Celebrating 3 years...

The fourth of July is a celebration for Gabo and I. I have the story here. We celebrated with friends and family on the 4th at our house.

I invited a bunch of random friends over and then I realized that not a lot of people knew the others. Whoops! Nothing like making new friends at a 4th of July party in Mexico. We had a great time. My husband was a rock star like usual and went along with my crazy plans and ran to stores and carried things out of cars, etc.  Then we did our usual clean up activity afterwards. I dominate the kitchen while he sweeps, mops and takes out all the trash. We have it down to a routine which actually makes us enjoy the parties a lot more.

Here are some highlights from the party.

We go big or we go home friends. Yes, that is a flag cake and 2 APPLE PIES!

My friend Whitney was in charge of decorations and she hit a home run.

 These decorations may or may not stay in my house on the walls for awhile. Gabo does call our apt the United States. :)

Here is the love of my life leaning over all the food we had. 

 I am so excited that he took a chance and talked to the white girl hostess 3 years ago!

This picture is for my sister Amy. I took this out of her garage sale box last August. I knew I would use it!

Tim with the "American Star Root Beer" that I found at Waldo's. The American guys were so excited!

Our littlest party goers Dax (L) and Lydia (R) celebrated their first 4th with us!

Lining up for the Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest. It was a grand time!

Some bi-cultural couples and their babies with Gabo and I. And a small random child named Angel. :)

It was a very fun day and I am glad that I got to spend it with my friends and American food. God Bless America!

God's grace in the midst of the Imperial

Well friends, I wanted to update you on how God has shown up in Gabo's job with Sofi. I have other more profound things to write about (like the life of King David) but I am still gathering my thoughts.

Gabo did a great job last night. We arrived to the location about 11pm and Gabo went upstairs with the band. Sofi asked him if they could pray together and if Gabo would lead them and of course he said yes. Friends, let me stop her for a minute. This is what we pray for...that God would use Gabo to be a light in the darkness. Sofi's manager and her both see something different in the way that my man does business and plays music. The only thing that sets him apart is Christ. So before taking the stage, Gabo lead them in a prayer. BIG STEPS people. :)

 He was in charge of the band and he played great and even saved Sofi in the midst of her nerves and almost costly errors!

 I hung with my friend Gianina. She is a girl from the ministry but loves music. She was a great one to take along for me. I didn't want to sit by myself and we had a blast laughing together.

Gabo met the two producers of Sofi's disk. Lalo (left) and Mauricio (right) were both very excited and impressed of how the band sounded after 3 short rehearsals and only 10 days of learning the music. I had an awesome conversation with Lalo's wife. I felt like we were kindred spirits.  Today I posted these pictures on facebook. We have a friend named Andres and his wife Ale that used to live in our old apt building with us but we stay in touch cause they are Believers as well. Well, Andres has been telling Gabo for the last couple of months that he needs to meet his friend that is a music producer. Today Andres commented on the picture, "Hey Gabo, that is my friend Lalo I have been telling you about. I guess you did meet!"


Pray for us as we wait to hear the next steps with Sofi. We are so excited to be in the middle of God's will wherever he takes us. Last night it was a club at 2 am with producers, composers, arrangers and celebrities that desperately need a Savior.

We are honored to serve there. Good night!

An Ode to the Amazing Husband

So we are a rare couple. We are from 2 different cultures. He loves music and does things based on feelings. I studied social work, I am very practical, love living in the reality and am very objective.

Gabo has a job that is very flexible and fun...well I should say many jobs. He teaches, composes, produces, arranges, plays in clubs and on top of all of that, spends time with college students that want to do the same thing.

I have mentioned before that this summer Gabo will most likely produce a disk for a new guy in Tampico. We are excited about that. We believe in the guy and his music. He is a man of faith too and Gabo and him are trusting God to reach new places.

Sometimes our finances are weird. I live on a flexible income (depending on people's generous hearts) and so does Gabo (depending if the jobs come in and if they actually pay him for his hard work). So we have never been in need but we watch God provide in some really random ways. It is one way to live out the faith journey. :)

On Sunday Gabo got an email from a guy who is the personal manager of a girl that Gabo helped do her showcase in 2009 when we were just "novios". He directed her band and everything and really didn't receive any payment for it.

Here's a video of them rehearsing...look for Gabo. (second #19, #37, #52...)

Well Sofi got signed by EMI music awhile ago and she is making her way up and is ready to tour a little bit. Juan (the personal manager) asked Gabo to play in the band and be the musical director.

We don't know how big Sofi will get or if it is God's will that he stays in the band but right now he is busy learning all the songs this week for the first rehearsal on Thursday. The first concert is next Thursday (CRAZY huh?). [sidenote: I have been making fun of Sofi's song "te odio" for months now. I really don't like her voice but she is bringing home the bacon for us so I am going to have to accept it. Ha!]

I am so proud of him. Gabo not Juan :) He works so hard and he trusts the Lord with his jobs and he looks for the best way to use his time, talents and treasures for the Great Commission.

Here is her first music video as well. We'll keep you posted on our adventures with Sofi!

and props to me...i learned how to post videos on the blog! oh the things I can share now!

Thinking outside of the box

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”  Matthew 25:31-46

My husband is much cooler than I am. He is more generous, thoughtful, and sensitive. He honestly makes me a better person. 

Yesterday, we had a day off so we were leaving our house to go to walk in our favorite park and to celebrate Starbucks Frappucino Happy Hour. At the corner by our apartment, we saw a small boy about 10 years old with light spots on his face, ripped out shoes and was asking for money. Gabo gave him a few pesos and we crossed the street. My husband says to me that he wants to go back and give the kid some clothes. So we begin back across the street to ask him if he is with someone else. Gabo goes ahead and invites him and his grandma into our house for food and clothes and to give them a Bible and to pray for them. 

We thought and prayed about this verse above...whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Christ. 

To be honest, our own finances haven't been stellar lately. God has provided but I am not living in a place of comfort and maybe that is what God wants. We have pinched pesos and been very careful.  So naturally when I am in this state, I am not one to be willing to give to others. But God took this moment to say to me that I don't really know what it's like to not have all that I need. He will continue to provide for us so we can be Jesus with skin on. 

Gabo also invited them back anytime to eat. I better make some extra beans and rice this week!

Why the Fourth of July means something different to me...

Two years ago, my friends and I decided to throw a party here in Mexico to celebrate our independence day. I think I have become quite the party planner here because of the nature of how we use get togethers to love people well, say goodbye and include new friends and non-believers in our circle of friends. (Maybe I will share a post on that later...)

So July 4, 2009-theme "4th of July" 

 

 Me with Jessica and Katie (we organized the festivities)

When we were inviting friends, Katie told me to send a text message to our friend Gabo. And he showed up. 

And we took a picture together and he asked me out on a date. July 4th was the kickoff of our dating relationship.

Then last year--July 4, 2010, we were married. (We move quick huh?) And celebrated with Katie in the US. 

So this year, we just celebrated our first year anniversary and we are here in Mexico with lots less Americans around so we decided to take a road trip yesterday to celebrate with some friends in Queretaro, Mexico. It was about 3 hours by bus. Here is a picture of the husband and me at the bus station coming back. 

Personally, I am so grateful for this man. He sacrifices so much so that I can still feel like I can be this American girl. There is nothing like eating a burger, some watermelon and cherry coke on the appropriate day of the year while saying the Pledge of Allegiance with 2 other American friends. 

Coming home, I was overwhelmed with gratefulness for my husband. Our marriage is full of learning new things about each other and understanding our cultures in the middle of it. 

On life and blogs...and a couple of rings.

Lately, I have come across some funny blogs. I mean I am laughing out loud here at my desk in Mexico. And I personally think that I am funny and have funny experiences in my life. I want to make more of an effort to be more proactive in letting you in on my life well our life here in Mexico. 

Let me be real with you and let you into my life a little bit.

First off, on April 20, 2010, Gabo gave me an engagement ring. Our engagement story is not the traditional story of a boy down on one knee and a girl completely surprised. Gabo and I well we sometimes do things different. And personally, the whole process between about December 28, 2009 and just about June 3, 2010 was testing of faith and the assurance of marriage for us = not the most enjoyable time of Emily's life. Gabo and I talked with my parents before we came back from Christmas and began shortly after that planning a wedding. On April 20, we went to our favorite park after a week of hard conversations, he gave me a ring. It is beautiful and I loved it and I still do. When he put it on my finger, I was completely happy and content. See picture below. :)

He mentioned to me at that time that because of our financial situation at the time, it was a smaller than he wanted. And he said to me that his intention was to upgrade later. Now ladies all of us like beautiful things but I have never been a fan of the "upgrade mentality" and I certainly wasn't going to hope for something when I am happy. 

So we got married on June 19 and we had a great time at the wedding. 

And we have had a great first year of marriage. I have learned a lot and well Gabo has almost lost his ring twice... but we've still got them. 

I think jewelry is a funny thing. Girls wait for this ring for their whole lives. And they think that somehow it signifies that if they have a bigger diamond that they have a worth higher or that their soon-to-be-husband will maybe want this whole marriage thing to work. But I have never done a statistical study seeing how much a man has paid for the engagement ring in contrast to how long a marriage lasts. I just wanted something on that left finger, a ring pop, even to just tell the world that Emily is officially off the market. 


So on Tuesday, the hubs called me and asked to take me to dinner at one of our favorite Italian restaurants. We are a missionary and a musician so I questioned how this man was going to invite me there. But I trust him and accepted the date. To make a long story short, the love of my life has been sneaking around and saving his pesos and bought the upgrade. I had NO idea. 

I am surprised. I am grateful for a man that wants his woman to feel like a princess. My mom jokes that it must me a nice life to have a new ring every anniversary. I assured her that this beauty is the last one. 


Rings are rings. Love is love. And I am grateful for the way that God is faithful and good to me.

Calling all High School Christian Girls

You know what I am talking about when I say worship band. You think...cute drummer. It was always a hit for me when I was a teenager and I went to summer camp, a youth rally, whatever and I was enthralled with the guys in the band. I always thought it would even be fun to date one. They just seemed so talented and hot. WOW. I thought what passion they must have for the Lord to serve. I bought in to the groupie mentality. 

And then my cousin John was in the band one year at summer camp. I was cool by association. It was kind of a big deal. 

And then I met a pianist in Mexico. And we dated and fell in love. Then I married him. I am the official groupie for life. 

So High School Christian girls, here are some things you should know about being a musician's wife (because clearly now I am an expert):

- sound checks start really early in the morning

- he tells me when singers, instruments, etc are out of tune and says "HELP"...hilarious

- just because he sounds great up front doesn't mean he wakes up like that. Gabo who studied 9 years in a Music Conversatory and has taught for 15 years still studies every piece of music for hours before even going to a rehearsal. 

 - he woos my mom with personal concerts

- even little kids are drawn to musicians

- traveling is a beast...plan to pack in one suitcase so he can carry all of his stuff. (it really is worse if he is a drummer. think of the cymbals and that big fat bass drum)

- in general, Musicians are dreamers, visionaries and have tons of ideas. They don't always love making solid plans
- he can hear a song i love once on the radio and play it by ear for me

So ladies checking out the band....live in reality. They are a whole different animal in good and bad ways. Plus be careful, you don't want be lusting after your brother. That is just ugly. 

From the journey,

Em