Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Earth Day

Well, as I'm sure everyone knows, today is earth day.
Normally, "Earth Day" wouldn't mean anything to me, but honestly, my eyes have really been open to what it really means. I'm not a nazi about saving water, electricity, recycling etc (and some peoples lists go on!). But, I am diligent in doing some of these things. I originally planned on cloth diapering Delayna, but in all honesty, things went the other way. We do recycle as much as we can without being nazi. I make sure we turn the water off while brushing our teeth, & lights get turned off when not needed.
Not only is all this stuff good for the earth and I'm teaching my children to "Live Green", but what I have had my eyes opened up to is...
This is the earth my Lord has made. He wants us to take care of his land.
At MOTS today, Kindra shared a verse out of the bible that had me really thinking.
It is Psalms 104. I am going to post it in The Message Translation, as I like the way it's put the best. I will add my personal comments in BOLD

1-14 "O my soul, bless God! God, my God, how great you are!
beautifully, gloriously robed,
Dressed up in sunshine,
and all heaven stretched out for your tent.
You built your palace on the ocean deeps,
made a chariot out of clouds and took off on wind-wings.
You commandeered winds as messengers,
appointed fire and flame as ambassadors.
You set earth on a firm foundation
so that nothing can shake it, ever. WOW, can you believe that we are set on a firm foundation, but at the same time, we're not even physically on a 'foundation'. We are suspended in the universe. God has made it to where NOTHING can shake it!
You blanketed earth with ocean,
covered the mountains with deep waters;
Then you roared and the water ran away—
your thunder crash put it to flight. CHILLS!
Mountains pushed up, valleys spread out
in the places you assigned them.
You set boundaries between earth and sea;
never again will earth be flooded.
Have you ever sat & thought, "how we are never flooded? How does the water not flood our earth?" It's because He has made it that way.
You started the springs and rivers,
sent them flowing among the hills. Miracles of nature, I think NOT! Plans by our Heavenly Father.
All the wild animals now drink their fill,
wild donkeys quench their thirst.
Along the riverbanks the birds build nests,
ravens make their voices heard.
You water the mountains from your heavenly cisterns;
earth is supplied with plenty of water.
You make grass grow for the livestock,
hay for the animals that plow the ground.

14-23 Oh yes, God brings grain from the land,
wine to make people happy,
Their faces glowing with health,
a people well-fed and hearty.
God's trees are well-watered—
the Lebanon cedars he planted.
Birds build their nests in those trees;
look—the stork at home in the treetop.
Mountain goats climb about the cliffs;
badgers burrow among the rocks.
The moon keeps track of the seasons,
the sun is in charge of each day.
When it's dark and night takes over,
all the forest creatures come out.
The young lions roar for their prey,
clamoring to God for their supper.
When the sun comes up, they vanish,
lazily stretched out in their dens.
Meanwhile, men and women go out to work,
busy at their jobs until evening. We complain when we labor, but yet, God has ordained us to do so...It is a blessing!

24-30 What a wildly wonderful world, God!
You made it all, with Wisdom at your side,
made earth overflow with your wonderful creations.
Oh, look—the deep, wide sea,
brimming with fish past counting,
sardines and sharks and salmon.
Ships plow those waters,
and Leviathan, your pet dragon, romps in them.
All the creatures look expectantly to you
to give them their meals on time.
You come, and they gather around;
you open your hand and they eat from it. Just picture that!
If you turned your back,
they'd die in a minute—
Take back your Spirit and they die,
revert to original mud;
Send out your Spirit and they spring to life—
the whole countryside in bloom and blossom.

31-32 The glory of God—let it last forever!
Let God enjoy his creation!
He takes one look at earth and triggers an earthquake,
points a finger at the mountains, and volcanoes erupt.

33-35 Oh, let me sing to God all my life long,
sing hymns to my God as long as I live!
Oh, let my song please him;
I'm so pleased to be singing to God.
But clear the ground of sinners—
no more godless men and women!

O my soul, bless God!

As I read that, and try to discect it, it's absolutely overwhelming that God loves us that much to do all of this for us. My Pastor, Todd, was teaching this past week and made a statement about when he was little, he had an image that God was up in heaven with his popsicle stick, digging roads for us. To think of our Magnificent Lord up in heaven, carving streets for little us, planting trees in the fields, filling our seas with fish. I am just in awe!
But to think of how we have treated our earth after all these years. We have oils in our oceans, landfills full of our impulse buys, dirty yards that we let our kids destroy, we dump whatever, wherever, whenever.
I hope that as we are opening our eyes to "Living Green" you take a part to bring our world back to the way God intended it to be.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

We got a Wii

So Anthony has a friend, Anthony (funny hah!) who is wanting to buy an XBox 360. Well in order to buy the XBox, he has to earn & raise money himself. So he texted Ant Sunday night telling him that he wants to sell his Wii, Wii play, 2 remotes, 3 numchucks, Spiderman & Madden '07 for a rediculously low amount of money.
I was asking him to find out what's wrong with it, if it's ok with his mom, etc. etc.
The next day when they all got home from school, Anthony texted Ant & asked if I wanted it or not. I don't know what Ant told Anthony, but he then told me that our other neighbor's relative was going to come and buy it.
I jumped on that sucker like a lion at feeding time! I called Anthony up and told him that I wanted it & that we could do it today!
So, he went up to his house and got the stuff & brought it down.
He showed us how to hook it up & play it, etc. We kept asking him, "Are you sure your mom is ok with this? She's not going to call the cops on us or anything is she?"
He kept assuring us that it was ok.
So we gave him the money. It was so rediculously low that I wanted to give him a 'tip' just to feel ok with buying it from him for so cheap, but I didn't.
Later that night, I got on line and did some research on how much all of this would have gone for. Let's just say we really got away with a steal!
Now we have to find games. My friend Karla let us borrow Wii Sports & some Mario thing. We all played a round of bowling (my favorite so far!) & even Dominic was able to play. I want Wii Fit SOOOOOOOOO bad! And to buy a few more games.
Jose & Anthony have been playing it non-stop! We haven't even watched t.v. in 2 nights...LOL
I knew if we got this, it would allow us to come together & spend time as a family. The bad thing is, Adriana is on restriction from t.v. for two weeks. Jose has fought to let her play 2 games with them, but I can't allow it to continue. This girl has GOT to learn responsibility & if I give in, then it will not be good!
Anyway, that's all for this post...

All about Papa

I just have to say that my husband is the BEST father! As I type, he is playing Wii bowling with the kids. There are days that he doesn't nearly get as much time with the kids as he wants to, but he tries his hardest! Here are some pics & stories from the past few days.

Jose came home this afternoon from a VERY long & hard day. He had to go out and get his truck ready for work for tomorrow. Well, Dominic went out with him & "helped him".


Yesterday, Jose got home from work and saw Oscar out running around. So he told Anthony to go get his motorcycle and go get Oscar. Anthony came back empty handed. Jose ended up taking the motorcycle out to get him & this is how he came home...


Then after "rescuing" Oscar. He came in to have some one on one time with his baby. Here's some pics I got after she feel asleep on him.



He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.
~Clarence Budington Kelland

Shout Out To My MOTS Girls...

I tried posting from my phone, but so much for that. I don't know what happened.
Anyway, at MOTS today, we played Bunco & I was able to mingle with some of the girls. About a hand full of them commented on my blog.
I didn't know it was so popular. That kinda makes me feel good!
So, since I am so popular with my MOTS girls, here's a shout out...

Thank you ALL for your friendship & kindness! I hope to get to know you all more!!!
Much Love

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Easter 2009

Easter has become a VERY special holiday for our family. For the past 4 years we have been involved in our church's Easter Outreach. Starting Saturday we help with the outreach at the park (which is a very long & hard day, but SO fulfilling!!!!) and then Sunday we have church in the park.
This year Jose and I partnered up with Noe & Monica to do the Food Crew on Saturday. We were up at 6:30 am getting ourselves ready & I packed Delayna's stuff up, because she was coming with us. We got to the park about an hour later to meet up with Noe & Monica. This was their first year leading the food crew & were as nervous as I'll get out. They were too cute, but did great!!!
Here's Noe directing some people.

Here is Jessica & Courtney doing hot dogs

We had over 2,000 people come out this year. It was nice seeing old faces & some of my friends come out. I just realized, I didn't get not one pic of my besties (Allan & Angel), who came out and helped for the first year!
We were home around 4 pm. And I got going on the house & the eggs.
We had a blast doing the eggs, as we always do. I love that my husband & son aren't "too old" to participate in such a family fun activity.
Here are some pics...
3 1/2 dozen of eggs


Kids coloring


Jose tried to get Delayna to 'help'


Mom looking on


I used my Avent breast milk storage cups to die the eggs in...ROFLMBO!


Here's some buzz worthy eggs (we always make special eggs)




Jose playing with the kids & the eggs



I also made cakes. My first attempt was a flopp. They stuck to the pan...WHATEVER!

My mom tried "peicing it together". She's such a dork!


So, I re-did them. Here's my "Dirt Cake" (recipe to follow later)


And my Easter Bunny Grass Cake


Easter morning we had to start early, because Jose & Adi had to be at the church by 8:15am. Here's pics & video
The baskets


Waiting for their baskets


Anthony passing the baskets out



Anthony, Dominic, Delayna & I all got ready for church & headed out. It was a gorgeous day! The message was remarkable! The skits, and message were really good!
Here's a link if your interested in watching The Rebounder.
Pastor opened up for those who want to accept Jesus as their personal savior. We had about 48 people accept and one of them was my Bestie, Angel. Allan shared his story with me about him accepting Christ as his personal savior the week before & here is his wife accepting Christ into her life. What an awesome moment! I've been praying for them for quite a while. Now to stand with them and walk with them!

After church we got home & the Easter Bunny hid eggs all over the house (not where *she* was supposed to, but it turned out great!).
In the bathroom


Front Room


Mantel


Some outside


Later Mona, Alvaro & Emilio came over to share an Easter Dinner. It was very nice to have company over & enjoy my good cooking with friends! Just as we sat down to eat, Gail, James, Mark, Sarah & Devin came by.
My Easter Dinner Table


My Famous Glazed Ham (I've had requests for this!)



The end of a long day! Me and my girls


Don't know which is better


The kids went through 2 HUGE bottles of bubbles!



My baby girl's first Easter



God really blessed our day & I loved it! Hope you were all blessed as much as my family was!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

I serve an Amazing God!

Now I know everyone will say, "Yeah, I know." But man, He has really been revealing himself to me lately.
It all started while I was pregnant with Delayna. He was telling me to trust in Him. I thought I always did, but He showed me where I was lacking. He showed me through his blessing for Delayna that, that is exactly how He wanted to bless my family as a whole. I just needed to trust in Him with EVERYTHING!
As time has been going on, I have noticed my husband growing, tremendously! I didn't understand everything as to why I was feeling the way that I was spiritually, but it was revealed to me this weekend, that He was pulling me back, to bring Jose forward. See, I always felt that "I had to 'push' Jose to get involved & apply himself."
What was revealed to me though, was that God is doing the work, I just have to trust in Him!
While I was sick with the pregnancy, healing after a deliver and caring for a colicy baby during bible study nights. Jose was able to go, alone. Learn, listen, be taught & grow the way that God wanted him to be able to.

Every year our church has it's Easter Outreach. We have been part of this for 4 years. Our first time at our church was exactly 1 week before Easter & we were hooked!
Last year was awesome! Jose and I teamed up and were the leaders for the Food Ministry & what a blessing it was to be able to feed these people and know we had a part! Even then Jose was "just going to church". Just after this time, is when he really started applying himself to the word & getting in depth.
This year as we were gearing ourselves up for the Easter Outreach, Jose and I were talking about how awesome it was last year & how excited we were this year. Knowing all of the blessings we have been given and to be able to do the work of God, reaching only God knows how many lives is beyond words.
Then Pastor announced his plans for this years outreach. Come to find out, our church is teaming up with Canaan Assembly of God Church and Pastor De La Cruz. Our church thought it was awesome (I can't speak for my church family members or my Pastor. I don't know how close to the heart it hit), but for Jose and I, it meant so much more.
You see, Jose and I met when I was attending Canaan as a teenager. I started going there when I was about 13 years old. Pasor De La Cruz was my pastor & her family was very special to mine. I babysat for her daughter, Liz. My mom was close to her daughter, Tina. I went to the outside services they had in the summers, youth, Disneyland. I have MANY memories growing up in Canaan. *Like the time I babysat for Liz & I had to make chicken for the kids for dinner. I made what I thought was fried chicken, but luckily Liz came home in time to find that it in fact was undercooked fried chicken! Or the time I went to Disneyland. Jeanette, myself & another girl were in a store. The other two went out when I was still inside browsing. They called me to look at a boy outside. I walked passed the security alarms & was accused of stealing...NOT a good thing when your there with your church!*
Anyways, back to the story at hand...
Jose started attending church with me while we were still dating. I got pregnant in March of 1995, just 7 mos after my 16th birthday. The day I found out I was pregnant was awesome, but I knew what I was doing was a sin. I vowed to God that I would obstain from sexual immorality with Jose until we were married. I also prayed and asked God, that if Jose was the man for me, then I wanted Jose to convert to Christianity and accept God as his savior & vow to follow Him.
We planned our wedding. During the planning, I was blessed with my first blessing, Anthony Jose Herrera. Pastor De La Cruz told us that she would not marry us, unless we got counseling, from her. I of course agreed, but it was Jose that I was worried about. He still hadn't converted & didn't have plans to. But, he wanted to marry me. So I told him that I wanted my Pastor to marry me, and for it to happen, she would have to counsel us. He eventually agreed. Pastor De La Cruz counseled us for a month, while we continued to plan for our wedding. She opened my eyes to many things and to this day I thank her for the time she took with Jose and I to guide us into a God appointed marriage. I shared with her my "pact" I made with God. I also told her that I wouldn't marry Jose unless he accepted Christ as his savior (Jose never knew this. I still don't know if he does). Well, one week to the day before our wedding was set, Canaan had a Saturday Service (I don't remember exactly why or what). But that night, Jose went up to the alter & gave his life to God. It was then that God showed me that Jose is my husband.
We were married a week later.
Jose and I continued to go to church there for a while. I can honestly say that I was really growing close to God for a while & during that time God gave me a vision for Jose and I.
Well, time went on. We walked away & lived a life away from God for a while.
During the 8 years that we were out of Canaan & before Legacy, we attended another church. Nothing special. We were never really involved. We just went I guess you could say to go. The church is a great church and is a symbol in the community, but it was just too big & we got lost in the crowd. Not to mention, Jose has always been on the quiet, keep to himself end of the stick.
So, back to Legacy...
After Pastor Todd announced that we would be teaming up with Canaan, Jose and I were estatic! We thought, how cool is this going to be!?! A church that we began our journey in & the church that we have planted our roots in & are raising our children in, are coming together for the greatest outreach we have annually.
Then as I began to ponder, God brought back to my memory the vision He gave me 11-12 years ago.
That vision was Jose and I reaching out to our "old friends", the gang bangers that we hung with, the partiers, the lost, hurting, rejected. Those who 'hang' on the East Side of Banning. Jose and I were going to be bringing those people into the kingdom & showing them the love of God.
When God gave that vision to me, it was SO REAL! But at the same time, I knew Jose & thought, "No way would he ever do something like that for 'the church'".
Well guess what...all this time that he has been taking in getting to know God in a more personal way. Everytime he goes to pray for someone at church and walks back to me with tears in his eyes. Everytime I call him when he's supposed to be home and he's off talking to Mick, Noe or whoever else from the church about a passage in the bible he didn't understand. Everytime he is late for dinner or misses a soccer game because his friend needed him to talk to & just be there to show them that someone cares.
God is building MY MAN up, so that WE can fullfill the vision God has on our lives!
I am sitting here in my bed, while Jose is sleeping next to me. He has his new bible next to him and I know he is only going to grow deeper.
I am blessed to call him my husband and stand next to him this coming up weekend. We will stand strong together before it and love on God's people during it!
Jose and I have been praying for many of our friends for many years! When God revealed the vision to me & I shared it with Jose this time around, we both had certain people in our minds that we want to see give their lives to Christ.
I am blessed to say that 2 weeks before Easter, My best friends for over 20 years started attending church. They are teaming up with us this Saturday in the kitchen and we will be loving on the people together.
God gave us the vision, He is building us up to fullfill it and is giving us victory to prove it!
I serve an Amazing God!
Here is a song that Jose has been driving me crazy with lately (I'm not gonna lie. I love my husband, but the man can not keep a beat, tune, nothing). It's an awesome song & I just felt it fitted perfectly on my entry for tonight....


I'm sorry if this was choppy, but I was blogging while putting Delayna to sleep.
I pray that you are blessed & that you can have the love of the Lord in your life, as I have. I pray He reveals his mercy in your life. He is ALL we need! Live in His Freedom! Rest in Him!

Monday, April 6, 2009

I have a TON of catching up to do here on my blog, but I can't seem to find time to actually sit for a period of time & do it. I jump on the computer & check my facebook & email, but then I'm running again to do "xyz".
I thought I was gonna get on & do some catching up tonight, since everyone (I mean EVERYONE) is asleep, but I seem to be too drained myself. Not to mention drugged up on Benadryl & Pamprin for my allergies & pain in my back/neck/head/ear.
Well, here's some pics of Delayna, since I know that's what everyone is wanting to see lately...

Resting in her Papa's arms at sissy's soccer game this past Sat.


This was from tonight. I needed to get my white chonies/understuff out of the drier so I could put the darks in. Well, I had to do something with Little Miss and decided to put her in the basket too. She liked it until I pulled her out & laid her ontop (that pic will come later)


I hope you all have a blessed week & remember that Our Lord and Savior died upon that cross so that we could live.