hello??

i don't think i had ever been away from my blog for this long.

everything has been so busy lately and unfortunately, blogging got the short end of the stick.

there has been so much going on lately, all good.

God is good. always.

how could i have lived so long not believing that.

well, to be honest, believing that for others, but not for me.

do any of you struggle with that feeling of not being worthy?

of not deserving his amazing love and grace?

that miracles are for others who believe but not for you, 

and not for a girl like me?

that's what i believed. 

i did. it is not a good feeling.

through prayer, fellowship with good friends who love God, prayer warriors,

women of faith all placed in my path by God 

because of them i can freely embrace my identity in christ.

i know what the word says about me. 

i will no longer fall prey to the lies i once believed, 

as long as i keep reaching out to the one who holds me in his hand.

i am no longer who i used to be a year ago...

god has been working in my life chiseling, refining me, to be who he has called me to be.

i am like a flower...it's my time to bloom.

i am like a caterpillar undergoing metamorphosis in it's cocoon,

ready to soon burst open and enjoy my new wings...a new creation in Christ.

only Christ has the power to work miracles in your life.

do you believe that?
believe with all your heart

"For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified..."
Romans 10:10

thank you for visiting and stopping by

speaking words of love

i know valentine's day is over and that it has been a little over a month that i posted.

life seems to be slipping by these days.

if you are still here reading this lil blog of mine,  i thank you for staying.

this valentine's day i decided to make my boys a heart banner.

one day while at my sister's house this past summer, i picked up one of her books on parenting. the author shared a story on how she decorated her children's rooms for valentine's day. She wrote words of encouragement to her children on hearts and posted them on their door. i thought to myself, what a great idea. far too often i forget to point out how wonderful i think they are. i know it, but do they?

i decided to make this heart banner for each of my boys.

i saw several similar ideas floating around on pinterest.

i chose words that describe qualities that i love about them and stamped them on the front of cut-out hearts. i used scrapbook paper i purchased at michael's.

on the back, i wrote selected bible verses to pray over each of my boys.

my little one especially liked it. he enjoyed reading the words and it also prompted a good conversation about the meaning of each bible verse. He looked forward to reading the new bible verse each day.

at first i thought that these banners might be a bit "girlie" for my boys, but i know that they felt encouraged and most of all loved. It is my hope that my boys learn that they are loved by God.

i just wanted to share with you an amazing book if you are a parent raising young children.

i admit at times parenting is hard! this book is a game changer. you should read it.

* disclaimer, i staged this picture and added the comforter and girlie pillows.

 by no means does my son's room look this girlie. my son would probably not be happy if he knew this was his bed.

give mom some time off during the day and this is what happens.

thanks for visiting.

it's the little things

 i finally was able to get to styling {fixing, cleaning, organizing, de-cluttering} my bookcases.

i don't know what it was but every time i tried, i just wasn't feelin it.

 after putting away all the christmas decorations hubby and i cleared the shelves.

this gave us a clean slate to start with.

he set up my small camera collection that i plan on adding to.

i am slowly working on adding more vintage items to my decor.

 

i also found this adorable flying piggie at home goods, it was black but hubby spray painted it for me.

i love it,  it reminds me to dream big. i have always liked pigs, and animals for that matter.

as you can see evidence of that with the menagerie of animals in my bookcases and around the house.

 

this new kitchen towel just makes me happy.

it is colorful and goes perfect in my kitchen.

i just enjoy sprucing up my little home.

there is something about january that makes you want to clean and start fresh.

it's the promise of a new beginning, a new opportunity to make your mark,

to set things right, to start anew.

i am looking forward to this new year.

i am looking forward to the amazing things god has in store.

things one can't even imagine but he has them all planned out for us

ready to pour his amazing and never ending love on us.

what are you trusting god for this new year?

have you thought about it?

happy new year

wishing you a happy new year.

around here we have been doing a lot of this.

 plenty legos to be built.

 we spent christmas eve at my parents' house. the boys love their tita.

we left santa some hot chocolate to wash down the cookies.
we enjoyed a quiet calm christmas day visiting family.

i don't know about you but after christmas i like to put away the decorations,
clean and reorganize things that have long been over due.

i finally was able to style my bookcases. pictures to come soon.
my living room doesn't get much light and i need to wait for a sunny day to take pictures.

i am looking forward to this new year.
i hold on to God's promise to us in jeremiah 29:11

I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out-
plans to take care of you, not to abandon you, 
plans to give you the future you hope for.

my hope is in him.

wishing you and yours the best year ever.
thanks for visiting.

new music

i bought this cd last week at a conference and i am in love with the music.

i've tasted and seen, of the sweetest of loves,

where my heart becomes free and my shame is undone

in your presence Lord

the Torwalt's were amazing live. 

the worship music touched my soul.

it is the perfect mix of worship and rock

i like my jesus a little rocking :)

this is another one of my favorites

wishing you an amazing weekend.

randomness

is  randomness even a word?

so today i thought i would share with you my breakfast.

this week was a 3-day off week, can you see my big smile as i type this,

i thought not but trust me it's there.

i love 3 days off!

mornings are pretty busy and i don't get a chance to eat breakfast 

until i come home from dropping the boys off at school.

this is what i ate, the whole (almost empty) bag of my absolutely new favorite, Tapatio Doritos.

if you haven't tried them you gotta! 

but i must warn you, if you do not eat chile, these are not for you.

and as if to compensate, i had two hardboiled eggs for the protein, ha.

my mouth is salivating thinking about the Doritos, they taste even more delish with lemon. 

hey what can i say, i am mexican, i think everything tastes better with lemon.

the great thing is that doritos are (i think) gluten free. 

i am trying to stay away from that stuff although it is a challenge because i love to bake.

after finishing off my healthy delicious breakfast, i proceeded to finish reading my bible entry for today.

 this is my first time reading the one year bible, i am in the book of Samuel.

it is good, i am on the part where Saul is trying to kill david 

but the Lord is protecting David.. good stuff i tell ya.

 and my weekday companion was doing this.

who can blame him. i am thankful for this time i get to spend with him. 

as always God knows exactly what i need and at precisely the right moment.

wishing you a week full of joy,

thanks for visiting.

on spring {nap} break

caught this guy napping on what seems to be his new cozy place.

the boys and i are on spring break this week.

hubby went back to work :(

number two had a minor surgery today.

 when we got home, we all took a nap including the doggies.

i haven't much energy for anything else today but maybe this quick post.

i am just grateful to God that overall my boys are very healthy.

i pray for parents of sick children who have to endure the suffering 

and even sometimes the loss of a child.

God bless you and yours and may he keep you young and healthy.

40 days of gratitude

 this wednesday, our church embarked on a total spiritual transformation

Regenerate

it a similar to the catholic lent tradition where you give something up for the forty days before resurrection.

Last year i did it. it was very powerful and life changing.

it truly prepared me for god's blessings. at the time, i was not aware of what God's plan was for me 

but now i have witnessed his promises and faithfulness in my life. 

last year almost to the day in my daily time with God i wrote this in my journal:

acts 14:22

strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true the faith.

"We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God"

 i prayed that god would give me discernment to figure out whether or not to leave my position, whether or not to take a leap of faith and scale down.

i also prayed for contentment in the midst of attacks and complete chaos.

...at that time, i worked for someone who brought negative energy and ugliness to a once peaceful, joyful work environment.

i was unhappy and was made to feel like that was no longer my place.

at the end of the school year God in his divine purpose and plan rescued me...

through my forty day journey to seek him he showed me things that i needed to work on to strengthen my walk....he told me that things and stuff were not going to make me happy...

so i gave up shopping during regenerate.....

because of this decision i was able to pay off unnecessary credit card debt and save money.
{preparing me to receive his blessing}

at the end of the school year God took me in his hands and gave me a new assignment...

i won't say that all was hunky dory...i was really hurt and was made to feel unwelcome, unwanted, and unworthy by my supervisor....
i was fearful to leave a job that provided a good income...
but most of all i was scared at first to trust and follow Him.

i was faced with the decision to leave my former assignment and school after 13 years...

this was not easy...

but in the midst of all this hurt and pain...God heard my prayers, and my sister's prayers, and my friends prayers...

God knew my heart...

i had been seeking him and speaking to him about my hopes and dreams.

amongst all the pain, fear, wickedness
he blessed me with an opportunity to work part-time...


And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28


If God is for us, who can be against us?

now i see why things happened the way they did... God had a plan for me only i did not know it yet.

We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.

i thank god for this...i can truly say that i am happy working part-time.

i am still seeking God and asking for guidance.

i pray his will be done in my life and though i may not always know what his plans are for me 

i rest assured that

his plans are to prosper me and not to harm me,
 to give me hope and a future
jeremiah 29:11

this year, God has also been preparing us for his divine purpose.  I know it. I want to challenge you to join me on this total spiritual transformation. The purpose of Regenerate is like Lent in that you give something up, you "disrupt your business as usual routine with a purpose to seek, and deliberately pursue God". But unlike traditional lent, you are to ask yourself these questions:


What are you willing to give up?
What will you start up?
And how will you step up and attempt something for God?

if this is something that you are interested in doing here are some links for more information:

you can download the daily devotional here

things i am giving up:

one cup of coffee

sugar and sweets

white flour products

things i am starting up:

fasting (that's a big one for me cuz i likes to eat)

spending quality time with my boys

praying for the needs of others

40 days of gratitude

things i am stepping up to do:

praying for the needs of others

being more intentional with my boys in reading the bible.
encouraging others to seek God.
being the voice for justice and truth
helping others find their voice and stand up to injustice

So as part of my regenerate campaign, i decided to do a
40 days of gratitude on my blog.

I was inspired by other bloggers who are doing 365 days of gratitude.

 here are my first three days:

Day 1 February 29th

grateful for an awesome worship service to start Regenerate.

the band is a-m-a-z-i-n-g. Paul Stephens is our worship leader.

Day 2 March 1st

my sister Rosa's birthday.

she is such an inspiration to me...

no matter how difficult life gets...she always has a great attitude

and isn't afraid to try new things.
she is brave!

Day 3 March 2nd

a day off to spend celebrating my boys!

they were both selected for student of the month for

self -discipline

number 2 read one fish two fish to his class.
both my boys are in a Dual Language Program where they are learning to be bilingual and biliterate
{in English and Spanish}

he is such a good reader and truly loves reading books.

number one with proud mama

he is such a hard worker and truly enjoys learning.

wow, i am ever so grateful to God for my boys and family!


have a great weekend, and thank you for visiting.
if you managed to read all of this thank you for listening to my journey of faith.


whatever you may do
Be AWeSoMe!

butterflies

i have always had an affinity for butterflies.

when i taught second grade, it was my favorite unit to teach.

i also think there is something amazing about the butterfly

  it starts life as an egg, then a caterpillar

and as a caterpillar it must feed itself to grow,

get ready to morph

into a beautiful unique creature.


image from here

i feel like a caterpillar right now

feeding my soul, learning about myself, taking a leap of faith.

getting ready to morph into something uniquely created by God.

I must be honest with you
 i am a little scared but i know through God that i am not alone on this journey.

God is with me and he does not abandon us.

He calls us to live the life that he has purposed for us.

"For I know the plans

I have for you"

declares the LORD,

"plans to prosper you

and not to harm you,

plans to give you

hope and a future"

jeremiah 29:11

doesn't this pillow look comfy?


aren't these butterflies beautiful? i found them here

Hope you have a great weekend!

shopping...it's a complicated thing

hello..hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

i believe that this Easter was the most meaningful one for me in a very long time.

lots has happened since last Easter 2010.

to put it in perspective..my nephew christopher who had down's syndrome also developed leukemia and past away last year, march 30th. he died right before Easter.

 {i was going to dedicate a blog post solely to him and perhaps in the near future i will...but right now i can't} 

this year my church embarked on a program to regenerate.

 it is kinda like lent where you give something up during the 40 days before Easter. I grew up catholic so this resonated with me. Everyday we had a bible passage from psalms to read, then we would pray and reflect.

I decided to give up shopping..i tried that on for a bit and realized that i needed to set limits and boundaries for myself...because it was so hard..i feel ridiculous admitting it because it makes me feel very materialistic..how hard can it be to stop shopping right? for me it was {i am ashamed to admit}

so i decided that i was not going to buy anything personal like items of clothing or jewelry or shoes or purses all of which i love....i'd love to say that i was able to accomplish it but i succumbed one day while i was out to lunch with a friend and she needed to go to Target...i as a good friend accompanied her...and as we were walking in the store I realized

 "how does a girl who is trying not to shop end up at Target..looking at the clothes!"

easier said than done...and so i walked out with a dress..a cute summer dress...

and i discovered that for me it meant shopping trips to Target were going to be exclusively for essentials!

a few times i strolled through the clothes aisles and made myself walk away, the next couple of visits i didn't even stop. I had decided that it was more important for me to follow through with my promise than to buy an article of clothing.

 i learned a lot about myself and now that my forty days have passed

i thought i would have this need to go shopping and buy myself something.  Yesterday I took a trip to TJ Maxx, one of my favorite stores, and bought a few things that we needed like a mirror for the boys restroom {so they can actually see themselves while they brush their teeth}, a new pizza cutter {my very old one broke}, a new pair of oven mitts, and a small cross for display in my kitchen.

 I would say the cross was the one thing i bought for myself that i did not need.

 I had a blouse in my cart that i eventually put back...i couldn't do it, not yet at least.

the gardener's cottage has been one of the reason's why i decided to take on this challenge.

 she has a segment on stopping shopping which really got me to thinking of my own ways.

am i filling a need with shopping?

does that dress or pair of shoes make me feel better?

as for now, i will look at my closet and start to clean it out, simplify.

 i am even thinking about taking this challenge:

1. No shopping for non-essentials for one season

2. No new clothes, handbags, shoes, jewelery

3. Nothing new for the house (knickknacks, kitchen tools, accessories, etc.)

4. No new beauty items

5. Purchasing gifts for others will be allowed

before i start i will need to clean out my closet and inventory what i already have.

i feel that God is speaking to me and asking me to look at what matters...