hhmm

Well, I don't know where to start. It's been like a week since I posted on here. Bekah is doing SO MUCH better. She is back to normal. Praise God! I just finished my 2nd week of summer school..2 to go. So many things have happened this last week. The biggest thing being that my nephew, Eli James Sappington was born Tuesday night at 10:30 pm weighing 8lbs and 3 oz. He was chunky!! I got to be there for his delivery...my sister did amazing!! She kept her sense of humor and did a great job through the delivery. I was even proud of my brother in law, Jay. He was so sweet and sensitve and took care of Shannon so well. They are a great fit for each other. =) I am glad Eli finally made his grand entrance.....I am so excited when I hold him close. =)

Another big thing was that my friend Shannon had her baby on Tuesday as well. Her son, Axel, is such a blessing and an answer to prayer. Not just Seth and Shannon's, but mine as well. I prayed that God would bless them with a child....and He answered my prayer. I am so thankful that God blesses His children. Axel is beautiful. I've only seen pictures of him because he has had some complications and is still at the hospital. So please keep this family in your prayers. I know that can't wait to take their son home, but he needs to be well. I can't wait to meet him in person.

God continues to provide for me and my family. My car died on me on Wednesday about 3 blocks from my work. The timing belt decided it had had enough and gave up the ghost. I had it towed, my brother and my dad drove out to sit with me and take me home. My brother in law was kind and lent me a car during this time of seeing whether or not the car is easily fixed, or if it is better to replace it with a new one. I'll keep you updated. Del has been a help too during this little event. He offered to help out with the finances some more and has been doing a few more things for the kids and I. (He even cleaned my house for me and put away the laundry that had been sitting in the basket for a week) while I was at work on Friday. I am blessed cause I know it was probably God tugging at his heart....so for this period of time....he's being thoughtful and considerate. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if it will last. but I thank God for the blessing that it has been. Especially financially. Anything else....well, that's up to God.

I am amazed at how much I've changed in the last year or so. I know God has brought me so far. I've learned that no matter what life may throw me, God is big. If I will quit trying to lead and control my life, He can do so much with it and for me. I have learned to lean on Him and trust Him in ways I never had before. I have learned that even though life sucks at times, it will get better. I feel stronger, more grown up I guess. I don't know. I am just thankful that God continues to work in me, shaping me to be what He wanted me to be. Where I was once lost in life and overwhelmed, I find my feet underneath me again. Where I was once desolate, I find myself renewed and loved. Where life seemed hopeless, it is now meaningful.

I still don't have a job for the fall yet. I'm not panicking yet.....but I am getting pretty nervous. I am praying for God's direction. As a single mom, I want to be able to have a job that provides, but yet gives me as much time with my children as possible. I will continue to pray....and start filling out more applications. lol

Speaking of my children. They are doing pretty well....considering. They started seeing a counselor 2 weeks ago. I wanted to make sure that they were getting the help they needed to get through this transition in life. Rebekah often asks for her daddy...especially when she's in trouble with mommy....Josh is pretty quiet about the whole thing. Although today he was wrestling with Fidel and Bekah and having fun when all of a sudden he began crying and crying and wouldn't let Del console him. I held him for awhile. Later he told me that he was mad that daddy "wouldn't listen to him and come back home." So although he didn't know why he was all of a sudden crying at the time, he was able to vocalize it later. Please keep praying for my babies.....it's hard for them.

Well, I think that's it for now.....

It's Father's Day tomorrow. Happy Father's day to all the dad's.....and especially my dad. I love you!!! I'm grown...but you're still there to be my daddy when I need you. thank you!!

God bless,

God's blessings

It has been a week since I've posted. I just finished my first week at summer school teaching Pre-K. wow!! What a draining week! lol I am working in Lewisville, which is about 35 min away on a good traffic day and an hour on a traffic day. lol....It pays the bills though. And for that I am thankful. =)
Also this past week rebekah visited the dr 2 times. We took her to the dr on Monday for some coughing and fever. She got some antibiotics for the pink in her ears...what looked like the beginning of an ear infection. However, by Thursday she was still running fever and the coughing was still TERRIBLE!!! So I took her back to an urgent care to find out she has bronchitis. so we got some more meds and an inhaler and now it's Sunday and she's doing much better!!! Which is a relief on so many levels. That means that she and I are both getting sleep through the night now. Whew!! Thank you Jesus.

In today's times, everyone is trying to save as much money as they can. Pinch a penny here. Save a penny there. I don't know anyone who is NOT doing this. =) My parents went out and bought ceiling fans for the kids' rooms. and they are the cutest fans...Bekah's is pink with butterflies.....very girly. =) And Joshua's is teh night sky...very cute. So, thank you mom and dad....it helps cut my electricity bill down. =) My dad installed them...the kids were so excited. thanks Papa!!

Father's Day is coming up next week. I am blessed with an amazing dad and father-in-law. I don't think there is a thing that either of them can't fix....cars, electrical, sprinklers, fences, boo boos =). So, I want to tell everyone...well anyone who gets to read my blogs =) what a privelege and blessing it is that I have my dads. =) I love you!!

Psalms 116:1 I love the Lord for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.

Good night and God bless!

A weekend away...

Everyone needs to do this every once in awhile. I needed to get away from it all. Relax, recharge, revamp. So, I called my bff Liz and asked if she had any suggestions for some affordable yet lovely places I could hit the road and go to. She had some suggestions! Her in-laws have a cottage on their property and I was more than welcome to it! And the best part----it was free!!! Woo hoo! So I asked Liz to go with me and we hit the road early Sat. morning. It was great!!! Just the 2 of us---like Thelma and Louise. Or maybe more like Lucy and Ethel. lol!! This pic was taken by Rebekah just before we left. =)

We were getting hungry and I was craving IHOP. So, we ate breakfast for lunch! yummy!!

"We are Marshall!!" Or so we thought! lol We thought that this was the Marshall from the movie "We are Marshall". We later found out from Liz's father in law, that no, not the same Marshall!! It was still fun to stop and take a picture though!!!

We stopped at this Kroger to buy some groceries. While we were in there, we asked the clerk to help us find something. We were giggly, and I guess with our hair braided, well, we must look young. Cause he commented that we looked like teenagers. When we laughed and said, "not even close!" He was in disbelief and said,"Early 20s?" more laughs, and we said, "We wish!!" we said thanks and went to check out!!! If he only knew he made 2 mommies day!! Liz will be 32 next month and I'm 31. It's nice to know we've retained some of our youth since we've each had 2 kids!!!

As I said, I needed to recharge. I wanted to do some journaling and prayer time. this tree was in front of our cottage. So we put some chairs there to have some quiet reflective time. I met with Jesus and Liz met with.....Edward Cullen in "Breaking Dawn". lol....we're both HUGE Twilight fans and she's reading the last book. So she read while I journaled. It was great. Later, I took a nap and she read some more. As you can see in the pic below.

this picture is taken just for Liz's husband Sean!! We got ready for bed and then watched Twilight the movie (for like the 10th time.....seriously, we've each seen it that many times!!) I wanted to tease Sean....just so he knows...we didn't cuddle!!! lol

This is Sunday morning. We were cleaning up and getting ready for church. This cottage is great.

This is Liz's in-laws, Linda and Bob. They pastor a church. They were SO GREAT!! They opened their house to us, fed us, gave us time alone to just be by ourselves. they were so gracious and hospitable. After church this morning, we had lunch at a yummy burger joint! mmmm

This is Cody. He is Liz's cousin? lol I forgot, I know that Bob and Linda are his grandparents. So that makes him Liz's nephew.....lol Either way, he's staying with his grandparents for a visit. He was nice and a lot of fun to be with. He and his grandpa Bob are always teasing each other. It's fun to watch!!

This is Liz and I at lunch. the burger joint had $1 bills all over the restaurant that people had signed.

It was just the weekend I needed. aaaahhhh....I feel blessed to have had it. My parents were gracious and generous and let me take their SUV for this trip. I love how it drives and it's SO COMFORTABLE!! Liz and I had a lot of fun. I spent time reflecting and I feel recharged to face tomorrow.....come what may. =)

Just one day at a time....I find God is faithful. His love eternal. His provision...great.

Goodnight and God bless!!

And on a more serious note..

As I have said before, life is full of ups and downs. And I am learning to live life on life's terms. In other words, no matter what happens, I wont be destroyed by it. Instead, I will lean on God....in the good and the bad times....trusting that He knows what He's doing. Is that always easy for me? No, it's not. But it's what I strive to do.
Last year, when Fidel and I separated the first time, I was DEVASTATED!! I felt that my whole world had caved in. My husband was rejecting me. I couldn't understand why. He had abandoned us emotionally, financially, physically. But over the course of the last year, I have learned that my being, my value, who I am is not defined by any man. I don't get my sense of value from my husband...or anyone else for that matter. I get it from God. God says I am special. I am loved. Unconditionally, without strings, I am loved. He sees my good and my bad and says, "I love you." Now I don't take that for granted...that's not a free ticket to sin. But because of His great love for me...how can I NOT love Him??

Things have been up and down with Fidel. He's in, he's out. Whatever. As of this week...he's out. He once again says he's ready to divorce. Well, we agree on one thing....I don't want him around right now!! As for divorce, well, I'll keep praying. I know I am more than justified in getting one. But more than anything, I want God's will. Of course, that's easier said than done. So, I continue to seek Him, moving forward in life. Loving my family, loving my beautiful children, and thanking God that we don't walk alone. Just because others act crazy and seem to have lost their mind, doesn't mean I need to lose my mind as well.

On that note, thank you for your continued prayers. They are always appreciated.

Just for today, I will take care of today. Tomorrow will take care of itself.

My little Cinderella

Rebekah likes to help me mop the kitchen floor. I use a mop, she uses a rag. This morning was funny cause she was wearing her favorite pjs...a disney princess pajama. And she's down on her hands and knees cleaning, her hair is pulled back, and she looks a mess. And she's scrubbing the floor. I couldn't help but think she looked like Cinderella herself. =)

My son is going to 2nd grade...and my baby is going to kindergarten

Today was Joshua's last day of 1st grade. I know, I'm in shock too!! He had a good year. He got into the GATE program, which is their gifted and talented program. He finished the year reading at a level 24. The goal for the end of 1st grade is level 16 I think. yeah, he kicked butt! =) I am so proud of him. Next year, or should I say in the fall, he begins 2nd grade. Wow!! His teacher gave him an award for attendance because he only missed 1 day of school the whole year!

This is his teacher, Martha Spence. She also lives in our neighborhood we found out. Josh sometimes asks to go to her house. I tell him, "No, I don't think so. she see you 5 days a week. She needs a break!" lol She is a very good teacher.

This is Rebekah today. At the end of the awards ceremony, I told Josh he was a 2nd grader now. Then I looked at Rebekah and said, "I guess that means you are a kindergartener now." She got SO excited!! lol She can't wait to go to school. She told her cousins later in the day when she saw them, "I'm going to be in kindergarten" She also told her uncle and also wanted to call her daddy and inform him as well. She was so cute. As for me, well, how do you think I feel?? My baby!!!! is no longer a baby!!! lol (insert pouty face)

Parking Lot Bash

My brothers-in-law are in a band called After the Prophets. Last week, they did a concert at their church to reach out to the community. I took some pictures and these are just a few.



This is my brother-in law Ben. Check out his shirt. It's a t-shirt that has a tie on it. So it's made to look like he's wearing a button up shirt....but he's not. Lol. Ben is funny. We call him Fat. he's not...but we call him that anyway! he plays the drums for the band. he can also play the clarinet...but I guess he thought it was cooler to play drums in the band.

This is my other brother-in-law Philip. He plays guitar...as you can tell. He is also wearing a doctor's lab coat cause he's going to med school in the fall cause he wants to be a doctor. He calls himself "Dr. Feelgood." yeah, he's a littly crazy. =) But I like him.

These are their wives. So that makes them my sisters-in-law. I don't know if that's technical or not..but hey, they're my sisters. =) I told my father in law, who took the pic, that we make the Ramirez men look good. =)