Then and Now

Look at these boys!!! The top picture was taken on January 12, 2007 and the bottom was taken April 4, 2010. Don't they look good?! There's not much for me to post, I just keep looking at the pictures and smile :)

Continue On

This was given to me by Ms Pat on Christmas day. It brings me to tears every time I read it. I have it up by my desk to remind me of what I'm supposed to be doing, and why I do it everyday. Ms Pat is a very special, God fearing, Christian woman, whom I appreciate and admire so much. I hope this helps some of you as it helps me everyday.


A woman once fretted over the usefulness of her life.
She feared she was wasting her potential
being a devoted wife and mother. She wondered if
the time and energy she invested in her
husband and children would make a difference.

At times she got discouraged because so much
of what she did seemed to go unnoticed and unappreciated.
"Is it worth it?" she often wondered. "Is there
something better that I could be doing with my time?"

It was during these moments of questioning that she heard
the still, small voice of her heavenly Father speak to her heart:
"You are a wife and mother because that is what I have
called you to be. Much of what you do is hidden from
the public eye. But I notice. Most of what you give is done
without remuneration. But I am your reward. Your husband
cannot be the man I have called him to be without your support.
your influence upon him is greater than you think and more
powerful than you will ever know. I bless him through your
service and honor him through your love. Your children
are precious to Me-even more precious than they are
to you. I have entrusted them to your care to raise for Me.
What you invest in them is an offering to Me.

"You may never be in the public spotlight,
But your obedience shines as a bright light before Me.

Continue on.

Remember, you are My servant. Do all to please Me."

Meeting in Alamo, TX

I didn't attend the meeting in Alamo on Monday night due to dinner, lol, my brother was in town with my new sister in law so I went to spend some time with them before they headed back home. Anyway, but my husband and Jay, aka Sal, would not stop talking about it. It was one of those services that makes you say, "man I should of been there!" so I missed out. I did go on Tuesday and Wednesday, and of course just like every service IT WAS GREAT. I especially enjoyed Wednesday night. We had services moved to Alamo, instead of here in Harlingen, and maybe half of our church went, and 2 people that we had been praying for got Saved, Eva and her daughter Chrysta. To see them after the service was both exciting and eyeopening. They were excited and filled with joy, and all I could do was remember back to the day that I got saved. I was so excited that they got saved, cuz like me, they thought they were saved, but thank God that the Lord revealed Himself to us, showed us what we were, before it was too late, but it was also an eyeopener because I realized that I didn't have that joy that I once did when I first got saved. I've heard it preached about restoring the joy of thy salvation, not knowing that the joy had been slowing diminishing, and without a doubt, IT'S MY FAULT. How I asked the Lord to forgive me, and to restore the joy again. The last thing I want is to lose fellowship with the Lord, and seeing their joy last night was what I needed! God is so good to me, and I see what He does for everyone else, I just started getting to comfortable where I was at and I needed a push, and He gave it to me!! Thank you Jesus :)

I'm 4 today!

You read the title right.... today is my 4th birthday. At about 8:15 tonight, 4 years ago, I was born again! During a revival meeting in Odem, TX I realized I was lost, a sinner, on my way to hell, I got a tug on my heart that I will NEVER forget. You know, I thought that I was saved before that time. We had started going to church in 1999 and I was doing all I was supposed to do, and not doing the stuff I wasn't supposed to do. I thought I was in! When Bro Mark is up there preaching I think on how he always says, "what might they say, they think I'm already saved!" That was me! We were there with our best friends and that did cross my mind. But I thank God for Holy Ghost conviction, something that I had never experienced before, and that He just led me to do what I needed, which was to call on him no matter what people thought. And of course, no one even said anything, everyone was so happy. And the next day, the 15th, my best friend was also saved! So to us, Happy Birthday to me and Melinda! Isn't it wonderful to know where you will spend eternity!

This world

As I'm posting this, 2 police cars just whizzed by my front window. I can't get over what this world has turned into it. Last night, on our way to GC, Ms. Kim and I were talking about that girl that got shot at the HEB by my house. You know I was on my way to the store that night because we were gonna have a fellowship, but I called Ms. Kim and she said that she had already gotten everything that we needed, so I didn't have to go. This was about the exact time that everything was happening. God is so good, and He had it all planned from the very beginning, exactly where I was supposed to be at that very moment. There is so much violence now. Just last night we were talking to the missionaries and they were saying how in Mexico they are also having a hard time with the violence. What can we do, but go out and keep telling people about the ONE who saves! Please don't forget to pray for our community, and for our officers, I should just say for the nation as a whole. I've got a brother in law who works for the San Benito PD, and I would really appreciate your prayers for him. Thanks

My First Ticket

So the other day I was on my way to Mike's CT scan appointment, at 8 am, when I saw a police car in front of me turn around, and what do you know.... he was coming after me! I kept telling Mike, "oh man, he's coming!" Sure enough he turns on his lights and I pull over. He tells me that I was speeding, going 41 on a 30. Mind you this is my FIRST TICKET EVER! I can't believe it. So now I have to go to see the judge Monday morning. I can't stand the fact that I will be giving away about $140 for nothing! (you know what I could do with that money) I didn't realize that I was speeding, but I was, and now I have to pay the price. Lesson for the day: don't speed! Oh, and buckle up! (Sal)

People Search

The other day I was thinking about our friends the Andersons. We met them at our first church, which was Central. We used to do a lot of things together, at that time Mikey was about 6 and their son was about 10 or 11, so we would go to the park, and other places so that the boys could play. They are also the people responsible for my yard! I used to suffer from anxiety and I couldn't seem to keep it under control, so I used to plant strands of grass in my yard, that came from their yard. It seemed to help, so I did the entire front yard! It was a good way to keep my mind off of the anxiety, but then I became obsessed with grass, everywhere I would go and would see a strand of grass sticking out somewhere I would take it! I'm over that now! My anxiety finally went away thanks to prayer, and my front yard is totally done! Since I had been thinking about them I decided to call, but their phone was disconnected. Then I had remembered that they were talking about moving. I then decided to do the Sal Yanez thing and look them up online, and I FOUND THEM! They live in Virginia where their son, now 18, goes to college. There is now so much catching up to do. Also, it was so exciting to find them, that now I'm gonna start looking for everyone that I can think of!

Hmmm.....

Today was a good day, we didn't do much, but just spending time with the family is soo good. We got up very late, I won't say what time, cuz it was really late! Then we went to the church, I cleaned and my husband fixed the bus. Then my husband had been wanting to take the kids to Peter Piper so off we went. We sat there and not much was said, but it was still nice being all together. How we've come to understand each other even when nothing is said, a smile here, a nod there, just peaceful.
I had been having conversations with people that I love, and how I wish that they could have peace. It seems like an ongoing battle for them, and it breaks my heart. I can't come to grips on how they can live like this... why must they choose to live like this? I know we all have problems, but why do some people want to hurt the ones that they love. Is it really because they don't know how to love? Or because they don't know the ONE who loves? My heart goes out to them. It seems so long for anything to happen, for something to change. But then I think that God has made these people that have these battles so different from me, because I probably would of just given up. Please pray for these people, the ones that want peace from all of this, and also for the ones that just don't want to give in, they know that they are causing heartaches but just choose to keep doing what they want. I don't find it fair that the people going through this are the people that seem to do so much for everyone else. How I wish that I could just jump in and save them from this, but I can't. I can't do anything but sit there and listen, then come in from talking to them or get off the phone and cry for them, for what they go through. I can't wait for the day when there will be no more tears, but until then we must keep praying. Please pray for them with me.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

First of all Happy New Year! This year started off really good. We went over to Ms. Jeanie's house and had lots of wonderful fellowship and lots of wonderful food too! I don't know how this blog everyday is gonna go, but I'm gonna try. I haven't made any resolutions, because I know I won't keep them, but the two things that I do plan to do this year is not to just read my bible, but to study through it in the year, and to lose 10 pounds. So here's to a new year of getting closer to the Lord. Pray for me!

My Parents

So you all got to see the picture of us kids, now these are my parents. Most of you all know my mom, but the little man there is my dad, he lives in Oklahoma City. The stories that I could tell you about my dad.... but I won't cuz thank God its all very different now. He wasn't the best dad, but then, I wasn't the best kid either. My parents were strict, my dad especially, but they did the best that they could. Now that I'm a parent, I understand how hard it is. Being a parent is the toughest job ever. When I look back now, I think on how I deserved every spanking I was given, of course then I didn't.
My mom and my dad are divorced, they have been for about 12+ years, neither are remarried, but I think its cuz they will eventually end up together again.
I thank God for my parents, NOW I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world! Yeah they bug me at times, but then I realize how I'm turning into them! NOOOOOO! (lol)
I guess my kids will soon think the same things about me, they probably already do.
Anyway, I love you mom and pop.

Dannys Wedding

Here we are at my brother Dannys wedding, he's the one up front. His wedding was in Oklahoma this past weekend. I've got three brothers and one sister, one of my brothers, the youngest, was not there, I really wish we would of all been there for this picture.
The oldest, the one in back, is David, then its Debbie, the one is silver, then me, the one in brown, then Danny, the one up front again, and then there's Dale, not shown.
We had a really great time, and I like the fact that we don't have to wait for funerals or something bad to happen in order for all of us to get together. We are a pretty close family, we get on each others nerves at times, but we all know that we love each other. It's amazing to see us all grown up now, I can still remember when we were kids running around, beating up on each other, oh wait a minute that was just this past weekend, never mind.
I love you guys, more than you'll ever know.

Busy, busy, busy!

I haven't blogged for so long because I have been so busy, but today I decided while I wait for the laundry to come out of the dryer, I would sit and blog. There has been so much going on, it seems like there isn't any time for much. I now take care of a baby during the day, and Mondays and Thursdays I clean offices. David is still in baseball so he has practice Mondays and Thursdays, Mike has piano on Tuesdays, we have church on Wednesdays, visitation or workdays on Saturday and Church on Sundays. Oh and Fridays we have our usual routine of going to Wallbangers. So as you can read, we've been busy. Its overwhelming at times, because with all that going on I still have to do my regular work, you know house, husband, kids, but I thank the Lord that I am able to do these things. I am able to walk and move, and not bed ridden. But of course I have to remind myself that most of the time. So please pray for me for strength, but most importantly for me to never forget about HIM while there is so much going on, because its very easy to forget when I'm so caught up in everything else, and that had been going on. I was in such a rush doing everything else that I wouldn't read my bible, or even stop to thank HIM for everything, but Thank God for mercy and grace and the love that HE has for me, because I know that HE had been reminding me, I just hadn't been listening, but now I'm gonna try to take it slow and make it more about HIM.

How the Lord works

Please believe me when I say this in no way is to brag about me, this is all the Lord.
Yesterday we went to my moms and before leaving she told me to take some onions and beans that she had there and give them to my neighbor. Well after picking David up from school today, I decided to go and give them the stuff, as I get to their door, I see my neighbor, Jesus, on the floor and his wife, Eva, trying to help him up, and she was crying because she couldn't lift him. I went in to help him up and he kept telling me I'm really heavy, (he is paralyzed from one side), but lo and behold with the Lords help, and theirs, I was able to help pick him up. How the Lord had it all planned for my mom to give me the food to give to them, and how He let me get there at that time. Isn't the Lord wonderful :) I couldn't stop smiling and thanking Him for what he does for us, even when we don't know what's going on behind the scenes!!
Please pray for my neighbors.

One year ago........

This first picture was last year at six flags, and the second picture is this year at Seaworld!
I can't believe it. We all look so different. My boys are getting so big. Even they're laughing at themselves right now. They don't look like babies anymore. LOL I still can't believe it. The other day my husband and I were talking and he was saying how it seems like its taking so long for David to grow up, but after looking at this he has grown so much, they all have.

We survived Dolly!

It has been 3 days since Dolly hit, and yes we're doing good. The roof was messed up a bit, and we got water in our house, we also had a lot of tree damage, but it's not as bad as it could of been. We are so blessed to be able to come back to our little house. Some people still don't have water or light, and won't till about next Thursday. Right now we have some refugees LOL, my sister and her kids, but it's not bad. It actually feels good to help out. There are so many people without anything right now, and all I can say is Thank you Jesus for everything. You take things for granted when its right there all the time, but when there's no electricity or water, man you learn to appreciate things, like a hot shower! I hope that everyone is doing good. If you don't have power well you won't be able to read this, but you're all in my prayers.

David

We got home from the hospital yesterday and I am happy to say that David is doing very good. Thank y0u all for your prayers and gifts! He went into the hospital asking if everyone was going to see him, and if they were going to bring him stuff! LOL so again thanks. The recovery isn't supposed to be so bad, and so far its going ok. He's still wearing some tape on his neck, but the dr says that it'll come off within a week, just not to yank it off, which David seems to be messing with all the time. I'm so glad that its over, and I praise the Lord that he brought my baby out of this safely.

Please Pray

Well tomorrow is the day. My baby boy will be going into surgery. I am so scared and nervous. Please everyone, be praying for him. We have to take him in at 6 am, but I'm not really sure yet what time the surgery will be. I am hoping that its early, since he won't be able to eat. I can't explain what is going through my head and my heart. I guess anyone who has ever had a child go into surgery knows what I'm talking about. So anyway, please keep David in your prayers.

"Praise"

Well as most of you all might know, both of my boys were going to be getting surgeries done this month, but Praise the Lord, Mike didn't have to get his done. Mikey has a hole on his femur bone that they were going to go in and stab it with a needle to make it bleed so that it would heal. I took him in to his pre-op visit and the doctor was telling me that he had been doing some research and said that he was still young and that it would eventually heal without surgery and it would take about 6 months to a year, which is the same time frame if he had the surgery done anyway. BUT..... the only thing is that Mike can't run or jump for that time. We know that this is really hard for Mikey to do, so I asked the doctor if we could try the no running, no jumping thing for a month to see if he complies, if not then he would do the surgery. Mike loves to run and jump and get hurt all the time, so he is having a really hard time with this. He can't take it. I feel really bad for him, so please pray for him. I don't want him to have the surgery because he would be in so much pain, and also he'll be in a cast from his thigh to his ankle, so please pray that he can slow down for awhile, and that the healing process will begin and end quickly. I know that my God can fix this bone and I'll have my energetic son back, so please pray with me! :)

We're back!

We're back!! We had so much fun in Loua, I don't have any pictures to put up, cuz my husband blogged on them all! But we really did have a great time. We could of sat there and done nothing, and still we would of had a great time. I want to say thanks to the Yanez family for putting up with us, feeding us, and making us laugh the whole time we were there! They're just so great, we love them. And thanks Nana for giving up your room, like always. We had no worries during the time that we were there, but now its time to get back to reality and upon arriving home it was just that! We got home and found water in my room, and also running down from where we put up the new ac. So of course with no time to spare, we started trying to do whatever we could. My husband fixed the ac problem, and my room,......... well our insurance needs to come out and check out the damage and who knows how long that'll take, so for the mean time we got buckets and towels ready! Then, I had been wanting to arrange the rooms that we had been working on, so I had a chance to do a little bit of that, along with some floor scrubbing. Can you believe all of this upon arriving! But still thank God, cuz it could of been worse!

"OUR" mini-vacation :)

WE will be taking a mini vacation on the third, Lord willing, and I can't wait! WE will be going to Louisiana, so don't forget to be praying for us. WE'RE leaving Thursday after my husband gets out of work, and coming back on Monday. WE will take lots of pictures, so you all can see what WE'LL be doing!