Great news!

We got an update from a co-worker who visited Ashley. Sounds like everyone is doing great!

"Last night, I went to the hospital to send all of our best wishes to Ashley's family. Her mom, Terrie, brought me in to see Ashley who had come out of surgery for the third time hours before. Ashley looked well in spite of what she has gone through. Her spirits are up, she was smiling, and ready to eat! She hadn't seen baby "Mad-dog" (Ashley's mom's nickname for him already!) but was going to see him last night for the first time since he was born. Maddux was born on Sunday 3/29 at 9:13 am (I think that's what was written on the picture I saw) and weighed 5 lbs 6 oz. He went through his surgery well. He has to stay for at least 5 days to make sure there is no leakage.

Ashley was happy to hear we were all thinking about her...and it was a comfort for her to have lots and lots of people at the hospital to support her and all of you having her and Baby maddux in your thoughts...."

After hearing more details of what happened, it is truly amazing that they are doing great. Hearing about Ashley really hit me hard. It seems so unreal that a friend of ours ALMOST DIED giving birth. I can't stop thinking about risks and love and faith. I have a million thoughts jumbled in my head and when I make sense of it all I may try to write my thoughts on it. For now I'm just resting in the knowledge that our God is good, He is faithful, and He heals!

PLEASE PRAY!

A very good friend and co-worker of us is in need of prayer. Ashley went into labor with her first baby boy Maddux on Saturday. After 24 hours of no progress she was hemorrhaging. We just heard from her mom that Ashley is in ICU and almost died. She has had three surgeries to stop the hemorrhaging, and we know that they removed her uterus. She can't speak, but has been able to write notes. The little that we know on the baby is that he has something wrong with his esophagus and also had a surgery. Pray for Ashley's physical healing, emotional (she and her husband were hoping to have at least 6 children), for baby Maddux's healing, and for her husband Doroteo "D" to remain strong for them. Jesus be near them!

Couldn't resist a few more...

Meet Brett and Victoria Velazquez


I know it is not fair that I used a picture of Jose goofing around with his Mexican mustache, but I couldn't help it.

Hot or Not?

I'm thinking of going blond and losing 40 pounds.

Quarter Century Fun

Whew! I need take a deep breath after all the excitement of the weekend! Friday night the festivities began. Amanda, Matt and Stephanie arrived after Jose and I got off work. My mother in law Silvia made a yummy Mexican lent meal of chili rellenos, rice, beans, nopales (cactus) and shrimp cakes. Yum! What was even better was she brought the feast to our house and served my friends and parents!

Saturday Becca arrived and all of us girls went shopping in Pismo. When we got home, I was surprised to see Matt decorating for the party! Jose was shopping buying all the food and supplies. I was so surprised and touched to see the effort Jose made to make the night special.

In typical Biola fashion, all us girls made use of our large bathroom to help each other get ready. I LOVE all our Biola memories of doing each others hair and make-up and preparing for a night out. It was even more fun in our new house!

David and Emily even drove up from Glendale to celebrate with us! Isaiah dropped in during his work break, and Jesse showed up wearing his alligator skin shoes.







As promised, the Marlenetini (Lenetini or Marlini if you prefer)was unveiled and was a huge hit! Jose bought me the prettiest martini glasses to showcase the drink of the night.

Of course a party is not complete to me unless there is some competitive games played. Balderdash was my game of choice as it was our fave Biola game (fliffus will always be a soft pillow, and the movie The Couch is about West L.A gangs and Tia Lupitas couch).

Thinking my b-day festivities were over, I was so shocked the following day to walk into a surprise party with all our family members! We had planned on going to Red Lobster for my birthday lunch, and were stopping by the house before we went. For the record, I have always been able to suspect Jose's surprises, but this time he got me good. I didn't have a clue that he had been planning with our mom's to have a party at our house! I walked in through the garage, saw tons of food laid out on the counter, and before I could process what was going on, family came from everywhere yelling surprise!






To finish my birthday off, Jose and I decided to go to San Luis and spend my gift cards. We got held up a bit, and sadly by the time we got there the stores were closed! Oh well, it turned out to be fun anyway when we split a Fatte's monster sandwich and had a romantic dinner in Jose's truck!

For dessert we stopped by Red Lobster during Jesse's real shift (another way to distract me from the surprise was that he was supposed to be working when I thought we were going earlier!). Jesse of course had all his co-workers sing to me and we had dessert on the house (or maybe on Jesse?).

Ahhhh.... birthdays are fun. Thanks friends for driving to Santa Maria to be with me! Thanks family for surprising me and for the great gifts! And Jose, you are amazing. Thank you for inviting, organizing, decorating, and surprising me!

Marlene Madness/Mania is Here!

I'm so excited, the anticipated weekend is here! All the besties are coming to town to hang out with ME! Pictures to follow....


PS Will this work day ever end?

Life is busy, but fun!

This past weekend Jose and my dad completed our sod project! When we moved in, our grass was patchy and dead and there was no hope of bringing it back to life. We got a quote from a couple of gardners and even with the "deal" we were going to get it would have cost us $500. My dad has done it before and convinced us that he and Jose could do it themselves. One day we were driving home from work and pulled up to our house to see my dad with a sod cutter ripping out our front yard. Final costs for this DIY project : $200. Now that is a deal!

Before:


After:


Later that night we attended Carolyn Whitakers 65th birthday party! It was "humorous" costume themed, and so much fun!
The Birthday Girl looked so cute!

Evel Knievel and his 80's sidekick (I had to reuse a college costume because I couldn't pull anything else together)

The Ingalls

The Brokaws in 40 years

Our Franzia provider Jessica

Tim and Faith


After a busy Saturday (and me getting sick)the next day we taught Sunday School and we (by we I mean Jose) helped my parents paint their house. After my mom saw how much color changed the way our house looked, she wanted to do the same in hers. Hopefully I'll get some before and after pictures from there also!