Halloween

My family never used to be big fans of Halloween. We never put much thought in costumes, and my little brother even choose to not go trick or treating a couple of years in a row (even though I begged him to let me take him so we could get candy!). This year though he was allowed to go without parents, so he was really excited. Even more surprising was my mom dressing up for work! I think this is the last thing I could picture my mom ever being.

The Biker Chick and the Chick Magnet

Jasen insists that he could have walked around without the "costume" and it would still be obvious he was a chick magnet. Yes, I have a humble brother.

Jose liked Connor's costume the best (Go Chargers)

But I loved my parent's little neighbor the fireman the best. He was so cute! He was
walking around in a daze because he could not understand why he was getting free candy. He had chocolate dripping down his face!

The dorks on the block!

For all of you who have come to our house, you know how ridiculous our fence looks. Since I moved into our little house in March 2007, our landlord has said she would be replacing the broken down fence. But whenever I ask her about it, she gets mad and says when she gets money she will do it. A year ago, a section of it blew away, and her idea of fixing it was to nail a piece of plywood over it.

I thought our fence could not get any worse, until we drove home last night and saw this!


You have got to be kidding me! She attached a new section of fence, that she must have had left over from the front. Besides it being WAY taller than the rest, she didn't even bother taking off the old piece of plywood! I couldn't stop laughing when I saw it because it looked so ridiculous. But this morning it is just embarrassing!

Jose's grandpa offered to help us fix it this weekend, and we said no, it is the landlord's responsibility. Oops! I don't know why after all this time she decided to fix the fence (if you can call this "fixing").

Oh well, hopefully we won't have to deal with it much longer. I'm not going to get my hopes up by telling you about a certain something we may have put an offer in. Nope, I'm going to keep my mouth shut this time and not mention the big, beautiful home we may be the highest bidder on...

Jose's Facial Hair take 2

In January, I convinced Jose to grow out his goatee. In June (see blog post) he had to shave it off for an interview with Santa Maria P.D. He didn't get the job (but he was one of 5 who got an interview out of almost 100 who took the test), so he grew it back out. This past week he decided to shave it off again, and have some fun. Last time he shaved off the goatee part, and left the mustache. This time he did the opposite "Joey Duggan style".

Time has flown and he has grown!

I have long since faced the fact that I am done growing, well at least up. I knew at one point in his life my nephew, Eddie Jr., would out grow me. But at 14 he has already past me! And he gets bigger every time I see him! Not only is he physically growing, he has also grown into a very smart and respectful young man! I am so proud of him! When I was in high school my sister, Emma, would take him and my very beautiful niece Adriana (I am proud of you too) to every one of my football games and wrestling tournaments. I remember this little guy always looking up to me and being so proud of me after my games. He would feel so cool going out onto the field after our games. He and Adriana would always be painted up, wearing blue and gold cheering on their favorite uncle! (For a while all they had was six uncles!)

As the years past and Eddie Jr. was finally old enough to play something other than soccer, I was so anxious to see how he would do. I was so excited for him and a little nervous that he wouldn’t be good the first time I went and watched one of his games. Not that being good and winning is the most important thing, but it sure makes it a lot easier to watch. Did I have reason to be nervous? Of course not, he had watched his uncle play in lots of football games and definitely modeled his game after me! He was good! He was not always on the best team, but he was always a leader on the field.

Now this not so little kid is in high school! Wow how time flies! And things have not changed, I still get excited and nervous before his games. But he continues to impress me and I continue to be proud of him. Yes he is good at every sport he plays; football, baseball, basketball, and even volleyball. But what impresses me most about him is his awesome attitude and how well he does in school. He is a very motivated person and I know he will be great at whatever he does in life.

Emma and Eddie, you guys have done an awesome job raising both your kids. Adriana I am very proud of you too! I can’t believe you are graduating high school next year! I love you guys!

Bring on the rain

“I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You”

I’ve been thinking about these lyrics from a Mercy Me song a lot recently, and have tried writing this blog for a couple of weeks. As I was wasting time at work, I found a link to a blog (your not surprised are you?) of a family who lost their child shortly after birth. I was amazed, actually in awe, of the strength this family shared through their blog, and their unwavering faith in Christ. Connected to this blog was a series of other family’s blogs with similar stories of their children being born with Trisomy 18, a disease that is considered “incompatible with life.”

Jose was getting nervous with my obsession of reading the stories of T18 because they seemed depressing (and I don’t think he wants me dreading this when we decide to have children). But the truth is, even in these mother’s descriptions of their enormous grief, they are positive stories! The faith they have in Jesus, the trust they have in the Lord’s unfailing plan, and the hope they have in the promise of Heaven is challenging to me!

I am so blessed that I have not had to go through loss like they have. For whatever reason, so far God has given me a life free from huge trial. I am sure that won’t always be the case, but I pray and trust that when I am faced with a choice to give up or look up, I will be able to say “I am Yours regardless of The dark clouds that may loom above Because You are much greater than my pain,” (mercy me says it much better than I could).

In light of reflecting on this topic, we learned yesterday as my mom was waiting for my grandma to come out of surgery, that my grandpa’s kidneys have failed and he will need dialysis if he wants to live more than a year. My poor mom has two parents to worry about! But the weird thing is it didn’t surprise me. I had been praying that when grief hits my family that we would be examples of praising God through the rain. I’ll be more careful about what I pray for from now on!

“And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain”

#10 Best thing about working with my husband...

Not having to tell him about my day (because he already knows)!

I don't even know what #1-9 best things are, but I know they exist (like getting to see him all the time!).

Yesterday I was out on an immediate call all afternoon, trying to figure out who made a 1 year old's butt black, blue and green (turns out it may be a sort of birthmark), and didn't see Jose. We went home separately, and he went to his nephew Eddie's football game. We met at 7:30 at his grandparent's house for dinner. It wasn't until we were in bed that we had a chance to talk about the stressful afternoon I had. We were both so tired I think we fell asleep during my explanation. Normally we talk about it when I get back to the office, or on our way home. I didn't like waiting until the evening. And that is why I like working with Jose!

Chuck E Cheese

Jose and I love spending time with Jose’s little cousins Anastasia and Danica. They are the sweetest little girls, and I think they like us too! For months Anastasia has been talking about her birthday and party at Chuck E. Cheese. I kept feeling bad for her because the day was so far away and she had a long time to wait. I can’t believe how fast time flies (probably not for her) because now the day has come and gone.

She was very happy and excited, but I think the whole thing kind of overwhelmed her! So much attention!



Jose's niece and more second cousins doing the robot with Chuck E.