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Simon Says

Spiritual Intamacy

We finished our series on Improving Communication in marriage. This week's topic was growing closer to your spouse through spiritual intamacy. We listed ways we could get spiritually closer to our spouse....
1. Read the bible together
2. Pray together
3. Pray aloud for one another
4. Attend a marriage conference
5. Do a devotion together.
6. Discuss this weeks sermon and how to apply to your lives.

Also we listed things that would get in the way.... we've heard them all... no time, kids, work, etc... truth is nothing should get in the way of spending time with God.

Then we listed one thing that we as a couple would commit to doing each day.
Eddie and I chose to read Psalm 16 together every night.

1 Keep me safe, O God,
for in you I take refuge.

2 I said to the LORD , "You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing."
3 As for the saints who are in the land,
they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. [b]
4 The sorrows of those will increase
who run after other gods.
I will not pour out their libations of blood
or take up their names on my lips.

5 LORD , you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.

7 I will praise the LORD , who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the grave, [c]
nor will you let your Holy One [d] see decay.
11 You have made [e] known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand

iPod it is....

I have been debating back and forth whether or not to purchase the iPod mini. And if I get the iPod mini, what color, 4 gb or 6gb... there's a $50 difference and 500 song difference. Should I turn my palm into an mp3 player, it would be cheaper, but I'd have to keep up the little storage discs that will hold all my music... after weeks and weeks of debating, I've decided to get the iPod mini pink 4 GB @ $199.00. My birthday is coming up in May, so with all the birthday money I receive (hint hint) I'll go out and buy one. I can't wait.

I signed up Isabel and Emma for swimming classes beginning May 30th... Eddie doesn't know it yet, but I had a $200 credit that I had to use at the swim school that we go to. That would have well covered for one of the girls, but didn't want the other one to feel left out... It's once a week until August 15th... Eddie will have to work 4 times, so I'll need someone to go with me and get in the water with one of the girls.. any volunteers? let me know on the side by emailing me.

Tonight is our marriage class, I'll let you know tomorrow what was covered. Tutalu

Milestone..

Emma is officially eating 2 small jars of food a day, and she is rolling over and over and she can hold her own bottle. When I pick her up in the afternoon, she stretches her arms out to me.... too cute.
I'm bringing the walker home from the sitters today so that way she can start practicing... she loves to stand, I think she'll enjoy the walker too.

Salvador

Friday nights' concert was Awesome!!!!! I felt like I was 20 again, my younger days.... Going backstage, going on the bus, sitting on my car talking to the bass player.... ah memories.
Friday we saw a Christian band named Salvador they played alot of latin music, since it was "Congresso", a hispanic youth conference. We were in the front row, just praising God singing a dancing. Afterwards I got my cd signed and had a friend who was working security at the autograph table get my congresso shirt signed. I came to work wearing my Salvador t-shirt.
Reminds me of when I was in the 9th grade and my mom took us to see New Kids on the Block, I thought I was so cool when I went to school, wearing my concert t-shirt. Can't wait to take Isabel and Emma to their first concert.

Just Protecting Our Home

Last night could have been better. My dogs were growling and barking at something at the door to our backyard. Not only did they keep waking us up, but they kept waking up Isabel too. This morning I found out what they were barking at.... I walked outside to the front because I was putting the girls in the car and the trash was spread everywhere. I looked across the street and there he was, a big dog looking and laughing at me. At that moment I wished I had a be be gun. I should call animal control, but he's probably long gone by now.

Good Friday?

This day didn't start off well....Rewind to 11:00 am when the phone is ringing and the person on the other line just doesn't take the hint that they have the wrong number even though they are told over and over again. After this incident I come to the conclusion that the family member (uncle #1) that has been staying at my house for the past week has got to go. I tell my uncle #2 "If uncle #1 comes by, don't let him in".... Needless to say I did not sleep well after that. ..... fast foward to right now... Just got a call from uncle #1 wanting to know where Eddie is at so that he can go and help..... rewind to yesterday..... Uncle #1 stayed at home all day, didn't do a darn thing, was watching a movie, as Eddie was loading up all of the wood himself from the garage. How did he get in you ask, through a window.... Oh was Eddie mad.... forward back to my phone call.... "I don't know where Eddie is at... you can't stay at the house any longer".... why? he ask.... "you just can't...." I reply. That's done. Called the house to have someone put his stuff outside.

Rewind..Rewind... to 6:15 this morning... I'm taking my girls to the nanny... Isabel starts to laugh and has a big smile on her face... I couldn't help but smile back. We prayed together for her day, and sang a song..... Something to look foward to... I'm going to the "Salvador" concert tonight. They are a Christian band, that always plays at "Congresso", which is a hispanic youth conference. It's these moments that remind me that it's going to be a good day,

Communicating Through the Trials of Life

Class went well yesterday, we talked about "Communicating Through the Trials of Life"

First prepare for the trials....
List the trials and stresses you are likely to face at some point. (ie death of parents, teenagers, career move)
How do you expect these trials to affect your marriage relationship?

Turning to God in theTrials of Life...
What do these passages say about why God allows trials and suffering?
Romans 8:28, 1 Peter 1:3-9, 1 Peter 4:12-14
What is something good that came out of a trial you faced?

1 Cor 10:13, 2 Cor 1:3-4 What do these passages say about how God relates to us during times of stress or trial? How have you seen the truth of one of these Scriptures in your life?

How should we face trials in our life? (Phil 4:4-7)

Communicating...
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 How you apply this passage to a marriage relationship?

Hope you enjoy this mini study.

Just Bragging...

Isabel is speaking alot more these days, both Spanish and English. She nows the names and the sounds of about 8 animals :
Here's a spanish lesson... (some things might not be spelled right)
chongo, pero, gato, vaca, pato, conejo, rana, & cavayo
monkey, dog, cat, cow, duck, rabbit, frog, & horse

and the 5 primary colors -
rojo, verde, azul, narejado, amarillo.
red, green, blue, orange, yellow

She can sing about 10 songs.
I love you, you love me
Hey, Hey Hey
Twinkle Twinkle
Cinco patitos
Tortillitas
patty cake
On top of spagetti
Saboo
Itsy bitsy spider
She's a lady


She is now learning how to play the harmonica.... My mom bought her one, and she loves it. Emma is rolling over and eating from a spoon she's just so cool.

So much to do... so little time

For the house.

Finish trim, this week.
Paint trim and put a second coat on the walls, next week.
Put in wood floors the week after
Install cabinets and paint cabinets the week after that.

Hope to finish by April 15, to get insepected and close on the 22nd...

If Ty, can build a complete house in 7 days, this is feasible.
For nothing is impossible for God.

Be Praying.

A day without Eddie....

A day without Eddie is lonely... I miss talking to him face to face.
A day without Eddie is hectic... as I pickup, drop off, feed, play, and put the girls to bed
A day without Eddie is scary... as sometimes I have to go home by myself at night
A day without Eddis is crazy... especially if it's a church day, I have to do the job of 3 people... Mother, teacher, taxi driver.
A day without Eddie is exciting... as I can't wait to see him the next day.

This will be one of those days.

Dora is a big sister now.

Yesterday Dora the Explorer became a big sister. Isabel watched this episode as she was taking her breathing treatment. At the end there was a surprise for Dora. Her mom had twins. A boy and a girl. Dora sang to the babies and rocked them asleep. Dora is a big sister now.

Isabel is a good big sister. As I was trying to get something for Isabel to eat. Emma was in her chair crying (don't know why she'd just finished a bottle). Well Isabel got Emma's bottle and took it to her. She put it is Emmas hands and said "Baby, leche". Then she kept trying to feed Emma a mozerella cheese stick.. Isabel is a big sister now.

Nipped it in the bud

Yesterday Isabel was I guess wanting my attention, because she was throwing all of her fridge fonics magnets on the floor. I would tell her to pick them up and she would, but would throw them even further. After about 4 times of this I sent her to her room. After about a minute I let her out and told her to pick them up again and put them on the fridge... you know what she did it. Nipped it in the bud.

Nightmare on Brookwood Ct

One, Two he's coming for you. three, four better lock your door...five, six get your crucifix... seven, eight never stay up late.... nine, ten he's back again...
Do you remeber this song from the nightmare on Elm Street? Well, Freddy wasn't exactly on my street but someone was. I had some bad dreams last night concerning Isabel. I woke up crying twice and had to go checkup on her.
I dreamt that we were close to Mexico, and I was with my girls babysitter. Some man wanted to take Isabel away, but I was like no you can't take her.. take me as well.... Well he said that he'd be back. I kept trying to plead with my babysitter to lets get out of there, but she wouldn't leave. She wouldn't leave... I didn't want to voluntary go, because of the aweful things I knew would happen to me, eventhough my child would be safe. So when the guy came back, he took Isabel, but wouldn't let me go, because I didn't go on my own free will. I was crying and screaming for Isabel and she was too. I'm crying just writing this.... I woke up and told Eddie that Isabel was never going to go to Mexico.... ever. I went to check on her and she was lying peacefully in bed.
I don't know what this dream signifies at the moment. Seeing that it's so close to the Anniversary of Christ's Ressurection. I could relate it to all of my family and friends who doesn't know Christ as their Lord and Savior. If you die, Satan will take you away, and there isn't a darn thing I'm going to be able to do about it. So here it goes. If you want to be assured that you are going to heaven. Just do three things.
A: Accept that you are a sinner and that you need to turn from your sins (Repent)
B: Believe that Jesus died for your sins, and can save you
C: Commit your life to Jesus, and serve him daily.

I've done my part... will you do yours?
With Love,
Michelle

Living by God's Standards

Hey everyone....
Well made it through the weekend. Saturday we bought all our lighting fixtures for the house, cleaned, and had a cookout.... I went to a garage sale by my current house and bought a little tykes slide, and a picnic table for Isabel. Alot cheaper than getting it from the store. She loved it. We also flew kites. By the time Isabel got out to the new house the wind had died down so she wasn't able to fly kites, maybe next week.

In Sunday school, we talked bought trusting in God instead of in religious institutions... and about not being a hypocrite. Sometimes people act differently outside of church. It was a good study. We wrote down 5 things that we are doing that we know we aren't suppose to do....
Ok... write it down...

Next, we wrote down five things that we know we should be doing but aren't...

ok write it down.

Now, make a commitment to God to work on 2 items from either list this week.

Hope everyone has a blessed week.

GPS for Kids

Hey all you parents. Check out these cool new products. GPS trackers for kids.
They have phones and watches.

www.wherify.com

Communication: Listening

Well I lead a marriage class on Wednesday nights at church. I use the books titled HomeBuilders. I've learned alot from these books. So far we've gone through 3. Resolving Conflict, The Marriage Covenant, and now Improving Communication.
Wanted to share what we learned on Wednesday. The 3 keys to listening or being heard.

1. Expression: Let your thoughts be known, people aren't mind readers. Speak clearly.
2. Listening: If you are the listener, the other person has the spotlight, meaning you don't talk, but let them know you are listening by either nodding your head, or other verbal cues, like (really, is that so)
3. Respond: "What is it that you need most from me right now". Many times we try to fix the persons problem, when they don't want it to be fixed. Many times they just need to vent. Let them be the one to tell you what they need.

Status: Isabel and Emma

Well Wednesday Isabel was wheezing pretty bad. Thursday morning took her and Emma to the doctor. Isabel was giving 2 breating treatments in the office, and I am now the proud owner of my own nebulizer. She's got to have treatments 3 x's a day for the next 7 days. Emma has ear infections in both ears. She's got to have medicine once a day for the next 10 days.

This couldn't have happened at a better time. I wasn't busy at work, and my house guest were there to go with me and help me at the doctors office and also to stay at home with them while I went to get their prescriptions filled. Thank you God.

A Big Thank You

Just wanted to say thank you to my unexpected house guests. Thank you for cooking dinner, thank you for helping me clean the house, thank you for doing all of my laundry. You are a blessing from the Lord. And to God, my heavenly Father, I will never get tired of all your blessings. I love you.

Sounds like...

Isabel periodically will point to something and say "What's this?" (wha dis). Yesterday, she pointed to her two poiny tails on her head, and asked that question. I told her "Chongo" spanish for ponytail. Well she started making monkey sounds. You see "Chongo" sounds a lot like "Chango" which is monkey in spanish.

When we got home there were some girls feeding the ducks at the duck pond down the street from our house. Isabel and I got down. "Mommy, quack quack"... She was so content watching all the ducks and sea gulls (I think that's what they were, they were white birds) eating their bread and tortillas. It got cold so we had to go. She said "Bye Bye Quack Quack".

In the car, Isabel started singing a song. It wasn't a song that we normally sing, so I listened carefully to what she was singing. "Samooooooooo" "moo moo moo, moo, moo, moo".... I figured it out. It's a song we taught her about a week and 1/2 ago. It's a song from Veggie Tales Silly Songs "Saboooooo, a chumoo moo a chumoo moo" It amazed me that she remembered it on her own and started singing it. I've got to get the video from her Tia, so that she can watch it.

Emma is starting to eat fruits and veges. We've been putting cereal in her milk for a month now. Yesterday she was chowing down on some applesause. Isabel wanted to take over and feed her. I let her cause she was doing a good job. She is such a good helper.

House

Tile floor is being installed, and we bought the wood floor for downstairs yesterday. It's really rugged, it's going to look cool. Painter should finish the outside and start to prime the inside this week. Also the trim guy will start to hang doors and install crown molding and baseboards. Eddie got all of his cabinet tools moved over to his new shop, so he'll start the cabinets this week too. Told him I didn't need anything too fancy since we are on a time contranint. I'm going to go ahead and put in my vacation for the week of April 22, in faith that we are going to close on that day. Keep praying.

Class Bully

Ok, got a dilema. Isabel is the class bully at church. She is older and bigger than everyone else. So when she wants something and doesn't get it, she starts to hit the other kids. I was teaching her class Sunday night and caught her twice hitting a kid. How do I teach her that this is not acceptable behavior. I've tried spanking her hand, putting her in time out, talking to her.... is this just a phase? Do I continue putting her in time out while explaining what she did is wrong?
Any suggestions? Click on comments below to add a comment. Thanks

Monkey See Monkey Do

On Monday I asked my boss if I could take Friday off so I could clean my house. By Tuesday, I said never mind, I got the house pretty situated. Now it's Friday and things have changed.
Got a call from my grandma, that I needed to clean my house because some relatives were going to come and visit. This sucks because Eddie is working today, so I won't have time to clean.
Should have stuck to my original plan.

___________________________________________________

This morning Isabel and I were brushing our teeth. It was so cute, because she would copy everything I did. So when I turned my head to spit, so did she.... too cute.

________________________________________________

House update:

The walls have texture and the columns are primed to be painted. Tile is being installed in the master bath.

My Keys

Isabel is starting to want to take possession of all of Emma's toys (ok technically they are Isabels, but they were her toys when she was a baby, so I took it upon myselft to pass them down).

There are some big rubber keys that Emma chews on. Yesterday in the car, Isabel had the keys.

Isabel: "Mommy, mi llaves" (my keys)
Me: "No Isabel, son los llaves de la baby" (no they are the baby's keys)
Isabel (turning to look at Emma): "Baby, llaves mine, ok" (baby, keys mine, ok)

Isabel is so funny. We are still working on the sharing thing.

Later on, she said
"Baby mine"
"yes, Isabel the baby is yours"
"mommy, baby mine..."
"bel baby" (Isabel's baby)

Evidently, she thinks if she owns the baby, she owns what the baby has.
She'll be a wise business woman.

Sleepless in Grand Prairie

I hate it when Eddie works at the station. I never get a good nights rest. Last night was no different. I just hate being alone at night by myself with 2 little ones. It doesn't help that I watch Law & Order SVU either. Last nights episode was creepy, I couldn't even finish watching it, so I called Eddie just to hear his voice and then I went to sleep. Got off to a late start this morning just because I was so tired from my sleepless night. Tonight will be a good night, because Eddie will be there.
I realize that I need to turn my fears over to God, easier said than done. I'm still working on this on.

No TV = Good Night

Yesterday, I came to work and told my boss that I might want to have Friday off just to clean the house. Well yesterday after picking out tile for our house, I got home and Emma was asleep. So I thought, perfect, I can clean the house. Isabel started helping me pick up all the clothes to take it to the laundry room. She helped me get the clothes out of the dryer too. I got alot accomplished seeing that the TV was off and I was not being distracted. When Eddie got home I asked him to play with the girls while I finshed cleaning the kitchen, and I had the TV off. Sometimes we get distracted with whats on TV, and that takes our attention away from the girls. By 8:30 all lights were out and we were putting the girls to bed.

Isabel: "no night night"
Me: "Si, night night Emma va ir night night" - (Emma is going to sleep)
Isabel: "Emma night night?"
Me: "Si"
Me: "Vamos orar" - (We're going to pray)
So Isabel gets on her knees in front of her bed, she closes her eyes and me and Eddie kneel beside her. Eddie prays...

Eddie: ".... en el nombre de Cristo Jesus"...... (in the name of Jesus Christ)....

Before he can finish you hear a big "AAAAAMEN"

All the same to me

Sometimes when I'm in the car, I put my makeup on. The first thing I put on is my lotion. Well Isabel of course wants lotion on her face too, so I put some in her hand, and she proceeds to put it on her face. The other day there was a can of mouse that I was using to put on her hair. Being that it is white like my lotion, she proceeded to get the excess from the bottle and put it on her face. It's all the same to her.

Off to a good start

This morning we got off to a good start. I woke up only 6 minutes early 4:54. I took a shower, folded the clothes in the dryer, put more clothes to wash, got dress, got the girls bag ready, read my bible, ate breakfast, got the girls in the car, got gas, dropped them off at the baby sitter, and got to work all by 6:30 am....

I wish every morning was this successful.

Walls are up.

The walls of our new house are up. Yeah! It's so cools to be able to walk through out new house and see a "house" not just boards. Hopefully our driveway will go in today, if it doesn't rain.

My Mission

Eddie taught sunday school yesterday and it was a really good class. It was over Jeremiah 1:5-18a ... anyways it was about 1: Assignment 2: Equipment 3. Confirmation 4: Assurance.

I encourage everyone one to do this.
1. Think of something you'd like to do, either at home, work, or at church.

Did God put that in your heart, it could be your assignment from him.
How has God prepared you in your life to complete this task.

Example....
Eddie is minister of evanglism.... He could see that God prepared him throughout his life for this mission... At 15 he sold newspapers door to door. At 17 he managed at shift team at Pizzahut. In his current job, he deals with people in all kinds of situations.

For evangelism, he goes door to door, talks with people in different situations, trying to sell them in the fact that Jesus is the way to salvation.

2. Equipment: God gives you his presence and power to complete the task.
3. Confirmation: If it's something from God he will confirm it through dreams or other people.
4. Assurance: It's up to you to complete the task. Be assured that you can complete it with God's help

Great Study!

Simply Amazing

Firefighter, paramedic, cabinet maker, contractor, husband, dad, minister of evangelism...

These are some of the hats that my husband wears. He is currently building our house, (a first for him), and it's truly amazing that just by reading, watching a few shows, and researching, he is building a house. And let me tell you, this house is the best build house I've seen. I won't go into details, but trust me it is. Anything he puts his mind to, he accomplishes it, that is what is so amazing. He is a jack of all trades. I mean he's not a sports fanatic, but he knows the world of sports, He know a little about alot of things. Amazing. He is such a hard worker, not only does he work at the station, and is building a house, but he also comes home and will clean the kitchen, or fold some clothes. He's a great dad, and husband. He always prays for us, and takes care of us.

He amazes me everyday.

Things that go bump in the night

Emma was sleeping in our room last night, and we'd been asleep for a while. Eddie got home from working at the house and came to bed. Then we hear "bump bump - budadump - bump".

Eddie: "What was that?"
Me: "That was Emma farting."
Eddie: "Whaaaat? I thought that was you tapping your fingers on the wall."
Me: "Nope, like father like daughter."
Eddie: "ha ha ha.... I can't wait to tell the guys at the station, they'll get a kick out of this, because that's what I do in the middle of the night"

Oh, the things that makes a father proud.

The Next Mariah

Emma is starting to play with objects more, by grabbing things and putting them in her mouth. Now I've got to go through all of Isabel's old toys and pull out some rattles...

When we were at my mom's I had a proud moment. Isabel took one of my nephew's spidermans', of course this did not sit well with him, he's having a little problem with sharing. Nevertheless, my sister got on to him, and he started to cry. Then my big girl came back into the room and saw that he was crying and patted him on the head saying "Ya, Ya, Ya.... shhhh Tacob" and then she gave him his spiderman back. I felt so proud, that she showed compassion, and selflessness. Then my nephew showed appreciation by giving her a play cell phone. A truce was formed.

As we were driving home, Isabel was talking into her cell phone imitaing the way I talk into my Nextel phone when I use it as a walkie talkie. She'd say "Hi Papa, hi mama"..In a loud voice, just like I do - too cute.

"Always and Forever" from the 60's played on the radio, which happens to be mine and Eddie's favorite song. It was so cute because Isabel started singing right along with us, singing high, low, soft, and loud. Then when Tom Jones' "She's a Lady" came on, she picked it up real fast, singing ....."lady.. wo, wo, wo".... when we got home I had a duet on my hands, Eddie would sing "She's a Lady", and Isabel would come in with "wo, wo, wo", quite the pair those two...