Catchin' Up

This one is for you, B...thanks for always remembering me. xoxo

Yeah, it has been another long time between posts...again. I am going to come clean as to why.

Two words...

Face Book.

Or is that one word?

I have been asked, prodded, and finally coaxed to try it. It has been a blessing because I can really stay in touch with family. But, it has meant that I am neglecting my blogger family. Forgive me? You do? You guys rock!

Well, let's catch up!

We have been to pumpkin patches and a fall festival, so here are a few pics...

Pumpkin pickin'...brother style!





Kelsey and Walker. (this was not planned, but isn't it cute?)





ROAR!




Clark Kent???




SUPERMAN!




Little foot




Our happiest dino






Lobster for dinner tonight!



Daddy's Princess







The kids are growing fast, so here is a quick update on each of them.


First, the biggest kid here, my handsome husband, Tim.
Tim was never baptized by submersion. Only by sprinkling of water when he was younger. He talked to the Pastor and Tim has decided that he wanted to be baptized under submersion as well. He will be doing so this weekend, and so are his parents. We are so excited and love that they will doing so together.

Miguel
Can you believe he is almost 17? That makes me super old. He gets smarter and more handsome by the minute. He is still helping his grandpapa build their house and has also been helping at his other grandparent's jewelry store. I am excited to see what God has planned for our son.

Karizma
Karizma has started her 2nd semester of 9th grade, and she might be able to start 10th grade a semester early. We are proud of her! She is sad she had to skip soccer due to her broken toe this season, but hopefully it will keep her from kicking any sofas in the future. She is still Isabella's favorite person, but do you blame her?

Walker
He is rockin' 1st grade! I am amazed at how fast he has learned to read and write and spell. He blesses me daily. He is the mediator between his 2 little brothers and often the voice of reason. He does remind us often that he is now 6, so believes this entitles him to many 'grown up' things. This could mean watching a detective show with us and the big kids while the little ones watch a little kids movie.

Christian
He is the one with a heart of gold. He is always serving. Always thinking of others. I love that he still has a baby face and he loves still being my baby. I think watching him grow up has been the most difficult, because he was and still is my biggest mama's boy.

Zack
Tough guy. Fearless. Independent. Spunky. Zack. He cracks us up when he sings. He cracks us up when he is in trouble. He gets away with a lot, because he knows how to work us already. And he is only 2. What are we to do?

Isabella Grace
She has her daddy wrapped around her little finger. And her mama around the other one. And her sister wrapped around her thumb. And her brothers wrapped around all the other fingers. She is the princess around here, BIG TIME. She is rolling both ways now and loves to eat at Mom's Diner, especially since it is open 24 hours a day, which she gladly takes advantage of. She is a big smiler, but will only laugh for Walker. She is Karizma's living doll and still lets us dress her and put big bows in her hair. Hope that lasts. And as of 10 minutes ago said 'Mama' for the first time. Now she has said it over and over because she is hungry. My 4 month old genius!

Me
I have been through quite the roller coaster this past month.
I had to watch a very dear friend lose her Daddy. That broke my heart, but I am so blessed to know they will be reunited again someday in heaven.
I am really enjoying having my parents live so close. I try to go down to hang out with my mom at least once a week. She makes me a cup of tea and we talk. No little boys interrupting. It is one of the highlights of my week!
My sister blesses me with her hilarious updates on life. She is on fire for JESUS and always has an awesome story to tell about how she is sharing Christ with people. She inspires me.
I am excited that I have 3 nieces on the way. My sister Mayte's baby due in 2 weeks. Natalie's little girl due in December. And Susan's little girl due in April.
We are still dealing with Tim's ups and downs from new medications and the old ones, but have hope in Jesus. We are praying that 2010 will bring a new normalcy for our family since Tim's is having the surgery to implant the stimulator on new year's eve. Please be praying for us.
I continue to be in awe of how awesome it is to mother 6 children, homeschool them and be a wife somewhere in there, too. God's grace. Only by HIS grace. Nursing is going well and it is one of the best times of the day when I can just hold my little girl and look in those glorious blue eyes. Speaking of which...looks like this diner never gets a break...my favorite customer is a callin'.

Who Says The Honeymoon Has To End?

I was cleaning out the closet, (Yes, again.) and found an old backpack of Tim's. It contained all the love letters I had sent to Tim back when he was in law school from 1999-2001. There were so many cards, letters, pictures drawn for him by Miguel and Karizma when they were little. I also found the magazine that contained the picture of my dream engagement ring (Which Timmy had his parents custom make for me.)





One of the things I loved that was hidden in that all old backpack was a collection of things Tim had given me after I had broken up with him one time. I didn't break up with him because he did something wrong, but because it was just so hard imagining what life was going to be like with him gone for 3 years of law school. He sure knew how to persuade a girl to give him another chance. I remember him calling me and asking me to meet him at his parents house. He had something to give me, he said. He had a plastic grocery bag full of things and these were a few of the items in the collection:

He sat me down, at the top of his parents driveway, and explained to me that if we were to break up he would not get to see Miguel and Karizma turn 6 and 8. Hence the candles...




He said he wouldn't get to help put together our wedding invitations someday...



Or have children with me....



I was so touched by all the time and effort he put into this 'please, don't break up with me' collection. I was overwhelmed with how romantic he could be. And God knew I just loved him so much, that I could never be without him, anyway. We had only been dating for 7 months at that point, but lets be real... when you know, you know.


I also came across a poem he had written to me. Probably my favorite out many. He sent it to me while he was in law school, but I came across the original rough draft in that old backpack. It touched my heart because I could see the scribbles over words he rethought and some law notes on the back. I see what must have been a coffee stain on the corner and I just felt so close to him. I was transported back in time and could imagine my darling Tim sitting at his desk, homesick, and writing this poem for me. To think that I thought I couldn't love him any more back then. My heart was so swollen with love. But, God was and is so much bigger than I can fathom. He put us together and now my cup runneth over with love for my Timmy. He is still that romantic, loving man that I fell in love with. However, now I have the honor of being his wife.

Like two streams that now flow together as one,
I can no longer tell where I end and you begin.
The thought of your smile leads my way,
guides me to happiness like the eastern star directed the magi to the Lord.
A mother feeding her newborn child,
an elderly couple walking on the beach holding hands,
a sailor reunited with his wife;
None can feel as close to one another as I feel to you.
I've experienced heaven.
I know what it is.
It is the sweet fragrance of your hair,
the tenderness of your kiss.
It is answering the phone and hearing your voice.
Heaven is looking out the window, west,
knowing that you love me as I love you.
My love for you runs so deep through my veins,
through my soul,
incessantly,
springing from the fullest, the purest well.
The more I write, the more I realize that words have not been created that truly capture how I love you.
That's because no man has ever loved a woman so intensely,
so passionately, before.
So my kiss must be my alphabet,
my lips my pen,
yours my paper.
And I wait here,
breathlessly,
dreaming of the day I'll write my next sonnet,
on your soul.


I just reminded Tim about this poem and he emailed me this:

"I can’t remember if it was a weekend or if I just had no classes that day (or, egad, decided to ditch classes that I was paying $40,000/year for). I was deeply missing you, and I wanted to take solace in some of the works of my favorite modern poet, Ezra Pound (who, despite being quite a despicable man, was a master wordsmith). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezra_Pound

So I took a shuttle bus from the law school to Georgetown’s main campus, and spend the afternoon reading selected works of Pound, Yeats, and Frost. But none of the poems I read spoke to me that day. And as I took the long shuttle ride back to my dorm, I was still terribly missing you, and I decided that if I couldn’t get the heartache to go away, then I should at least make use of it and pour it into a poem for you.

That night, I was sitting on my small bed in my small room of my small apartment, looking west out my small window into the dark, yet star-filled, sky above the Mall and the Potomac. I had a deep, comforting sense that you were thinking about me at that very same moment; your thoughts focused eastward, my west. And I began to write.

It probably was the easiest poem I’ve written, since the emotions were already boiling up to my fingertips, and all I had to do was put pen to paper and everything else took care of itself."




I adore this man. This man that still writes me poems and emails that melt my heart. This man that provides for our ever growing family. This man that brings me roses constantly. This man that loves me in spite of me.

(Our honeymoon 5/2001)

Timmy, may the honeymoon never end, Baby.
You are the love of my life.
Then, now, and forever.

To 'Do' Or Not To 'Do'... That WAS The Question

I have debating cutting my hair off for sometime now. I actually really loved the length (all the way down to end of my back), but it was just getting to hard to manage and trying to detangle it after each shower or after styling it was making matters worse. I knew it was time. So, I prayed about it yesterday morning and asked God to give me a clear answer as to what I should do. He did just that, and orchestrated it so that I knew that getting a new 'do' was definitely the way to go. I mean it was so clear... the baby was sound asleep, I had just enough time alloted before having to go home and get dressed for a wedding of a sweet friend, and Karizma reminded me that if I cut 10 inches or more, my haircut was free. I was sold with that reminder. So, He made it crystal clear and yes, He even cares about haircuts!

Here is my before...those are some long tresses, huh???





And here is the after.....



Wish you could see what a great job the stylist did. She was so sweet and since I had prayed that if God gave me a clear answer as to what to do, I would be content with whatever the outcome, and would not cry about my decision later. I had so much peace about it. I had no idea what to have done to my hair, so since I knew God was in all the details I told the stylist I just needed something different. Well, different is totally what I got! I haven't had my hair this short since jr. high. I am glad I did it, plus, what a great cause Locks of Love is!!! (For more info about Locks of Love, click here! The donated hair goes to making wigs for cancer patients. Karizma donates hair about every 2-3 years.)

And if you were wondering what Timmy, my husband, thought bout the drastic change... he absolutely loved it. It was so nice to feel his fingers running through my hair (something he couldn't do with my really long hair) and he kept complimenting me. I had some serious butterflies over what his reaction would be, but you get to know your husband pretty well after a few years, and I knew his response was truly genuine. Thank God! He makes me feel so beautiful! Speaking of that sweet man...


We were married here 8.5 years ago






Our sweet friends: the Ortiz's






My girls: Nicole and Paula



I love my new 'do' and loved that it didn't cost me a thing to get it cut...check out Fantastic Sam's for a free haircut with donation to Locks of Love!

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Our Princess Isabella Grace continues to bless our lives like you wouldn't believe. We can't get enough of her!


Taking a stroll with Mommy at Oktoberfest in La Mesa...we tried the Bjorn, but she is a 'sling' girl and was out of it right after this picture.






Isabella is so happy because she loves her 'Jesus loves me' bow made with love by her Auntie Natalie. Want one? Let me know, she is selling them for a steal!!!!






You may not be able to tell, but Isabella is nursing in this picture. Those beautiful grey-blue eyes have captured my heart i more ways than one. Being able to breast feed her has been one of the sweetest gifts from the Lord.






This little girl loves her Mama. When Karizma went to snap the picture, Isabella decided to sneak in a kiss!

I can't believe she is going to be 4 months old this coming Friday!

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My Mom recently celebrated her 57th birthday. She looks amazing. Not only is she the most loving, caring mother... she is also one of the sweetest, funnest Grandma's... or I should say Gramita's around! (Gramita is a word the kids came up with for my Mom... it is a mix of Grandma in english and Abuelita in Spanish. Cute, huh? I love that I will be a Gramita one day, too.)

Christian took it upon himself to make Gramita a fruit salad. He has become a 'restauranteer' (his word) as of last week and ever since has been concocting new recipes everyday. On my Mom's birthday, he took to the kitchen and got out some apples, oranges, raisins, whipped cream and made her a salad with a butter knife. It took him about 45 minutes, but he was so cheerful and excited to do this for her.






We started a birthday tradition with Gramita last year: We go out for lunch the first Friday of October and then head to Oktoberfest. We love checking out all the crafts and love the kettle corn! The kids love having that time with their Gramita.



Happy Birthday, Mami. We LOVE You and Jesus loves you, too!

Are You Suffering? Then THIS is for YOU!

Awhile back I was listening to John MacArthur on the radio and his message really spoke to me. This is what I got from it on that day that I felt like the world was against me. As I suffered from hurts and disappointments and feeling overwhelmed. Like no one could understand my sorrows. That day that I was wallowing a bit in self pity...


Jesus suffered. He suffered more than we could ever comprehend. For you. For me. He died for our sins so that we could have everlasting life.

There are times I suffer. And I stop and question God...why me? Well, by reading Luke 22 I am reminded why Jesus suffered for each of us. And it is humbling to even consider my hardship as suffering compared to his. However, sometimes we go through suffering just for the sole purpose of helping someone that will need us through their suffering!

God can use our suffering in these ways:

1. To test our faith in Him
2. To humble us
3. To have us bear one another's burdens

Hebrews 2:17-18 says: "For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."

So, no matter what your circumstance today; be it financial, physical, emotional, spiritual, remember that God could be pruning you to help someone deal with their suffering soon. So, count it all joy! Thank God for this trial! And arm yourself with God's Word so you can be ready to bear your brother's/sister's burdens.

Romans 5:3,4 says: "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope."

Thankful Thursday: I have been a bad blogger

First I want to start by saying I am thankful for Jennifer at The Williams Bunch. I have been MIA from the blog world for a several weeks and she was so sweet to check in on me. Thanks, Jen. Love you, Sister. Everything is well over here... just the normal stuff that happens in a house with 6 kiddos going on:





BOYS BEING BOYS


Me: What happened?????? (I am trying to conceal my serious concern as to not scare him.)

Walker: (Pretty calm, just a few tears, he is unaware of the blood at this point) Zack threw a rock at me!

Me: (Giving Karizma the evil eye for looking like she is going to pass out from all the blood.) No worries, Buddy. Let's clean it up.

Walker: (after catching a glimpse of himself in the mirror) WAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Walker: (More of the same) WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! (Then he stops suddenly) Actually it doesn't hurt, it just looks so scary.

Me: (Grabbing my camera and taking a picture, because after 6 kids, you realize that some blood isn't always life and death) So, Walker, what really happened?

Walker: Zack was standing on top of the big rock and I was below, then Zack threw the rock at me, but he couldn't see where I was. I think it was an accident.



Zack: (Walks into restroom, being curious, sees Walker's face full of blood) WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! I am sorry! I am sorry! I am sorry! It was an accident!

Me: (I had to take a picture of Zack full of remorse. He sat on the stool in the bathroom, crying, and I am sure, replaying what happened, because he would start to cry hard again every few minutes while Walker took a shower.)

So, Walker lived. Zack was sorry. And our day went on as usual.


I am thankful that I have little boys that understand the importance of forgiveness and being forgiven.




A PRINCESS BEING A BLESSING

I am thanking God for this little angel that has so sweetly graced our lives.


"I love playing with my brown dolly!"


"Dolly, when I grow up I am going to have this many children..."


"Looks like I need to use my toes, too..."


"Mommy says that God has me on this earth for a purpose, dolly. I must be very important."


"Dolly, are you listening? Pay attention!"






A MOM BEING A PATIENT

I had surgery 2.5 weeks ago to have some tissue removed that we thought contained a benign tumor. I was going to post the before and after pics, but thought that might be pushing it, so I will spare you all. Anyway, it's funny how little time a mother is allowed to be a patient. Even after having had surgery and trying to recuperate from a 4 inch incision. The kids, especially Miguel and Karizma, were great and helpful. I am having a harder time getting back to normal because I am probably not taking it as easy as I should, but again, tis the life of a mother of 6! I am just so thankful to be able to have had this surgery and have it covered under insurance. We are also so thankful that what they thought was a tumor, ended up just being inflamed tissue.

Thanking God.








A DAD BEING EVERYTHING TO HIS FAMILY



Tim.
What can't I say about him?
Well, I know what I can say about him.
He has been so amazing to me.
I just had to say I am thankful for him and things I learn from him.
He teaches me about forgiveness and sacrifice and hard work and perseverance.
In turn I tell him to let loose sometimes and enjoy himself.

Tim getting sometime to himself will usually include some ice cream.
Oh, and if you are wondering what he is about to say, it is that he is "Thankful for my loving, amazing wife, that is home right now changing poopy diapers, balancing a checkbook, correcting schoolwork and washing my dirty socks as I enjoy myself at the races."


THIS IS THE LIFE!
THANKING GOD FOR IT!

"Paging Dr. Mattson, Paging Dr. Mattson"

A couple of years back I took advantage of the awesome sales on costumes come November 1st. I found some steals... like a karate costume for $3 and a Jedi costume for .49 cents. Yep! 49 cents because it was out of the package and the mask was larger than the costume, so the cashier was kind enough to sell it to me at this ridiculously amazing price. Anyway, since we don't celebrate Halloween, we can partake in the sales and really enjoy dress up afterwards. So, the boys have a hamper full of costumes that they dress up in, usually on a daily basis. Last night was 'Doctor' night. Our pediatrician has been Dr. Mattson, since Miguel was 7 years old. Almost 10 years for him, and their whole lives for the little guys and Isabella. I know some of you know him and are blessed by him as well. He retired over a year ago, but told me that this is his life, so he continues to come into work and see our kids. We hate to think of the day he will actually retire, but for now, my boys love to play 'Dr. Mattson'.




Daddy: "Dr. Mattson, Dr. Mattson... Please check my heart!"

Zack proceeds to come over to Daddy and belts out...

"Open the eyes of my heart, Loooord, open the eyes of my heaaaart! I wanna seeeee you. I wanna seeeee youuuuuuu."

Guess Zack is fully aware of what the best kind of medicine is for a 'sick' heart, isn't he?





Oh, and for you Dr. Mattson fans, yes, I am fully aware that Dr. Mattson doesn't wear glasses, but Zack insists that all doctor's do... do you remember the post where Walker insisted that all french Doctor's wear mustaches like this one?



Don't ask... we have never been to a french doctor...

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We had a productive family meeting last night. After Dr. Mattson's house call, of course.

-We discussed how we can improve our Sunday mornings and ideas on having them run more smoothly.
-We discussed how we are going to start up our Tuesday's Child time again.
-We discussed prayer requests.
Do you have something or someone you would like us to lift up in prayer? My children have really been enjoying praying for others, so it would be our privilege to pray for you. These faces would love to intercede on your behalf!!!

Proverbs, Saltines, and Waiters

PROVERBS 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Mommy: Christian, do you know what this verse means?

Christian: Well, if you eat too much fruit you will have a tummyache, so God says don't eat too much fruit."

Then after our bible study, we all got to doing our schoolwork and Christian took it upon himself to make us all a snack...

Christian: Mom, can I use the bread, jelly, and chips?

Mommy: No chips, Christian.

Christian proceeded to make everyone PB&J and saltine sandwiches. They were actually really good!

As Christian brought each one of us our sandwiches to our work station, I was so blessed to see his loving and giving spirit.

Christian not only gave Walker a special sandwich, but he went and filled up Walker's cup with water and brought it to him.

Mommy: Christian, you have such a servant's heart, Buddy!

Walker: And a waiter's heart, too! He is a really good waiter!

(I wish you all could have seen how much Walker's compliment meant to Christian. He didn't react near as much to mine.)