Writer's block

My apologies to my faithful friends who still visit this site, it has been hard to keep up with it lately. This has been an interesting season, to say the least. This season I have learned a lot about myself, my little family, and the calling we have to serve. Between not feeling well, the busy-ness of the summer, and trying to keep up with life alone... Let me put it this way: Have you ever seen the palm trees during a hurricane? I've only seen them on TV, but that is close enough for me to get the illustration. I find it so interesting that they're shaken by the winds that seem to be hitting them with all they have and the palm tree bends, and bends, and shakes, and bends a bit more. It may loose a coconut or two (ok, it looses all of its coconuts) but in the end it is still standing. Beat up, shaken, but standing and holding on to dear life with all it has.

Well, that is how I feel right now, emotionally, spiritually and physically. I am tired. I know I've said that before. I actually have thought I felt tired before, but now I am truly feeling it.

So, what do you do when every single aspect of your life seems to be acting up on you? Go to the cross... I'm definitely not done with what I want to say here, but this is the third time I attempt to finish this post, so I'm going to stop here and hopefully later try to catch up again.

Prayers will be highly appreciated, for wisdom, for grace, for energy, for solace and every other thing that comes to your mind!

trial

trying a new twmplate

I know, it´s been a while

But here I am,

after two months of planning,
hunting for teapots at garage sales, thrift stores and anywhere we could think of,
borrowing enough tea cups and dessert plates to serve around 70 people,
making 80 "empanadas" and baking another 80 almond crisps,
spending two days setting up...

I can officially say I am exhausted and very, very slowly trying to get my house back to normality. But it was totally and absolutely worth it! I enjoyed every minute of it, from the preparation to the actual delivery. I didn´t take very good pictures because I was caught up hosting the event, so my pics don´t do it much justice. Enjoy them, anyway!

The teapots were our centerpieces and we used mismatched china in every table.

The place were we had it was once a small theater, so we used the stage and the backdrops for the opening of presents. These pics were taken before the guests arrived, but you have to believe me, there was hardly any room for the bride on this stage once all the gifts came in!This water jug was also a loan, so I perpetuated it in my memory with this picture... I totally love it!

This was the view as you came in the door (before I finished dressing all the tables with the centerpieces)

The happy bride and me (oh yeah, and my Adriana squeezed in between)This is also the unfinished food table, all the food is still missing...
by the end it was lovely full with great baked goods that so many people brought!


I had so much help, I can´t even begin to tell you. I would have never pulled it off without so many people "chasing after my grandiose illusion". Thanks to all that helped!

What can I say!

The paragraph below was a posting I began writing on July 25th. I hadn't realized it's been so long since I last sat in front of this screen! I hope it's ok, as I don't think I had time to proofread it!

"You don't want to be her pacifier" were her words as we talked about my little Adriana's frequent and sometimes (ok, often) prolonged nursing sessions. We were at Adriana's one year appointment at the doctor's office. The P.A. was responding to my report on how hard it is to say how many times she nurses a day because it varies according to the day's events. If she falls and gets upset, she'll nurse, even if only for 5 minutes. She nurses for comfort a lot. I wished I could have poured out my heart to this lady... I couldn't. I'm not sure whether I should have said anything, really. Sometimes I have a hard time determining when a response to such a comment would be "witnessing" or simply "casting my pearls out." All I said was "Well, I really don't mind." The truth is, why should I?

I truly think of it a blessing to be able to soothe my little girl. I try to use this times to tell her how the Lord can help us cope with our every day frustrations and how much He loves her and wants to soothe her. I tell her she can always count of me and I love her dearly but there is one love that is far better than mine and it is His perfect love.

This season, in hindsight will be so short in comparison to all the years she'll be away from me. So much to my doctor's disappointment I won't be looking to wean her sooner than she is ready to...

My baby is one!

Can you believe this? It feels as though just yesterday we brought her into our little home and then again, I can hardly remember life without her! She is so precious. I have told before of her strong determination. She is not the type of baby that can be distracted away from the object of her attention so easily. However, there is one thing that delights her little heart enough to hold her attention away from "trouble", at least momentarily, that is music. Whether it is a song on a worship CD or just a partial tune on a toy, she will stop on her tracks, look up at you, smile and start dancing!

Being an early walker, she is of course, an early climber. Still it is hard to keep up with her quick pace. It may take her a bit to learn a skill, but once learned it doesn't take her long to master it. For instance, Ben figured with her adventurous nature it would be wise to try to teach her how to climb up the stairs. We had caught her attempting to do it before, so he walked up the stairs showing her how to move her little arms and legs to climb up. He did it only once. The very next day, she sneaked out on us for a couple of minutes and climbed the whole flight of stairs on her own. All I know is that Ben said: "Honey, I hear her on the stairs," and much to my dismay I found her all the way up, holding on to the gate at the top! Our whole flight of stairs in just a minute or two I can't tell you how far down my stomach dropped.

One of her newest discoveries has been the computer keyboard. Her face lights up when I sit her on my lap. She immediately sticks out her little fingers and goes for the keys and if she sees my hands anywhere near hers, she'll quickly (and decidedly) push them away to keep it to herself.

And so, her determination and her ability to focus lead her to solve problems rather quickly. Her adventurous nature keep her discovering new things constantly. Her independent spirit takes her beyond her limits and yet she is still so much of a baby that can't be away from this proud and happy mom for long. For the first time ever she slept last night (or should I say this morning) until 4 a.m. (I am not holding my hopes high, this may be a one time thing more than a page turner in the life of). I cannot imagine where God will take my little girl, all I know is that my life is ever richer and happier by her presence! Happy first birthday, sweet girl!

To train or not to train

Potty train, that is. After my two bathroom adventures yesterday I am beginning to think that I do not want to take the girls into a public bathroom until they are old enough to be disgusted by public bathrooms themselves! I was happy to read that I'm not the only one facing such dilemma, though. I mean, really, how do you convince an almost-one-year-old that the fact that the toilet is at the height of her mouth doesn't mean she actually has to put her mouth on it?! And then, how much soap do you use to try to wash them clean? ...and then there's the crawling on the dirty floors, the pulling of the toilet paper a sheer fear of the hand dryer... it was crazy enough to leave this mama wanting to let them wear diapers until they're about 10!

My Dad´s Birthday!

Feliz cumpleaños, Papi... ¡Lo amamos!

Keepers at home

Yesterday, Ben and I were watching this show. I am always curious to see the stories behind families and pick up on some ideas for shopping, organizing, etc. I was amazed at how clean her house is and how organized her life seems while she has so many more little ones than I do. One thing led to the next and before you know it, my sweet man is holding my hand, trying to encourage me and stop my tears as I pour out my frustrations at being unable to keep up with the house lately.

If you have been to my house in the past couple months you know what I mean!

Probably one of the reasons why this woman's immaculate house brought me to the breaking down point is because I have been asking the Lord for supernatural strength, ability, ideas, or anything that will help me keep this house the way I envision it without lashing out at my husband and children when the chaos of everyday life simply cannot be contained. At least I can say for myself that I have been able to avoid the lashing out part.

My little mental notebook goes back to all the wise advice I've heard from amazing godly woman but nothing seemed to give me a satisfactory answer. If I am called to be a keeper of my home, doesn't that include making it a clean and orderly environment for my family? And while the answer to that question is a "yes", there is also the fact that the house in and of itself does not make the home. The house is a tool... a tool to keep my family happy, healthy and together.

I need to remember that the people in it are more important than the things in it. I am more responsible for the souls that it helps me nurture than anything else. And in the quiet place I hear a still voice that tells me that more than anything my home needs to be inviting. Inviting to the outsider who should feel welcome when they come in that door, but above all things, inviting to those entrusted to me. I am doing my job well if my husband and my children long for home, if I attach enough strings to their heart that home is a place they like to be at. And I look around and pray that I may not see a day when my children are desperate to leave my home...

Cailen Miner and Adriana

Little girls

Quickly

I quickly touch base to report that all is well with this little family. I am recovered from the cold, feeling much better and with a bit more energy to live life. I still can´t seem to manage through the day without falling asleep at some point, but have considerably recovered some energy. Life will soon get back to normal, hopefully. I´ll soon write a little more.

Love to all!

Continuing...

Our date was great. It was a much needed time alone to remind us of the very basic things of love and life. It was good. Oh yeah, and the food was also amazing!

Now, as goes with everything else, I had hardly heard of mononucleosis before and this week I have been bombarded with all sorts of information about it. My doctors' instructions have been to eat well, take a multi-vitamin, drink plenty of juice and rest as much as life (a.k.a. two little girls) allow it. I can't tell you how hard it is to draw the line and stop myself when the past few weeks I have been pushing through the exhaustion. I sort of conditioned myself to live with this tiredness and still function 100%.

I am blessed with a wonderful natural and church family who have pitched in to help even more than I thought I needed. However, after having this cold on top of everything and nursing the girls through the cold, sleep has been very elusive and light and the help has been more than welcome.

From a wonderful sister-in-law who, with her own littles in tow came to sow a morning of her already busy life to relieve me from my house duties, to a great friend who delivered the best home made pizza I'd ever had, to even more friends who have made themselves available "on call" to come to the rescue as needed. How good it is to dwell in harmony with our brethren, indeed! The body of Christ is an awesome body to be a part of. And of course, I could never leave out my sweet man who is trying to cover the rest of the meals and needs of the girls.

The funny thing is that besides the cold, I don't really feel all that sick. I am mostly tired... I had never felt this tired before... I can't even describe it. I'm zapped of all energy by mid morning! I can take many naps during the day and still fall asleep at night! I don't even know how I have managed to stir out of my slumber to take care of little girls who have needed soothing through the night. And so goes our little life.

When it rains...

Boy, does it pour! The short version:

**Tuesday, I find out I have "mono" and I have been living with it for the past few weeks. We are relieved to know the reason behind my excessive fatigue and hopeful that enough rest should have me on the bend in no time. Ben needs to go to the doctor for some digestive inconveniences.

**Wednesday, Adriana didn´t sleep very well, therefore I didn´t either. Hopefully I will catch up on sleep through the day... (yeah, right!). By noon, I realize I have a massive cold and with the lack of sleep the night before I feel even more run down. And, of course, the girls have the cold as well.

**Thursday, 2.30 a.m. No, we didn´t get up this early. We just never went down last night in spite of multiple attempts. Now we have both girls in bed with us, they can´t sleep because of all the wonderful sneezing and running of noses. Ben needs to leave by 7.00 (or some insanely similarly early time) for some test scheduled as a result of the earlier doctor´s appointment. I have a pounding headache because of my own maladies. Stop to think/pray: "Ok, Lord, where is the grace for this? I´m for a hefty serving!"

8.30 a.m. Girls and I wake up from the slim rest we got last night. Ben is gone to his test. **sigh of relief** She is coming over for some help and company (both for me and the girls!). Looking forward to that.

12.30 p.m. Ben is not back yet from his appointment. However, the girls and I have had a lunch and are now watching a movie (the girls, I am obviously getting some computer time) in preparation for nap time. I know Ben is due home any minute so I´m giving him some time that we can see him before naps. Thanks to our company I can now see my floor AND it is clean! (Thank you sooo much, Dee) and we also got to visit and chat a little bit.

Now I am looking forward to a special date we were planning on having for some time now. We didn´t expect to take it in the midst of all this sickness and exhaustion but will probably still benefit from the time together (not to mention the food!). Somehow we will find the energy to pull it off... don´t you think?

Ohhh yeah, I almost forgot...

Her first time on a swing!!!

A few firsts around here....

She now faces the front! She still doesn't love the car seat.

but she likes it better!

Her first very own ice cream cone!

a bit messy...

but just perfect for her!!

Home

From the moment we got married we wanted to have a house. We wanted a big enough space that we could open to people, you know the unannounced drop-ins, the planned dinner parties, the guests over a meal, and all that fun stuff. I can't tell you how blessed we are to now have that space and all of the above! It is so good to fellowship with others and share food, laughter, and so much more. It is amazing how these kinds of things make people connect and bond. It is the perfect soil for friendships to be born and lessons to be learned. And so it is that with the busy-ness of the summer time of this first summer in a house, we have had anywhere from 2 to 10 people for some kind of meal this week alone. Tuesday we had a couple for dinner, Wednesday we had a family of three for dinner, Thursday we hosted a small birthday party for a young lady and today we had a young man over for breakfast! Monday was the only day we didn't have someone over! And although we are tired, I can confidently say we are thrilled... this is exactly what we wanted!

The weekend holds a different kind of socializing for us. At least this one. With church meetings both days, I will also attend some kind of ladies' social gathering both days while the girls spend some time with Papi. And somewhere in between we need to squeeze in the regular family and budget meetings we normally need to have!

It´s official!

They are getting married!!!!

Adriana

My baby just turned ten months two days ago. This is a couple days late, I know... sorry. What can I tell you about her... She has the most expressive eyes ever! Her smile is beautiful and her personality intense. Let me share with you a little about her:

::Her most favorite person in the world continues to be me. Contrary to her sister who was (and still is) more of a Papi's fan, Adriana's happiness is completely dependent on my presence. Her face lits up when she sees me and that makes this mama beam with joy! Although it gets a bit trying to do absolutely everything with her in arms, the look in her face is priceless and there's a secret pleasure in knowing that her cry can only be calmed by me.

::She is walking, walking, walking... she is much more quick than Elena ever was and far more determined and focused. Adriana has absolutely no delight in being restrained in any way (car seat, high chair, stroller, back pack, carrier, you name it, she doesn't like it!). She loves to move around, thus you'll find her some times walking laps around the living room just because. There's no purpose or direction, she is just walking.

::She is also discovering how to climb into, out of, and over things. My baby is so tiny that the tub seat that is supposed to work with their own weight to keep their legs in the seat does absolutely nothing for her. Therefore, I can't just sit her there and bathe her sister without constantly checking to make sure she is still sitting there. She is also very quick so it only takes one second of my convincing Elena to let me pour water down her head for Adriana to stand on the seat and lean over it to reach a toy that has escaped her grasp.

::Eating isn't something she's greatly interested in, especially because it requires for her to be strapped into the high chair. If I make her sit through a meal, she won't be the baby that sits there contentedly eating her cheerios or bits of food put on her tray. She'll sweep them off and sit there but squirm and scream for as long as it will take you to finish the meal and pick her up. Yes, she is very determined... she does know what she wants and she wants it right now.

::And so it is that though I knew this baby's personality was going to be "edgy" and intense, I discover every day just how much more intense it can get. I tell her constantly that the Lord blessed her with an amazing strength of character that we need to learn together to "reign it in" and submit it to the Lord for the fulfillment of His purpose in her life.

Projects

Now that my hubby has seen it all, I can freely show some of my "While you were out" completed projects. I won´t post all of them because there are some, like the clean ceiling of our upstairs bathroom (no more mildew growing on it), that aren´t as appealing to look at. I don´t have before pics for all of them, but here you go:


+ Both the curtain rod and curtain are new. I realize that the blue alone is quite bright, but it is still an improvement from either the original plain white, or the light blue (that was really lavender) that we put on it last year ! Ohh, yeah, and we brought out the TV into this room since our "family room" upstairs doesn´t look like it´s going to be ready any time soon.+ This little mirror "thingy" was left behind by them in the entryway of our upstairs apartment. I just transferred it to the entryway of our downstairs AND adjusted it to our height!
+ The valance in the window is new.
+ Out little sign welcoming Papi home!
+ Before: (This is actually even before our first moving down)
+ After:
+ Before:
+ After:
+ Before:
+ After

These are the most dramatic changes Ben found. We did paint the downstairs bathroom but it is such a light shade and small room that no picture can make it be appreciated. This is what kept me busy while my sweet man was away. I have so many amazing ladies (and some great gents too!) to thank for all this! Thanks for all your help!

Off we go...

to the airport, to pick my honey up!!!