Matanza Fun

Matanzas are always fun! It brings friends and family together for lots of food and fun! It all starts with a really big pig. Its slaughtered and cooked in the ground. Then family and friends gather for lots of pork, red chili, potatoes and tortillas. YUMMY. The best part of a matanza is the chicharone!!!!

Ohhh, and my baby- he loved it too!

We all need friends and family in our life- They make the world a happier place (and so do matanzas)!

Standing Up For My Beliefs

The Manhattan Declaration

The Manhattan Declaration is intended to make clear a significant point: As Christian Americans who believe each person's life is a gift of infinite worth, we have an urgent, ongoing responsibility to continue standing for biblical principles in the public square.

Given the magnitude of this document, though, I'd like to share with you now why I was so eager to sign it--and why I hope you will, too.

It is important, first off, to note that the Manhattan Declaration is not a partisan or political statement-Instead, it addresses and elevates four specific areas of universal consensus. Some have referred to these as "threshold issues," meaning they represent the foundation of our faith and the pivot point from which everything else flows. This is the bedrock. If we can't agree on these areas of doctrine, everything else will be of reduced value. These four areas are:

1. The sanctity of human life.

2. The sanctity of marriage.

3. The protection of religious liberty.

4. The rejection of unjust laws.

The document is a fresh and lively presentation, a renewed rallying cry to those who have been engaged in this historic effort of spiritual and cultural conversion. This is not a manifesto for culture war; it is a prescription for cultural change. It is also a thoughtful invitation to those who might be sitting on the periphery, perhaps hesitant to join this effort, maybe because they've never been fully aware of the consequences of inaction. As a unified body, we are acknowledging that our faith is strong and redemptive, but it's not necessarily a comfortable and easy pursuit. Standing up for our beliefs can often come at great cost.

Although many American Christians understandably feel under assault, the degree of faith-based domestic persecution cannot compare with the ghastly violence perpetuated against believers in other parts of the world. In the Sudan, for instance, hundreds of thousands of Christians have been slaughtered not because of what they're doing, but because of the One in whom they believe. It is a wise people who act to protect the freedoms they enjoy.

And so I ask you to join me and my friends and colleagues in embracing and standing up for these crucial biblical principles. How? You can start by reading the document, in its entirety, by clicking here. What I think you'll notice is that, in addressing the issues noted above, The Manhattan Declaration is an excellent example of achieving the balance of Truth and Grace required of us as followers of Jesus. This is a document that exhorts us to champion Christian truths in a Christian manner. It stands for something.

Then, after you've read the declaration, consider adding your name to the list of signers--and urge your friends and family to do the same. We are all imperfect. But if we honor God by promoting biblical principles, resisting our sometimes insatiable and admittedly prideful motivations, He will honor us.
 
As Christians there comes a time where we MUST stand up for our faith. God bless.

Thanksgiving

It's that time of year for us to remind ourselves of what we should be thankful for!

I am thankful for the husband who is on the sofa being a couch potato, because he is home with his family and not out on the town.

I am thankful for the taxes I have to pay because it means I am employed.

I am thankful for the mess I have to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.

I am thankful for the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.

I am thanful for my shadow that watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine.

I am thankful for a lawn that needs cleaning, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.

I am thanful for all the complaining I hear about the government because it means we have a freedom of speech.

I am thankful for  the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking and I have been blessed with transportation.

I am thankful for my huge heating bill because it means I am warm.

I am thankful for the lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means I can hear.

I am thankful for the pile of laundry and ironing because it means I have clothes to wear.

I am thanful for the weariness and aching in my muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been capable of working hard.

I am thankful for the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means I am alive!

And most important, I am thankful for all the blessing the Lord have given me!

Have a very blessed and joyous Thanksgiving!

This Weekend

This weekend is going to be filled with good times and great friends! No shopping on black Friday, I absolutely refuse to do that. We have some friends staying at our house from Colorado, a matanza to go to, church, and more time with family (specifically you Bri!). I am excited for this weekend! Lots on my plate, but that is OK. We ALL need to suround ourselves with GOOD people. They come into our life for a reason, and one of those reasons is to spread joy to our hearts!

I have been thinking about doing a matanza (not on my land of course). It is quit expensive, but YUMMY. Just thinking about the food is getting me hungry. Chicharrone, pork, potatoes, tortillas, red chili and MORE pork. Delicious!

Food, family and friends... what more could a gal ask for?

Exercise

Dear Exercise,

Recently I started you. The last two months have been sooo great! You make me feel so great! Everyone could use more of you, some more then others. You are good for my blood pressure, heart rate, and most important my weight. A lot of people have a misconception on what "obese" really means. Because of you I am NOT going to be obese anymore. I obtain you at the gym. Oh how going to the gym makes me feel so good!

Exercise you really are important to me. I never got to serious about you, but I am now! Better late then never. What I loke most about you exercise is cardio. After I do cardio I feel so good!!!! Thank you for coming back into my life. I really needed you!

Today Was A Good Day!

Today was a VERY good day! Donovan got a new job!!!!! A new job that comes with a pay increase. A job that he worked really hard to get. A job that he truly deserves. Good things happen to good people, God blesses those who worship Him!

Liams chickenpox are healing! He looks healthy and happy. Today we went to breakfast. This was Liams first trip out of the house since he got chickenpox. All his pox are scabbed over... so when we walked into the restuarant everyone turned there heads to look at him. He has chickenpox all over his face. I love my son. God has blessed me TREMENDOUSLY with a child. A child that I love. A child that loves me.

My Grandpa is moving into a rehab facility tomorrow- WOOOHOOOO. This is great news also. He no longer needs to be in a hospital setting and can begin to recover! The Lord is good all the time!

Letting Go

I pray every day. I pray every night. Last night my prayers lasted exceptionally long. One of my prayers was for Him to help me let things go. I can no longer stress about things I can not control. I asked Him to help me learn to just let it go. Give all my worries, concerns, and mean feelings I have to Him. I woke up this morning with a renewed sense on life. I have let it all go!

Some people come into our lives and stay only for a short while. Some of those people are friends, acquantences, neighbors, spouses of friends, family and just random people you very briefly meet. Over the past several years different people have come into my life. Some of these people have been true blessings to me- the most important my son! Then there are a few people that have left me wondering why God brought them into my life. I am not one to fight or argue. Yes I will defend myself if need be, however, I am not one to play any type of fighting game. A lot of stress has rested on my shoulders lately. Stress about my Grandfather, stress about my job, stress about my son having chickenpox, stress about my house not selling, stress about my Grandmothers well being, stress about EVERYTHING. So this morning when I woke up with that renewed sense I said to myself "I am just going to let it ALL go". I have decided to not stress about people who cause me stress for no apparent reason (no, I am not talking about the stresses I named above). God has a plan for them. I pray it is a good plan, a fullfilling plan. I prayed that these certain people who have caused unnessary stress in my life find the Lord.

I pray that these people find Christ. I pray that all the anger and bitterness they have in there heart is flushed out and filled with His love. I have let it go. In doing so, I distance myself from those people, and this is OK. I have become the better person by not stooping to there level and praying that they find the Lord.

Sometimes letting go of friendships is the best thing to do. I have realized that this must be done and will benefit all parties involved. Life is a series of choices of how to behave. Often we make those choices automatically, without really being aware of what we are choosing and why. There is no point in denying that sometimes you have to let it go and realizing that there is no future in wallowing in it. Letting go is simply making a decision- no longer to allow something from the past to influence my life now or to reduce my inner sence of well being .

Grandpa

Just a quick update. Please keep praying for my Grandpa. He is still in the hospital and recovering from surgery. He has his good and bad days. Please pray for more good days and pray that he recovers to his healthy happy normal self. Prayers can move mountains!

50/50

The surgeon is giving my Grandpa a 50/50 chance of surviving his surgery tomorrow. Please pray for him. He needs all the prayers he can get. Thank you.

Eight Months

Happy eight month birthday my son. I love you! I can not believe eight months has passed since the day I brought you into this world. I dont know what I would do without you. You are my everything.

My Grandfather

My Grandfather is the STRONGEST man I have ever known. He has perservered through many rough times in his life. My Grandmother and him have been married 59 years. He is a true Christian and worships the Lord everyday. I have never met a man who loves the Lord as much as he does. He attends church EVERDAY and prays the Rosary EVERYDAY. He worked until he was 76 years old. Yes 76. He was a hard worker. He built homes for a living among many other occupations. He has been there for all of his children and grandchildren in EVERY way.

Recently my Grandfather has experienced some major health issues. Things are not great at the moment but we are remaining as positive as possible. Things are going to be really rough for my Grandfather for a while. My Grandfather fractured his hip and does not have a strong enough heart for surgery. Because of this he is going to be bedridden for the rest of his life. The doctor says he will only have 4-6 months to live and will most likely die from bed soars, arthritis or pneumonia. They are looking into the possibility of strengthening his heart enough to do surgery but odds look slim now.

Please keep him in your prayers. I know the Lord has a plan for him and will never give him anything he can not handle. At the same time, I have come to peace with my Grandfather eventually passing. What I am struggling with is the circumstances involved. It is not fair that he has to be bed ridden the rest of his life and try to fight any illness that could kill him. Please pray his heart gains enough strength for surgery, or that his hip heals quickly and he does not have to remain in a bed.

His family is very strong and we are all here to support him, but prayer heals. The Lord answers prayers.

Almighty and merciful Father, by the power of your command, drive away from my Grandfather all forms of sickness and disease. Restore strength to his body and joy to his spirit, so that in his renewed health, he may bless and serve You, now and forever more. Amen.

Eggs & Dairy

Look honey, Liam has a rash all over his legs...

From what? He asks.

I have no idea, but it looks like mosquito bites.

Then he says, well why are his cheeks so red also?

I have no idea, I say. Maybe its hives, maybe he is having an allergic reaction to something...

So we monitored him through the night. He could breath fine and he was not vomitting.

The morning came and he says "You know, I was thinking, when I took him to get his flu shot on Tuesday the doctor asked me if he was allergic to eggs and I said I had no idea- we have never fed him eggs before".

My reply was "well today is Saturday, if he was having an allergic reaction to the flu shot I would think he should've had it already"... So I decided to call his doctor. His doctor agreed- that it was to late of a reaction to be the flu shot but that maybe it was the beef and vegetables I had fed him the night before. Hmmmm she said, "why dont we do some lab tests on him and to see EVERYTHING he is allergic to?". Great idea!

At two weeks old we found out he was allergic to cows milk- through trial and error. That incident landed us in the pediatric urgent care because he had blood in his diaper. He was put in Enfamil Nutramigen- this formula is more expensive then gold- SO REDICULOUS. Oh well...

When he was 4 months old mamma had errands to do so he stayed with daddy. Daddy had a grand idea to give him some of his milk shake- I got home about an hour later and Liams eyes were almost swollen shut. I asked Donovan- what is wrong with him, why are his eyes so swollen. Then Donovan broke the news "I gave him some of my milk shake and I think he had an allergic reaction to it"...

Blood test results- Severe allergy to BOTH eggs and ALL dairy (the reaction above was a REALLY delayed reaction to the flu shot). Notice I put the word "severe" in that sentence. Both the flu shot and H1N1 shot are manufactured with eggs.. so he can not have his follow up flu shot nor the H1N1 shot. Someday he might grow out of it, but for now, no eggs, cheese or milk.

Boys are so darn senstive...

Seven Wonders of the World

The seven wonders of the world is a list of man made structures built during the classic era. Scholars believe that ancient historians began compiling the list in the second century B.C. and included places like the Great Pyramid in Egypt, Gardens of Babylon in Iraq, Temple of Artemis, the Lighthouse of Alexandria and the Tomb of Mausollos in Turkey, Statue of Zeus & the Colluses at Rhodes in Greece.

About six months ago I made it a goal in life to see the seven wonders of the world. But then I started to do research on what exactly the seven wonders were. Then I came across an article on the Travel Channel that says in 2007 100 million people voted on the NEW seven wonders of the world. They are the Great Wall of China, Christ the Redeemer Statue in Brazil, Machu Picchu in Peru, Chichen Itza in Mexico, the Roman Collosseum in Italy, Taj Mahal in India, and Petra in Jordan. So needless to say, I have changed my goal in life to the NEW seven wonders of the world.

Recently, traveling has become a hobby of mine. I would love to travel the world someday. I have never been to another country other then Mexico and I would love to go see the world. So, someday, when it rains money I will travel the seven wonders! China, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, Italy, India and Jordan- HERE I COME!

by the way- I still do not have a spell check button on my blogger... it drives me crazy.