Out with the old, in with the new...

Well, we are on the thresh hold of 2010, and I can't help to reflect on all that's happened this past year. In January 2009, I had no idea that:

We would have another child, much less a daughter!
Luis would lose his job, and we would have to sell our house and land!
We would put our house on the market, and have it sell in less than 3 weeks!
We would even consider moving (again!), and to a colder climate at that!
Luis would receive his first official Pastor's license!!
My parents would be able to make a visit to SC!

There have been so many twists and turns in the road this year, and to be honest with you, I am kind of glad to say goodbye to 2009! It has been a year of stretching our faith, trusting in the Lord, not for our wants, but our needs. It has been humbling in many ways, as we have had to use food stamps and WIC for the first time ever. We couldn't afford health insurance for the children, so they have been on medicaid. We thought, when Luis lost his job, we would lose our home to the bank, and at least one car. Our biggest mistake was racking up the credit cards, and we sunk so far in debt. As I told my Mom today, I feel like I am just holding my breath, waiting until the closing for our house/land is complete and the money has been transferred. At that point, we will begin writing checks to each credit card company, and to Honda, and paying off balances IN FULL!! Hallelujah! I guess from an outside perspective, it may seem like we are losing everything, and I guess in some respects, we are in a material sense, but Luis and I can't help but think of the possibilities of living a debt free kind of life. For the first time, we will have the freedom to go where we feel God is sending us, without the worry of this debt or that payment. While we'll still owe on his car, it will be our only payment for a while (along with insurance), and really, any job would cover that. We still have days where we get frustrated...thinking about giving up our land, but thankfully, we are never both frustrated on the same day.So when one is down the other one is up, and we are able to remind each other that the Lord has better in store! Some days, Luis takes it especially hard, as he had "big plans" for this land. But, I just remind him what the Lord told him about giving "all or nothing", and that God will bless him with even more, because he was willing to give it up. So, 2010 is going to be a new year for us, in many respects. I am really excited to see what is on the way. I am trying not to have any preconceived ideas, or expectations, but rather just enjoy the ride. So here it is, my last blog entry of 2009. I hope you have enjoyed reading as much as I have enjoyed writing. As 2010 rings in, I pray for a new year of a deeper relationship with the Lord, uncompromising faith, and joying in the journey for both you and me! Love you all!

Silent Night

It's Christmas Eve, and everyone is asleep. We did things a little differently tonight. We had a nice dinner, and let the boys open gifts right after, at about nine o'clock. I know, it goes against all of the traditions...both American AND Mexican! I did, however, just stuff the stockings, so the boys and Lily will have a surprise for the morning. It has been a very quiet Christmas Eve... It's funny how when you are a kid, the holidays are so exciting...you wait and dream all year for Christmas Eve to come...all the family and excitement...and when you are an adult, it's just not the same. But, maybe, it's WE that are not the same. We have grown up, and realized that Christmas isn't a one day affair...another date penciled in on the calendar. Rather, Christmas is a state of being...a daily celebration. Rejoicing in the birth of Jesus, who left the beauty and majesty of heaven to transcend time and touch humanity for all eternity. To give us that second chance to reconnect with the Father. Last night, we turned on the TV and the "Jesus" movie was on. It's the story of the entire life of Jesus on earth, including his crucifixion, and resurrection. "Strange time of the year to watch something like that", you might be thinking, as did I, at first. But in reality, it was a perfect thing to be watching. After all, Jesus's whole mission, the whole reason he was born, was to die for us...to be that ultimate sacrifice...once and for all. Coming home in the car tonight, I was listening to Christmas Carols on the radio. One of my favorite is Silent Night. Even though it's more than 2000 years since the birth of Jesus, I can still feel the heavenly peace that songs sings of. Here are the words to that great old carol:

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth "

The last verse is my favorite. It holds such promise for us all.

Thank you, Jesus, for being the one gift that is always the perfect size, and color. You never need to be exchanged or returned. You won't break, spoil, or go out of style. You don't require assembly, and you will never be recalled. You never disappoint, and you never get old. You are just the right gift for me!

Christmas is quickly approaching, and I can't say that I am quite ready yet. Oh, yes, the tree is up and decorated...all the ingredients for the pozole are ready to go, most of the presents are wrapped...but every room sings of "moving day" rather than Silent Night. We have boxes everywhere, the boys' loft is apart, and resting in the hallway, complete with mattress until we can find time to bring it to storage. Such a strange feeling to be packing at Christmas, but hey, I am NOT complaining!! We are SO thankful that we have a buyer for our house/land. When Luis lost his job in September, things looked pretty bleak. We talked of "plan B" in case he couldn't find a job...in case the bank took our house for lack of payment...it got pretty scary for a little bit. Little did we know that God was strategically placing all the pawns in place, knowing full well that the "check mate" was just a few obscure moves away! OK, enough of the chess metaphor. But seriously, our situation had been troublesome for some time now, and Luis and I were praying for God to give us some kind of idea, or plan, to change our financial troubles. Now, if God had told me that Luis was going to lose his job, and we would contemplate moving (again!), I suppose I would have laughed in disbelief, much like Sarah in the old testament when her husband was told that she would give birth to Isaac at the age of 90! But, as I have learned over the years, God knows all the details, and, in His wisdom, doesn't share every "crossed T and dotted i" with us for our own good! Surely we would try to get in on the action, thinking we are so savvy, and make a mess of a perfect, well thought out plan. I am so glad that God is God, and I am not, and he knows exactly how to make the right things happen, even without my help!

It's better to give than receive...

Yes, we all know that saying, but trying to convince two youngsters that truth is quite a task to undertake. Luis got out of work early today, so Josh, Jonathan and I hopped into the car, in the pouring rain, and headed to town to run some errands. Today was payday, so I was hoping to get a few things for Christmas. Money is still pretty tight these days, and we are hoping and praying that all goes well with the closing of our house. We have learned not to count our chickens before they hatch, so we are not spending any money until it's in the bank. But the boys and I ventured out anyway. They have this crazy notion that whenever we go anywhere, they are entitled to get something. It's our own fault, really, as Luis and I both love to surprise them. But "surprise" has turned into "expectation", and shopping with the boys is somewhat less than fun these days. But today, I decided that they needed to do some shopping for others, so Dad was first on the list. We wandered in and out of the very few stores we have here in Hampton, and it was so funny to watch the boys shop. They started out telling me all the things that they liked, wanted, couldn't live without...etc...so I tried to redirect their thoughts. Then they started to pick out things that "Dad would like", which in reality would have been something actually for them. Josh was convinced that Luis needed a money bank that kept a running total of all the coins it held. Jonathan just knew that Luis was dying to have the newest group of hot wheel cars. We finally managed to find something for each of them to get for Luis, and a couple other family members, and we headed home. It actually ended up being one of our best outings in a long time, and we managed to find some really neat gifts, too! I don't think I have rid the boy of the case of the greedies, but it was a step in the right direction!

Sweet tooth

Around the holidays, one of my guilty pleasures are all of the sweets that come with the season. Growing up, my Gramma "D" would always show up with an assortment of delicious desserts, a tradition that I am more than happy to keep alive. The kids and I made this one...it was a bit messy, but well worth it! The recipe was posted in the Island Packet, the newspaper from Hilton Head Island. I thought these cake truffles looked so festive, especially with their red velvet cake center.

Peace Lily

Christmas Lily

Contract is signed...closing is set for January 12th...now it's time to pack and clean!!