364 Days

Today my little girl is 364 days old...yes, tomorrow is her first birthday.
I can't believe that it has been a whole year since this little girl has been brought into our lives. She is SUCH a joy to have! There are so many things that we have been through this last year, too many to list right now, because she is screaming and want to go to bed.
I will try to do a 1 year post tomorrow. In the mean time, I will leave you with a pic of her in her dedication dress...

Delayna's Dedication

Well, in 2 Sundays, Jose and I have scheduled to dedicate Delayna. This is something that I honestly have struggled with for a year. To me, a dedication is taken seriously.
Merriam-Webster defines dedication as: 1. an act or rite of dedicating to a divine being 2. self-sacrificing devotion (amongst 2 other definitions).
In my heart, when I dedicated my other 3 children, I was standing in front of not only my church family, but ultimately God. I took a vow that I would trust Him with my precious children's lives. That NO MATTER what would happen, come our way, Jose and I would trust that He would take care of my children at all times. Now you tell me that you can put your children's lives in someones hands and just be ok with it.
So this time with Delayna, knowing she's my last baby, my precious jewel, I've battled with her dedication. Not that I don't trust God, in all his ways. Or that I don't want to believe that all will be ok, etc. I do trust him, I love him, and I know he will carry my children all the days of their lives...but it's just been hard.
So, Jose and I were talking and we decided it was time. We are doing it on the 24th, because, well, she'll be a year on the 20th and it's the following Sunday ;-)
I also struggled this time with having Godparents for her. I asked very special people that were in my lives with Anthony & Adriana to be their Godparents. Unfortunately through those experiences it damaged my thoughts of Godparents and ever being able to have someone in my children's lives that I could KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that no matter what ever happened to Jose and I, that they would be there to raise them up under His laws, ways and love.
Well, through MUCH prayer, seeking & careful consideration. Jose and I agreed that we would give Delayna Godparents. I feel as though my children should have someone in their lives that they know they could ALWAYS, no matter what, turn to them and find Godly counsel (yes, there is a difference!). And family sometimes is just too close!
So, we approached Noe & Monica with the offer of being Delayna's Godparents. I can happily say, they accepted the responsibility. Monica even stated, that she would like to take all 4 under and be their Godparents too. So, we will see what God has in store for that.
I have also asked some very special people in my life, that through our lives have been by my side through thick and thin. I have been able to turn to them, cry on their shoulders, find comfort & refuge when I needed someone other than my family.
So I asked Allan & Angel, Jessica and Mona (awe,well Mona is another story) to stand with my family. Promising to be there for my baby girl, just as they have me. They all agreed to take the responsibility also.
Wow, what a day it is going to be!

Here is her GORGEOUS dress, she will be getting a little jacket type thing to wear with it. Her Granina & Tianina(that would be Monica's mom & sister...get it her Grandma+Nina=Granina, Tia+Nina=Tianina...LOL, I bust myself up sometimes!) is going crazy having finding her stuff!


And her little shoes


She is gonna be the queen of the ball!

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart

This is what I captured at 5:30am from my back yard...Pure & simple beauty!
God has been telling me for awhile to take the time to spend with him daily. Since I'm not much of a "New Years Resolution" girl, but more of one to set goals that I can attain, this was one goal I made for myself this year.
6am has been the "special hour" that I am to get up and seek him daily. Well this morning He had me up at 3 am. Since having Delayna, my sleep has not been good AT ALL! Well, recently she has finally been sleeping for blocks of hours. Jose and I went to sleep at 10pm last night & Delayna slept until 3 am. I patted her back to sleep, but my body was awake. So as I laid in bed, I just prayed over some situations that have been going on in my family. After a while, I fell back to sleep, but was awoken by my dear husband at 3:45, then Delayna at 4 am. After nursing her back to sleep, I decided to get up and take advantage of my body being awake. I got my coffee & toast and sat in my chair, bible, highlighter, pin & bible study in my lap as I began to pray.
Then I opened my bible study book up to begin the work after my chapters. My book is:
A Woman's Secret to a Balanced Life, focusing on the Proverbs 31 Woman. As I did the study guide, it took me to Proverbs 31:10-31. I read the passage & I was remembered of the first time I read it. I lived in my house on Orange Street. I was in my back yard with my mom and I had just discovered the passage. I can remember the feelings, thoughts, emotions I felt as it was revealed to me and I remember how deeply I wanted to be like that Proverbs 31 woman. Time went by and as I was brought back to it today my eyes were open to some things.
My book titles it "A Wife of Noble Character". It has you read the passage it asks you to list the qualities that made this wife excellent. So as I read, I listed...Comforter, Encourager, Provider, Nurturer, Loves, Hard Worker, Counselor, Strong, Dignified.
Then it asks, "What kind of choices has she made that make her worthy of praise?"
In my book, it has a footnote on vs. 29 & 30, where we find the answer to this question. Verses 29 & 30 states, "Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well, but you excel them all. Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain, but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!"
My footnote states, "In what way did she "excel them all"? In her spiritual and practical devotion to God, which permeated every area and relationship of her life. Her secret, which is open to everyone, is the Holy Spirit's climax to the story, and to this book. In Prov. 31:30, it becomes clear that the "reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord", which is "the beginning of Wisdom" (Prov. 9:10), is put forth as the true foundation for a life which is valued by God and her husband as "far above rubies or pearls" (Prov. 31:10)
So am I a wife of noble character? No, I'm by no means meeting all of these expectations, but I see how my heart has been changed to live the exampled life. How I am striving to meet these goals.
Jeremiah 29:13 states: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart"
So, as I begin my early mornings, my plan is to seek him with all my heart. This may not always be easy, but thru Him and in Him I find my strength. Knowing as the verse says, "seek with ALL your heart" I will find him.
Becoming that wife of noble character, the woman who can comfort, encourage, rise while it is yet night, preparing food & organizing her day, is a financial steward, has endurance for her daily tasks, quick to assist anyone in need, girding myself with strength (spiritually, mentally, and physically), opening my mouth with skillful and godly wisdom. Then my children will respect and bless me, as my husband will join in with boasts and praise.
I pray you have a blessed day and that the Lord reveals his grace and love in your life.

Keeping me on my toes!

Enough said...

We have made progress!!!

So, MOTS started back up today from an almost 2 month break. I was a little scared to take Delayna in, because before she just wouldn't stay.
Well, when I got there, Kindra was dropping of Gideon & he wasn't having a good morning either. Which made my emotions a bit better (you know when someone else is in your same shoes at the same time, it kinda helps). So I told the ladies about her little puppy & everything else that they may need to know about. Handed her over & walked out. I heard her fussing, so I let Talicia know that she has snacks & other stuff in her bag, that may help distract her. And off I went...
When the session was over I realized I went through the whole meeting without Talicia coming for me to get her.
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, she made it through the whole meeting without me. The ladies said that she fussed for a bit, but that was it. I am SO happy she's finally coming around!
Just thought I would update...
(OH, I have been going crazy this past week! Busy as all get out...which is great, but man am I exhausted!!!)
K, that's all for now...TTYL!