Beach Retreat 2012!

This past weekend I went on a beach retreat with a few of my friends! It was an awesome much needed couple of days spent nourishing our souls, relaxing, laughing, enjoying great food and the ocean breeze right outside our doorsteps! I told myself before the weekend started that I was going to try to do a good job of taking pictures throughout the weekend. I even left my camera in plain sight on the kitchen bar in hopes that I would be reminded to pick it up and snap some shots. Fortunately, most of the weekend was spent having fun, relaxing, and having great conversation that the time just slipped me by. The only pics I was able to take was before everyone got there of the so very cute beach house we stayed at and at dinner Saturday evening when I handed the camera over to our waiter. He went camera crazy on all of us and kept us laughing while taking random shots. Those are sometimes the best if you ask me!

Our weekend theme was "Biblical Community". We watched several video web casts provided  by the ladies over at  Incourage and had some great discussion regarding Christ Centered community and how to intentionally love each other as Christ loves us. Good Stuff!

Hoping we can make this beach retreat an annual tradition! Here is a collage with a few pics I managed to get of our girls getaway weekend!

Make a collage

HE will conquer

Our family friend's baby girl went to be with the Lord yesterday. It has been a long road as they also lost their precious son less than a year ago due to the same heart condition. You can read their story HERE. My heart and mind can't wrap around the loss and pain that our dear friends must be going through. I can only hold steadfast to the fact that our Heavenly Father will someday conquer death and restore His Kingdom for His glory. My heart so badly wants Christ to come back to once and for all claim victory over death that stings us so badly.

1 Corinthians 15:25-26 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

I can't wait to be able to sing this from a mountain top and for what is written in 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 to become true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory! Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

I like to imagine I would sing this with a fist in the air in victory that my Heavenly Father finally put death under his feet. Until that day.....let us love one another and cherish each other for the short time that we spend in this temporary place.

Psalm 144:4-"Man is like a breath;his days are like a fleeting shadow."

What will you do with your life that is numbered compared to the time of a fleeting shadow and a breath? If death does anything it is to remind us of our brevity in life. May we live it for God's glory. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Carpenters during this difficult time.

Piece of Mexico in the Backyard!

Last summer we decided to redeem our business expense card points(not to be confused with credit card-we are anti credit card) for a nice vacation with the whole family. After all the discussion about where to go and how long to stay we opted to bring a little bit of a vacation to our backyard instead. We figured it would be a nice investment into our home and much smarter to have a relaxing space that feels like a vacation in the comfort of our own home!

With our budget we learned that whatever we decided to do would have to be done ourselves. Hiring it out was not an option. I was so excited to be spending some quality time with my hubby building something together in the backyard and getting my hands dirty. I love making things out of nothing! Although I don't think my hubby shares the same passion.

We did some homework, and we decided to build a palapa in our backyard! I managed to find some easy to understand step by step instructions online to build a 12x12 palapa structure. We wrote out a budget for the building materials and borrowed a lot of tools that were needed with the exception of a few tools that I wanted to keep in our stash for future projects. We got to work 9 months ago and over spring break we finally finished!

I have to give credit where credit is due. Although I wanted to get my hands dirty and break a sweat I ended up holding a toddler in one arm and instruction manual in the other for the majority of the project. My hubby and dad worked most of the manual labor on this and for that I am truly grateful! I didn't complain one bit as the water runner, lunch fetcher, home depot runner, and project manager. Oh and before I forget I would like to thank www.instylelimo.org for making this project possible through it's financial contribution via expense card points! To clarify it didn't take us 9 months to build this thing but that's how much time passed us by before we could complete it. Last summer we spent a couple of days working in the back and then I had to go back to work. I learned that without a project manager a project will be at a standstill. During the winter you won't find me outside unless it's right next to a chimney or bonfire. So when spring break came along we had the perfect weather and time to finally finish! Here are some pics of our building process and the finished product!

This week we will be pouring concrete to expand our patio to the edge of the palapa and then hopefully get some patio furniture to add under it. I'll post some more pics once the concrete is done. Now if only I can convince my hubby to build our own furniture by telling him furniture building is not as hard as palapa building! I'am itching to tackle the furniture plans that the talented Ana White offers on her website. You've gotta check her stuff out by clicking http://www.ana-white.com! Luv her!

WE ARE...DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

Valentine's Father/Daughter Dance

Ati and Johnny have an annual tradition of attending our city's Valentine Father/Daughter Dance. Ati looks forward to it every year and it's so special to see daddy and daughter creating these memories together. Last year they decided to ride in "style" with their friends to the dance and that just adds more excitement to the whole evening! The girls just love to be pampered by their daddy's! Here are some pics from the previous years and pics from the dance this year which they are attending tonight! What about me you ask? Well, Maciah and I had a dinner date at Chick fil A then came on home in time for his bed time and my date with a quiet house and a blanket on the couch with my laptop! Pure bliss I tell you.....

2012

2011

2010

The Power of a Note

When was the last time you recieved a hand written note for no special reason? Maybe a sweet handwritten note surprise in the mailbox or in your lunch...(hint to Johnny)? I think in the mix of social media we have lost the art of handwritten notes. I personally enjoy recieving notes, they make me feel special and loved. In the wake of this thought I have been convicted to do the same for the loved ones in my life. I know periodically the Holy Spirit will bring someone in my thoughts during the day and I lift them up in prayer. Just the other day on my way to work a friend of ours came to mind and I knew they were going through a tough time with a health issue. As I drove I remember saying to the Lord..."I don't know why this person came to mind, but you do God and I just want to lift them up to you at this time and pray that you be with them at this moment." Sure enough when I got home I read on their blog that that morning had been a rough one and that they appreciate the prayers and to keep them coming. I was moved to tears. I just never tire at the work of the Holy Spirit. It is so captivating! I have yet to let my friend know but remember thinking I wanted to write a note to let them know I had been praying for them in that moment and continue to do so.

NEway, back to notes! In the wake of making those around me feel loved and special I will be keeping stationary and envelopes with my bible to use after quiet time and prayer. Often times I think of someone during bible reading or prayer and hope to be able to bless, encourage, and love others during that time. Because isn't that the second most important comandment of all?

Matthew 22:39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Here's to recieving and giving encouraging handwritten notes!! Here's a few I have recieved at work that I have taped up to serve as great reminders to keep going, and doing even though my mind and body get tired of hanging out with my 6 and 7 year old friends!

You know your on a budget when...

1. You Google where kids can eat for free. This is our list so far!

Denny's on Tue and Sat. 4-10pm

Texas Roadhouse on Tue.

Luby's on Wed. and Sat.

IHOP every day from 4-10pm

Berry Hill on Tue. and Sat. all day

Wings & More on Wed. nights

2. You get all giddy when your brand new labeled budget cloth envelopes come in the mail! No more falling apart paper envelopes! Yay! I heart them.

In October 2010, the hubby and I attended and completed FPU with our church and it changed the way we do and think about our finances around our house. One of the big changes was getting on a cash based budget to be better disciplined when we are out. We learned there was a emotional feeling when using cash versus using that beloved plastic debit or credit card. I must say it is a little harder to turn over that cash across the counter. We do categories that we use for do day to day life in cash envelopes. And we each have our own allotted cash we get each pay check to blow on whatever we personally want. In using the cash based system we have learned how to say No lots of times. Even when it pained us to do so. In learning how to be better resourceful with our cash I have also become a fan of experienced items and clothes! Yes, I admit I have grown to love Goodwill and Resale Shops! Our envelopes love them too!

This journey has not been easy but well worth it many times over. We are VERY close to paying off all of our debt (except the house). I wish I could tell you how close but my hubby doesn't want to jinx it. LOL. He says as long as we don't have any ER visits or 'unexpected surprises' we should be right on track. It's been especially helpful to be surrounded by people like our small group where we also completed FPU together last year to share in the struggles and victories. It has been such an encouragement to lean on them for prayer and words of encouragement as we near the end of paying off our debt and feel the heat from the enemy to keep us from that goal.

We hope to have a party/celebration when it's all said and done! We have a dear sweet couple whom have been accountability and have been great cheerleaders for us in this area and they promised us they would host the shindig on our behalf! : ) They are way down the line financially that we are and as Dave Ramsey would say it they are Winners with money. They have been the ones on the other side of the mountain encouraging us from the other side saying " Come on you can do it! It's great once you get over this mountain! It's such a wonderful feeling! Your almost there!" Thanks DD and KD for your encouragement and especially DD for just flat out telling us "No you don't need that..you want it. Just hold off until the time is right. Do you know how close you are? Do you know how much sooner you can ______if you just stick to the plan?" We love and appreciate you guys!

I hope to be able to post soon when the deed is done! In closing you know when you are in a budget when.....you constantly have to remind each other with these quotes to make each other feel better or during those low times...

"If we just live like no one else now, LATER we CAN live like no one else!"

and our other favorite....

"Delayed gratification is a sign of maturity." I have to personally tell myself that ALL the time. Although it's helped cutting back on visiting those tempting retail stores!