Gardening

This year for Mother's Day, Rodrigo made me a beautiful planter box and we planted a small garden. We planted 4 strawberry plants, 1 cilantro plant, 1 serrano chili plant, 1 bell pepper plant, 1 red bell pepper plant, some carrots, and 2 tomato plants in pots. We had high hopes for our little garden!Well we planted the garden the end of May. Unfortunately due to going out of town, although our good neighbors watered the plants, they seemed to be failing. So I decided I needed to fertilize. It seemed to help and the plants started to do well. The most successful has been the serrano chilis, so far we have gotten 5 chilis from it. The strawberry plants have always looked wonderful but there have been no actual strawberries. The tomato plants have really started to look good over the past month and we have harvested 5 cherry tomatoes from the smaller plant. The larger tomato plant had finally sprouted the flowers and we had 2 large green tomatoes growing with a couple baby ones coming in with it. It rained most of last week so I had not gone out to water, but this morning I went out to water and was dissappointed to find these a very few leaves left on the plant:

Can you spot the two horrible little creatures?

We obviously have not had not much luck in growing a garden this year. I guess maybe next year. Luckily we have been blessed by neighbors and friends who are kind enough to share thier yummy homegrown veggies.

Falling in Love...

Our wedding day...5 years ago

Today Rodrigo and I are celebrating 5 years of marriage. It has been a wonderful 5 years full of joy, trials, and triumph. God has truly blessed us and I can say I fall more in love with my husband everyday! He is a true gift from God and I am so thankful. He is an incredible husband, father, provider, lover and servant of God.
It's hard to believe it's been 5 years since we stood before God and our family and friends to declare to all our love to each other and to dedicate our marriage to our heavenly Father.
Over the past 5 years we have:
-RJ was born
-We moved to the US from Mexico
-Rodrigo recieved his greencard
-Rodrigo got a job at Northbrook UMC
-I got a job at a school
-Got pregnant with Natalia
-Lost job at school due to pregnancy, due to loss also lost insurance coverage causing many problems with pregnancy bills
-Natalia was born
-Rodrigo and I are both in school and still have a couple years left
It seems like so much has happened over the past 5 years but we are thankful for each other and the encouragement and love we share.
I can't wait to see what God has in store for the rest of our lives!

Rodrigo and I...5 years after the wedding

Natalia's Baptism

Natalia Rose was baptized on Sunday. She was absolutely beautiful in her sweet pink dress and pink princess shoes. I am in awe at how much she has grown. She is now crawling everywhere and is as happy as can be.
This Sunday reminded me just as everyday does, how precious our Lord Jesus Christ is. He has given Rodrigo and I this precious baby girl to take care of and raise in His ways. I feel honored that He has chosen me to be Natalia and RJ's mommy. There is no better job! I pray that God will guide me and encourage me as I raise these kids. It's not as easy job to know what to do about everything, but I know God's strong hand will guide me. He will guide me, listen to me cry, encourage me, and lift me up. I praise God that I have Him, without Him life wouldn't be worth living! He is the reason for everything and I pray that I can teach my children that precious lesson!

Disneyworld 2009

I know it has been a long time since I've posted anything. It's been a crazy month full of activities for us. When we returned home from Mexico we only had 3 weeks before going to Disneyworld, which we just returned from. In the time in between RJ had swim lessons and soccer camp. Swim lessons went great and totally worth it, soccer camp on the other hand was not as enjoyable for RJ. Maybe next year.
Last week we were at Disneyworld with Rodrigo's whole family. Rodrigo's parents, sister, brother and brother's wife and son all flew in on the 18th and just left today. We had a wonderful time at Disneyworld despite the horrible heat and crowds. RJ will definitely remember seeing all the fun Disney characters, especially his favorites Lightning McQueen and Mater.

Natalia did so well the whole trip, and despite our nephew (only 2 yrs old) getting very sick, neither of our kids did, praise God!!!
We feel very blessed to have such wonderful family and we had a wonderful time! But we are also very grateful for our space and our own time, and I think you learn to value you that when you don't have it. We felt a little overwhelmed being with people all the time since we are so used to being on our own. We miss our families but feel it's best where we are. We love our lives and we feel tremendously blessed by one awesome God!!



This is a picture of Natalia enjoying watching the Spectromagic parade at Magic Kingdom!

The Joy of Family

I was not really looking forward to this trip to Mexico. I knew I would be by myself and it would be hard to control certain situations. It was just going to be hard to not have Rodrigo as a buffer.
But I was completely wrong! This has been a wonderful trip, and I am so happy to be here. My mother-in-law has been absolutely wonderful and helpful. My sister-in-law has been so great to just play with the kids and help wherever needed. I feel so blessed to have married a man with such a great family. They truly love me as their own daughter and I pray that I can bless them at least half as much as they have to me!
Rodri has also been able to play with his only cousin on this trip. Joaquin, Rodrigo's brother's son, is almost 2 and just as energetic as Rodri. They had a wonderful time this afternoon playing with cars, wrestling and just being silly. It's wonderful to see them get along so well.
Rodri is having a WONDERFUL time too with his Tita and his Tia Sana (Rossana). He truly loves them and enjoys spending time with them.
Natalia has even gotten over her need to be with me all the time, at least when her Tita or Tia Rossana are around, she now goes to them without crying with is absolutely wonderful!
Tomorrow is my father-in-laws b-day, Sunday is father's day, Tuesday is my sister-in-law Idalia's b-day, and Wed. is my sister and my sister-in-law Rossana's b-day. We have a full week of celebrations ahead of us. Even though we won't get to celebrate father's day with Rodrigo, at least we will be with his family. And we feel very blessed!

Traveling

Today was a hard day. I knew it would be, but I started today with high hopes. We flew from Atlanta, GA to Laredo, TX and then my in-laws picked us up in Laredo and took us to Monterrey, MX. When I say we, I mean the kids and I.
(Rodrigo will be in Dallas the next 2 weeks taking a seminary class which I'm sure will be a HUGE blessing!)
Thank goodness Rodrigo was leaving the same day a couple hours later and was able to help me get through security and to our gate. The security line was long and took forever. We had to use a total of 8 bins for all our stuff- between 2 laptops, formula, bottles, babyfood, then shoes and toys- plus a stroller and carseat. We were a sight to see with all our stuff, hahaha. I just don't understand how some people can be so inconsiderate and walk right over you even when you have kids.
Anyways we finally get to our gate and say good-bye to Daddy. RJ is still asking when Daddy will get to Tita's house, he will miss him desperately.
After we get on the breezeway to board the plane, the flight attendant came out and asked us to fold up our strollers. Well I did so and loaded myself with our 3 carry-on bags (diaper bag, backpack with laptop and Rodri's bag full of toys and activities) and Natalia. Then I waited.....and waited.....I stood like this for at least 10 min. while at the same time trying to round up RJ to stay in line. Finally after 20 min we boarded the plane, with the help of a flight attendant.
Plane ride to Houston, TX went great. Natalia slept the first 40 min, RJ slept the other 40 min. Houston layover went great, although I must say they need to enlarge their bathrooms, hahaha.
Well the real problems started when we boarded the next plane. I got down the breezeway and loaded myself up once again with bags and baby. It was nearly impossible for me to carry the carseat as well but I tried. Can you believe the flight attendant stood in the plane staring at me as I TRIED to carry all the stuff, drag the carseat and hold Natalia and try to keep RJ with me. JUST STARED!!!! We finally get on the plane and he was not helpful at all, I ended up knocking half the passengers as I walked down the aisle with my bulging load of bags and received some not so nice looks.
Then the flight attendant had the nerve to go to the intercom and apologize to the other passengers for the "delay" I had caused.
Flight number 2 went well and we arrived to Laredo. Once again I recieved no help getting the stuff and kids out of the plane. I went to pick up the stroller and it had been broken!!!
Boy o boy things were not going well!
But we made it here to Monterrey, MX safely! I praise God for bringing us here to enjoy a nice time with family!
JUST PLEASE PRAY ABOUT MY RETURN FLIGHT!!!

Listening

It has been very difficult around our house lately. RJ has been more "curious" and "active" than he has been in a while. It wouldn't be a problem if his "selective hearing" wasn't in such high gear. He doesn't listen to anything and it gets to a point that he won't listen till I raise my voice. It is very frustrating. I am constantly praying that God will give me patience with this precious creature he has blessed me with. Besides not listening, RJ is so good in so many other areas. He is smart and fun, and loves to cuddle. I love this little boy so much and I pray that God will help me see the good despite his disobedience. I pray for patience and love everyday, I don't want to damage his character by being hard on him when he doesn't listen.
I guess thats the way God feels about us many times. We tend to not listen to his constant reminders and encouragement. Many times we are so busy with our own schedules and activities that we forget to listen to that small voice that is reminding us to slow down and remember him amidst everything else. Many times we expect God to listen to our prayers when we forget to listen to him and his answers. I know I am guilty of this more times than none.
Today I am reminded to be a "good listener" to God, to take the time to learn from Him and listen to Him. He is the almighty powerful Father and I praise him for everything he does and did for me! I pray God will help me be a good listener and a patient mommy for a little boy who has just as much trouble listening to his mommy as his mommy has listening to her everlasting Father in Heaven.

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.
James 1:19-20