April 17, 2011

2 Months

So to keep you all "accountable" - I've made it 2 months now with getting up early and still going strong. I really am starting to look forward to it even more. And it is getting easier to get up. I feel like I have so much more time in the mornings. And I've even started getting up earlier, like 6ish so that I can get my exercise in too. That gives me so much more free time at nap time and during the day, b/c the 2 biggest things for myself are already accomplished.
How have you all been doing?

Richard also got me a John Piper book titled: When I Don't Desire God, How to Fight for Joy. This book is so good, and I'm just bubbling over and wanting to share it all with you mothers out there. I think as mother's for some reason we are prone to "depression -like tendencies" or sadness or loneliness. At least I hope I'm not the only one. . .
In talking with a lot of my friends I do find this to be true. I battle this "depressed" feeling often. Exercise helps, and making the effort to see people or show other's love in some way helps, but in starting this book, I have realized there is no reason for this feeling. I have not read it all - but the whole idea of Piper in this book, is that we need to find joy and pleasure and happiness in Christ Jesus and what he has done for us (mainly the gospel in it's entirety), and that in turn will bring Glory to him, which is our ultimate goal in this Christian walk. He gives so much scripture and psalms. It's so convicting to read.
There is no reason for me to be sad - God has done so much for me and promises me so much, and gives me hope for every day. I need to preach to myself the truths of the Scripture when I am bending toward the lonely feelings, and realize, that if I find my hope and happiness in Christ, I will be glorifying him. How Freeing - I can most Glorify God when I am happy! Why do I get "depressed" or sad? I can be free and find my joy and fulfillment in him, and he will be Glorified.
Lord, may this be my life - may I remember this every day.
I will have to post every now and then excerpts from the book. There are so many things underlined. I'm anxious to encourage other mothers out there with things this book has taught me. And looking forward to sharing scripture to encourage also.

Psalm 35.27
Let those who delight in my
righteousness shout
for joy and be glad.

Psalm 17:15
As for me, I shall behold your face in
Righteousness, when I awake, I shall be
satisfied with your likeness

Friday, April 15, 2011

8 Minute Abs??????

I used to play sports. I played college soccer (don't get too excited, it was for a small school in Northern Wisconsin in the NCCAA yes, double C for Christian, meaning not as competitive as NCAA). But I did enjoy my time on the team, and enjoyed sports over all.

Now I'm a mom of 2 boys, without very many opportunities to play team sports - so I've taken up exercising. hahahahaha. I do enjoy the feeling, and I enjoy being fit. And I believe that consistent exercise is for EVERYONE! and really makes you feel better about your self, gives you energy and is healthy. I like to think I'm a runner. But when compared to real runners, I just jog a few miles a few times a week. hahaha. nevertheless I enjoy it, so I keep at it. Maybe one day I'll run in a half marathon race . . .

I saw on FB that a friend of mine was talking about these 8 minute Ab workout on You tube! Sounded interesting to me. And on days when i don't run, I like to work on my abs/core. (I did just have 2 kids, one c-sec so it could really use it) I was skeptical - but found it pretty challenging. Then I also did a buns and arms workout, both 8 min long. Doing that a couple times a week is better than nothing. Plus as a mom - 8 minute workout sounds perfect. Go check them out!!!!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

I really like this song

This song has been going through my head a lot lately. We have a lot of decisions to make, and we're waiting for God to show us, guide us, and provide for us. I feel like we're stepping out into darkness, with nothing ahead of us. We're so uncertain of what to do, and have so many questions. We just keep saying "What are we supposed to do" We want something to fall from the sky saying "this is where you're supposed to go, this is what your supposed to do, and this is how I will use you"!!! But that doesn't usually happen, so we wait!!!

Waiting is not easy for me. It feel pointless and like we aren't doing enough. But God sovereignly gave me Richard who is so wise and patient. So we wait and pray, confident that God is good no matter what, and he has promised to bless us, and gives us hope through our salvation.
I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord
And I am hopeful, I'm waiting on You Lord
Though it is painful, but patiently I will wait

And I will move ahead bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I'm waiting I will serve You
While I'm waiting I will worship
While I'm waiting I will not faint
I'll be running the race even while I wait

I'm waiting, I'm waiting on You Lord
And I am peaceful, I'm waiting on You Lord
Though it's not easy no, but faithfully I will wait
Yes, I will wait

And I will move ahead bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I'm waiting I will serve You
While I'm waiting I will worship
While I'm waiting I will not faint
I'll be running the race even while I wait

I will move ahead bold and confident
I'll be taking every step in obedience, yeah

While I'm waiting I will serve You
While I'm waiting I will worship
While I'm waiting I will not faint


By John Waller

Not what I had in Mind

I am always thinking I don't do enough developmental things with my 2 year old. he has always been pretty easy going, and played well by himself. I myself was never very good at inventing games or playing with things as a kid, so I'm finding it hard to relate to my kids, I always since I can remember loved sitting with adults.
I had seen on someone's blog that their toddler played with water pouring it back and forth from containers and that it was a good thing for them to work on. This lady had a boy, and he was on a towel. So I think, good idea - pour a little bit of water into a pitcher give him some containers, and say, ok, have at it!!!! The very first thing before I can even show him what to do, he dumps all the water out onto the towel!!!!! (guess I'll have to try it in the tub or outside first). then I remember, oh, I've also seen beans been done before. So I open a package of dried beans and pour them out, what's the first thing he does??? yup, you got it, dumps them all out.

right next to his brother on the floor. I did
try to pay close attention that
his brother was not rolling over
and putting them in his mouth.
Now also know about me, I'm a little OCD (or something like that) about messes in my house. I'm not the cleanest/neatest/most organized person, but messes I can't handle. It has taken me a while to just let all the toys be out at the same time, without picking them up and putting them back in, as he put them down. So this whole bean thing was driving me nuts. I kept cleaning them up, and putting them back in the container as he kept spilling them everywhere. hahah
He did play for a while with them, and did enjoy playing with them, and did dump them back and forth from the containers, while making a mess. And I got supper prepared, and the dishes done. :) And beans were pretty easy to clean up. :) All in all - a good activity for a rainy day.
What a goofy kid - where do they come up with this stuff?

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Souvenir


If you've followed my blog long or know me for any length of time in person - you know that I LOVE COFFEE!!!!! I love waking up in the morning and smelling it brewing, then taking my first sip of the hot beverage and letting it warm up my insides as it goes down my throat. I grew up in South America so I have been drinking coffee since I was very little. (and even at one point in our lives, we grew coffee beans, dried them, roasted on open flame, ground and brewed it all ourselves). Everyone drinks coffee there as the morning beverage. They do put sugar in it, and a lot of it, or make it with milk, and I do like it all those ways. I say over and over how thankful I am that Richard started drinking coffee b/c now we can enjoy it together every day. We can go to coffee shops, we can buy good coffee, and we can always relax over a cup together. Now we drink it black and my husband thinks you're not a true coffee drinker unless you drink it black. (I am not picky as long as the coffee isn't too cheap, I can drink it anyway). It's better for you black, and costs less, and is easier. :)
B/c I love coffee so much, I'm always looking for "cool", comfy, trendy mugs. WE found one that I like a lot on this trip, so I bought it as a memory to have!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

How do you say thank you

My heart is filled with gratitude towards dear new friends of ours.
Just within a year we have gotten to know them. They have twin boys only a couple weeks younger than my oldest, Carson. Carson loves playing with them at church and the couple times we've gotten together with them. Excellent parents who are doing a great job raising twin boys.
When Richard and I were thinking about going on our getaway we were trying to think of who can watch our boys.

you see, we live in Scranton
with only one sibling near by,
she happens to have 3 boys under 3 of her own.
As much as she does great with our boys,
and we trust her completely b/c she is family,
i did not want to burden her for 2 whole nights.

This new couple was an option. (helpful husband so wife didn't have to do it all herself, big enough house, and available car space) When we asked them if it is even a possibility - they were more than willing to do it so unselfishly. They realize the blessing of having family near by for themselves, and were wanting to help us out for Richard and I to be able to enjoy ourselves. They even did it happily so happily without one complaint (at least to my face hahaha). I know it's no small thing to take care of someone else's 2 boys. I am so blessed and hope that one day I will be able to help another family out in the same way!!!
I do have a few options in mind of how to say thank you - but would be open to suggestions. :) (they wouldn't take money from us. :( )

Monday, April 11, 2011

Nothing like it!!!!!

There is nothing quite like a Weekend getaway with the love of your life once kids are involved in the mix of daily lives!!! I'm so thankful that this weekend worked out, and I'm so thankful that Richard worked so hard to make it possible (even by donating plasma so we could eat out a few times!!!) :) I think we appreciate these moments so much more b/c we realize how precious they are
We only went about an hour away to a place called Woodfield Manor in Paradise Valley (right around pocono Mountain area, close to Tannersville outlets) What a beautiful relaxing quiet place to retreat to together.


He was very happy to help me get a couple pictures
Neither of us enjoy taking them,
But we are so thankful to have them
in the end.
This was our little resort. very quiet and relaxing
Our little mini apartment/room. Had a fireplace and we
could crank the heat as much as we wanted
with no worry about the bill.
Very enjoyable little place.

We drove down on Friday night, and ate at a chain restaurant, and went back to our place to cozy up and watch a movie. That was a relaxing night. Saturday was a beautiful day!! So sunny. My loving husband even went on a run with me to show me how much he loves me. it was so quiet, peaceful and sunny. We went to a local diner for lunch, and he bought me a nice DD's iced coffee!!! (if you know me at all, I have a very open addiction to Dunkin Donuts, md French Vanilla Iced coffe, with Cream and sugar!!!!, It's very bad!!!) (but if I'm drinking hot coffee, give it to me black :))
This weekend happened to be the Masters (golf) and Richard was psyched that he had so much free time to watch it. :) and Since he ran with me, why not let him watch a little golf right?!? :)
We had plenty of time to relax, discuss things, and read, communicate about our future. Just what we needed for right now!



Saturday night we got all dressed up and went out to eat.
We had found a restaurants.com gift certificate
(which by the way is such a good deal)
So we tried out this place.
it was so tiny when we walked in. they had live jazz music playing.
everything was so enjoyable at that little quaint place.
food was great too!!

After dinner, we found a small coffee shop
(since we both love coffee!!!!)
and sat and enjoyed a nice quiet atmosphere in Stroudsburg
So now the weekend is over. What a joy to come home to pick up my boys!!!! Feeling refreshed and rejuvenated in God, my relationship with my husband, and with life.
Of course, neither of my boys are phased by our coming home and were upset to leave the fun house with other boys to play with and cooler toys. :( But I don't take it personally and am thankful they were good while we were gone with no separation problems.
We have a lot of uncertainty coming in our future, but we are ready to face it head on, having Faith that God will lead us, just as he promised.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Pictures

I can hardly contain my excitment today. Few of you know why - but for safety's sake, I will tell you all about it after this weekend. But I am SUPER excited!!!!!!

We got pictures taken the other week of our boys - 2 yr old ones and 6 month ones. We have friends that are starting out in the photography world, and they do a great job!!!! They did a complimentary session for us when Landon was first born, but this time we paid them (although not very much at all!!!!! Thank you to them)

So believe it or not I was stupid enough to decide to schedule the photo shoot on a sunday late afternoon. What was I thinking????? Our boys are the crankiest ever on sunday afternoons, with church and everything. If they get a good nap in, they wake up super cranky for some reason, and if they don't sleep good, they are cranky on Sunday afternoons. For some reason I thought it would be fine. So we rushed home from church, did lunch really fast, and threw them in them in their beds for naps. Of all the weeks, both of them took about an hour before they even fell asleep!!! Anxiety is starting to well up in me that they will be grumpy, then we wake them up (didn't let them sleep until they wake up) and literally throw them in the car to make it to our "apppointment" on time. Crying starts up, and they are very worked up about the ordeal!!!!
As we drive, I'm trying to calm myself, but realizing this is not going to be a very good photo shoot, and they are going to be very grumpy.
So I anxiously walk into the house sorta excusing ahead of time any outbursts of crying.
But guess what - lo and behold - they were so good!!! So happy!!!! pretty cooperative!!!
What a pleasant experience for everyone involved (at least the photographers told us that anyways) :)
Go here and here and here and here to see a little glimpse of them, and I will be sure to post more when we get them back!! ;)

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Great Fellowship

I think we spent 5 straight days with people. (6 if you count the night I watched my neighbors kids for them) I love a good social life and thoroughly enjoyed each event.

Saturday sticks out in my mind and I will hopefully remember it forever. We got together with a couple we met through the Seminary. One semester Mr. M and Richard were the only ones in a Hebrew class. So they got to know each other very well. Mrs. M. serves with me on the SWF committee so I've gotten to know her. Both seemed like wise, humble people, so we wanted to get together with them. Great food!!! Great conversation. We left thinking - we want to impact people how they impacted us. So humble! So Spiritual in all their conversation - but not one ounce of "fakeness" in them. Totally sincere. Great wisdom as experience parents. Humbling and convicting for me in my parenting mindset.
First time ever I was at someone's house on a saturday night that we prayed for the services and the pastor's for the next day. And not awkward at all - very eye opening, and wonderful. Thank you God for putting that night in Richard and I's life to show us how far we have to go in our walk with you, and that we have people to look up to. (another great thing - is we got free babysitting, from a trade off thing we started with our neighbors!! so excited about that too)
Even if we never get together with them again - we are changed couple b/c of them!!!

Monday, April 4, 2011

1st Time Ever Party

My name is Jessica Gardner. I grew up in Ecuador SA and loved every minute of it!
I started blogging in 2007 (first blog was about cockroaches in our apartment hahahah) b/c I thought it would be a cool thing to keep me occupied while on this journey of life with my husband. We were married November 2006 fresh out of college. Since then we have moved from Grand Junction CO, to Scranton (yes, the OFFICE scranton) PA for my husband to attend Seminary to get a Master of Divinity, to be more equipped to lead/pastor a church one day.
We have 2 boys -Carson 2 years old, and Landon 7 months. I always wondered if I would enjoy mother hood and without a doubt I lOVE it!!!!!! Best thing ever!!!! I am a busy social person - but now that I'm a mother of 2 I love being at home, on a routine and teaching my boys. (but I do love a good social life still :)) I guess it helps that they are super happy boys as you can see in the pictures.
I also enjoy sports (well used to play a lot, now I just dream) My hobbies are running and trying to make jewelry. I would not say I'm a runner yet, but I do aspire to one day be able to run without batting an eye. I do after about 3 years enjoy it - now it's building up endurance.
I strive to love God, and then love people every day. God is constantly showing me my pride and selfishness. But I'm thankful he is teaching me and leading me.
Big decisions coming up - and probably a big transition, so if you come back you will be able to keep up with where we might be next.
I blog about anything that comes to my mind. :) Running, kids, spiritual journey, daily life, and events in our lives.
First time to join a blog party that I heard about on 5 minutes for Mom. Join In! :)



Mornings


So I write this post, not to say how good I am at all! But to be honest with how hard it is for me.
Waking up in the mornings is so so so so hard. As you know (if you've read my blog consistently which I'm sure is so many people. hahahaha) I have been striving to wake up in the mornings to read my Bible. That has been working out pretty good for about 2 months now. (I'll post more on that later).
Now is the next phase - I'm tired of running in the afternoon, getting dressed 2 times, showering in the middle of the day, and looking disheveled until 3pm b/c I know I'm just going to get sweaty. (which btw has worked the whole winter hahaha) So I want to start running in the AM before Richard leaves for work. So now I set the alarm for 5:45!!!!!! What in the WORLD!!!!!!!!!!! I've only done a couple times so far! and it is the hardest thing ever to get out of my nice warm bed, next to my husband.
Honestly the only thing that makes me do it - is thinking of how guilty I will feel if I don't do it, contrasted to how great I will feel if I do get up. And the fact that if I get up early and read/run I will be able to sleep again during the boys nap time. hahahahaha. good motivation huh?!?!?
Just some thoughts for this morning.

p.s. - I did not take this picture neither is it I in the picture. Still on the stupid (I'm very thankful for it!!!!) treadmill until it's at least 40 degrees at 6:30 AM

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