While Telmex was changing our internet over...

I spent some time unpacking and getting settled into our new apartment. We love it by the way. Telmex, our local internet/phone company took their sweet time coming over to do a job that literally took 5 minutes. I am officially done complaining about that. 

Let me share with you all the story of the mueble (piece of furniture in Spanish). This is a buffet that some STINTers found in the trash of their apt 3 years ago.

This was after Gabo used his brute force to pull out the vertical pieces in the middle that made up a wine rack. We aren't big wine-o's here so we preferred simple shelves in the middle. I got my instructions from www.younghouselove.com and a friendly paint salesman at the local Soriana store.

So first I sanded it.

Then I did a spray on primer. 

And that is when Angie and I started to get a little light headed in the house. We opened some windows and turned on the fan. 

Then later that night, I started the lovely task of painting the beast in all it's nooks and crannies with black oil paint mixed with a little bit of paint thinner. 

Just so you know, that paint was a pain to get off my skin but well worth it in the long run. 

So here it looks all finished. 

We love it. Although we have no idea who the original owners were, we are glad that it ended up in our house!

God's Blessings on Labor Day

Yesterday my sister pushed this little nugget out. Well actually Lucy Marie weighs 9 pounds so she is not a little nugget but yesterday was her day. Just like all the grandchildren multiplying in our family, Lucy is special too. 

On December 25, 2010, my sister calls me on skype and she says that they have a secret to tell us. They just found out they were pregnant! Gabo and I were ecstatic to be the firsts to know. Amy was thrilled. A couple of weeks later, Amy calls and tells me that she tripped and bounced down the stairs and there was some bleeding and she was going to go to the dr. This was before other family members knew. They found out that there was a placental hemorrhage next to where our little Lucy was growing. The OB-GYN tells her to take it easy and to come back in a few weeks. Which is impossible by the way with an 18 month old in the house. These type of hemorrhages can be dangerous leading to bedrest, miscarriage or premie babies. So we prayed a lot here in Mexico.

On February 14, Amy sends me a text message after leaving her ultrasound. The hemorrhage is gone. It's a miracle...not just shrunk but disappeared. We celebrated God's mercy on Amy's womb. 

So yesterday Lucy arrived all 9 pounds of her. I was in Mexico moving apartments without internet. 

Here is how they got our couch in our new apartment. Quite the fiasco...(more pictures to come of the new place)

And yesterday, my best friend Suzanne moved too...from Dallas, Texas to Ioannina, Greece.What a great day!

I thank God for many things today...

- Suzanne and Jerry and their heart to serve Jesus and tell college students about His love in Greece

- My sister Amy and my brother-in-law Ryan and my lil' man Rylan--they are a great family to welcome someone new into. Lucy has a great place to come home to even though Rylan thinks she lives at the hospital

- Our new apartment! It's close to a fun market and a park and 3 blocks from my girl Angie
- My mom-Cath's birthday is today!

Quick Trip to South Bend

Yes, I was in the states for a very short week. I am sorry that I didn't tell you guys. I needed some time to hang out and rest up from the crazy year.

I really only came for one reason...

This one in the orange lunging across the table. My sister (to the left) is about 4 million months pregnant but she decided to teach summer school so I hung out with my lil' man for a couple of days.

Rylan has quite the vocabulary these days. Let me share some of my favorite lines with you.

Me opening the car door to get the nino out. 
Rylan: (hands flung out wide) "TA DA" like he just finished a magic trip

Pulling out of the mall parking lot, Rylan was mad we were leaving. 
Me: do you want french fries?
Rylan: No
Me: do you want to go get mama?
Rylan: No
Me: do you want to go back to the mall?
Rylan: No
Me: Well what do you want?
Rylan: I want jetskies and sailboats.
Me: You want to go to the lake and see jetskies and sailboats?
Rylan: OK! (asking a clarifying question automatically means that I am asking him to go)


I also had a great time seeing family. Although I didn't take many pictures, it was a really good and relaxing time. I had fun shopping in the states, eating Bruno's Pizza, going to Hacienda and laughing a lot.

However, I severely missed this face.

It's amazing what 8 days in the gringo land can do to my heart. Love my home in Mexico but love the roots in USA.

Hope to see you all the next time around! We are praying to be there at Christmas!

The summer update in pieces...

I haven't been around that much the last couple of weeks so I want to play catch up with you guys so you can hear a little bit more about my summer.

 I lead a summer project at the end of July. If you are new to Campus Crusade land, that means a summer mission opportunity. We hosted the project in Mexico City and it was an overall good time.

I loved our students and the activities that we did and our biblical studies course.

One of my favorite parts was Patty (front right). She became a believer about a year ago here in Mexico City and she was a last minute addition for the project. I actually called her the day we were starting to see if she could fill in where another girl dropped off. She showed up 4 hours later and what a blessing she was!

We got to celebrate her birthday with her as well. We surprised her with a little party and the students serenaded her at midnight.

I think the project experience was a growing experience personally, professionally and definitely for my marriage. Gabo and I are still learning to communicate well and share our feelings clearly.

Another plus is that I found my favorite bread in Mexico. It's seasonal so I usually only eat it in October and the first week of November. It's called Dead Bread.

As you can see, I was pretty stoked about it.

More updates to come!

The Family Fly

Let me take a minute to procrastinate from all things summer project to share a little story about the life of a white girl being married to a Mexican. 

We got married in a civil ceremony on June 17. It was supposed to be for family and very close friends. Well this guys showed up... (back right corner)

I had never seen him before and after the ceremony I saw him talking to my gringa friend Caitlin. And I said to that Gabo, "um who is that man at my civil wedding?"

He replied, "Oh he's a family friend. We refer to him as the gnat cause he always just hangs around." 

During the next couple of months "la mosca" (the gnat) called the hubs wanting to be in contact with my friend Caitlin. He liked her and for some reason he thought he had a shot. Gabo always dodged the question not knowing what to do. 

A couple of nights ago, our house phone rang at 11:45pm. Gabo ran to get it thinking it might be an emergency. It was the "mosca" calling...he wanted to know about the English speaking Church and how he could go and meet other girls. Gabo spoke firmly to him that he wasn't going to help find his ideal white girl. 

Most of all, I was severely grossed out by this man mid-30's having the nerve to call Gabo looking for options for a girlfriend at MIDNIGHT! 

I think it's funny and disturbing that people think marrying someone from another culture is a dream come true and it's all roses and pretty rainbows. It's not all the time. People live in a dream world. Bi-cultural marriages are fun but they are a lot of work.

To you the "mosca": you don't know what you would even be getting yourself into. It's not a dream world. And please don't call my house that late again.

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. 

Considering Jesus..

One of my jobs on staff is going to share on campuses here in Mexico City. I try to go about every week even though that I don't have a team. I look for volunteers or students to go with me. 

The part of Evangelism that I love is that it's a conversation. Even though many Christians think of it as a time to impart a sermon, I don't love that. It's a dialogue. 

So I was on campus on Tuesday sharing with students. I met Carmen who is studying Sociology and we hit it off right away. We had a great conversation. Carlos began to transition into the Gospel and we talked about her belief of God and what she believes about Jesus. 

I began to talk about the claim of Jesus being a Lord, Liar or Lunatic and what she thought about that. Carmen told me she never considered Jesus as Lord but he definitely wasn't a Liar or a Crazy man. She thought of him as a good leader. 

A.W. Tozer says, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." 

I began to talk to Carmen that our view of God affects how we see our life. Carmen told me she never considered that before. She had to go to class but she had a lot to think about. 

So my question is, what comes to mind when you think about God? How does your life reflect who Jesus really is? And what do you do everyday to tell the world about who Jesus really is?  

One year down...millions more to go!

The hubs and I had a great time in Cancun celebrating our 1 year anniversary and recovering from a couple of crazy weeks in DF. I just want to clarify what kind of vaction-ers we are. 

 We take naps by the pool

We take a couple of walks on the beach.

We eat good Italian food.

The husband even made me a sandwich! 

We truly enjoyed relaxing and marveling in all that we have learned in one year of marriage.

Hotel Hernandez

So the last couple of weeks, we have had a constant flow of house guests. We've got people sleeping on air mattresses and couches and sometimes we have even given up our bed. 

Hosting is interesting. I love having people here. I love hanging with friends that I don't get to see very often and cooking for them. Our friend Katie came back for a few weeks to finish up things here before her move to the states. We've had so many events at the house that sometimes there is no room in the fridge for everything. (Shown below, Katie hard at work organizing the fridge)

I think the hard part is that me and the hubs are not so good at resting. When the friends or family leaves, I do the dishes or wash the sheets for the millionth time. In my eyes, Hotel Hernandez is always worth it. But sometimes it can be exhausting..planning, preparing and still wanting to enjoy the people.

So how did we decide recover from this whirlwind? We are going on vacation next week! That's right my friends. Don't even think about robbing me...I have a hardcore doorman and double bolts on the door. :)

Gabo and I are heading back to Cancun to rest, get some sun and more importantly celebrate our 1 year anniversary. The break is much needed. The equation for recovery for me is: 

Emily + lounge chair on the beach = happy coma

These will be our digs for 4 days next week. Pretty rough huh?

Hotel Hernandez closes on Monday. Pray for a restful time of rejuvenation for us. 

And that we could literally sleep well. (Check the time stamp on this blog...6:15 am is not a normal "get er done" time in my book)

A divided heart but content spirit

Well we just finished a whirlwind visit from my dear sister Amy and my nephew Rylan. They came in on Friday morning and left this morning early. The sis and I tend to roll like that...we keep the visits short. Quality over quantity...plus she has 9 days of school left and I have like 14 parties to plan and fun students to hang out with.

Anyway about our time together...

Rylan is just under 2 and enjoyed very much the activities that we did. My sister is just a little bit prego so we didn't run them too ragged...

Along with their beautiful faces, Amy brought us some "happies". This means little treasures from the United States of America. One of those items was a devotional book called "Jesus Calling" in English and Spanish for us both to enjoy. So I was reading it a little bit when she was here. I am on January 3 even though we are almost to June. 

Part of the devotional says, "Keep your eyes open and your mind wide open to all that I am doing in your life". "I" meaning Jesus. I typically am pretty aware that Jesus desires to change and free me from my life but it's sometimes easy to fall into a complaining spirit.

The hubs and I dropped off the Kring's at the airport this morning. After much debacle with Aeromexico we parted ways sobbing as usual. It hurts so bad to say goodbye to them...I mean the ugly cries just come out of us. As I was walking to find a cab, I started to complain to Jesus about how my heart feels so divided sometimes (and maybe to Gabo too...). How come some of my favorite people live in different countries? And how come I have to like them so much?

And I thought back to days when my sister and I weren't so close...really when I drove her batty in high school and I thanked God for a restored relationship and a sister to love and laugh with me from a distance and someone who is willing to get her 6 month pregnant self with her 2 year old on a plane to come and visit me (and our husbands that go along with our plans too!). 

God is doing many a things in my life. He is longing to give me a thankful and content spirit. A happy heart. He wants me to reminded of great relationships and he wants me to know myself better. 

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.

Eric's big day

A couple of weeks ago, Gabo and I went to San Francisco to celebrate Eric and Cindy's wedding with the family. We had a great time.

We got some time to do some sightseeing with the fam...

And ride the cable car

Gabo played the music in the wedding

And we made some fun memories with Brady and Carly (my niece and nephew)

We are grateful for sweet memories with our families. We don't get to see those that live in the states very often so we have to take advantage of our time.

Oh Volaris Airlines...

How I love thee..Let me count the ways.

The hubs and I recently traveled to San Francisco to take part in the celebration of my brother's nuptials. We flew Volaris and fell in love. Here are some of the reasons. 

1. They gave us a great deal on our tickets. We had cheaper tickets than anyone flying from the states. That was something to holler about cause that meant we could spend more.


2. The Santa Fe terminal (20 minutes from our house) was the documentation station and counts as your 3 hours before thing for international flights.

3. We never saw our bags from Santa Fe until we landed in Oakland. That was beautiful for us.

4. Volaris has a on time gurantee or your flight is free and boy did they do that well!

5. The flight attendants have cute uniforms.

6. They serve one of Gabo's favorite snacks on board.

7. Their customer service is great...surpassing any expectation that we ever have for a Mexican company.

8. They have a free shuttle to take you to the Toluca airport.

We are definitely going to be hanging out with Volaris in the future. Especially cause we found out that they fly to Midway...watch out our midwestern friends, here we come!

Doing the RIGHT thing

A couple of weeks ago Gabo and I went with our friends Angie and Pepe to visit some other friends in Queretaro, Mexico. We were needing a break from the city and Monday was a holiday so we decided to take advantage of it. 

We spent the afternoon in the centro with our friends and Pepe and Angie had plans to have coffee with some people. So Gabo and I were going to drive Angie's car to Applebees for a beloved American experience. :) It was more for me than for him but he is an amazing husband.

Gabo was driving, I was navigating and the next thing we know is that a cop is pulling us over. Supposedly Gabo had run a red light. We were in Angie's car with Kansas plates on a Sunday night in another city-Monday's the holiday. The cops immediately ask Gabo to step out of the car (wanting a bribe instead of giving him an infraction). I start to get nervous and freaked out. SIDENOTE--I hate how in this country you can get out of anything by paying the person off. We are not fans of that because we believe it doesn't honor God. We want to do what the system says because honoring the law means honoring God. But back to the story. The police then tell Gabo that they have to tow the car because it's foreign and he broke the law in a city that isn't his own. This is a lie...not a real law. (We called the lawyer to check) However, these men had the power to take the car meaning we would be waiting until Tuesday to get the car out cause no one works on the holiday and we would all miss work on Tuesday. So the police were forcing us essentially to either pay the bride or be stuck in Queretaro until Tuesday for a law that doesn't even exist. So we paid the bride to get out of it. 

I was so stinking angry after wards. We want to respect the law but the law enforcers make up their own rules to get what they want. 

What would you do?

What My Mama Taught Me...

Lately, I have been reflecting on how I grew up with the standards and I guess you could say the moral compass...that I have now. My mom had some sayings growing up that she kind of instilled into us. Now, in all fairness, not all the things she said stuck or even made sense or were valid. ha ha. 

For example, she told me once that those kids that go para-sailing at the beaches just couldn't land without breaking their legs. I was about 20 when she told me this on the way to Cancun with a school trip and I knew her plan was to scare me into not going para-sailing. So I responded sarcastically, "yea and with all those kids and their broken legs, how do those guys stay in business?" Anyways, I went para-sailing that trip. It was one of the most horrific experiences of my life not because I broke my legs either. Some day I will share that with you. I waited about 5 years to tell her as well. :)

But I grew up with at least 3 things that she said to me that have impacted how I do my adult life.

Don't Burn Bridges

This has particularly hit home the last couple of days. We have some friends that just kind of played dirty with another friend. They weren't respectful, loving or thoughtful about anyone else but themselves. They are all believers...involved in the same community. I just thought as I watched the whole thing unfold "man...they are burning some bridges". And my mama used to also say "don't do anything in relationships that can't be reversed." And I truly believe that with time trust can be built again but it will never be the same.  

Think about when a bridge burns. What it looks like and the charred pieces of wood. You can't cross it...you have to start all over with a new bridge in a new location. 

There is a girl here who has had a hard life and has been living with Angie for the last 6 months. She lived with Angie and I last year for awhile too and then fled to go back to her old life on the street. When she came back in June, Angie told her if she left again without saying goodbye she could no longer be her roommate. She didn't say goodbye this December. She just didn't come home. She burned a really sweet bridge that was taking her on the path of healing, education and eventually getting her 3 year old daughter back. 

Always leave a place looking better than when you arrived

My mom mostly said this when I went to other people's house to babysit or for a sleepover. I think she lived with a fear that her 4 kids might be a nuisance to others. But she said to me specifically when I would babysit to pick up the toys, do the dishes...even if they weren't mine, etc. I think this taught me to be a blessing to others and a good house guest. So even as an adult, I am at someone's house doing the dishes in the middle of the party. I want to help, relieve a little burden and be a good friend.

A situation happened a couple of weeks ago where someone didn't think through their departure very well and I was left picking up the pieces. Probably about 2 hours of cleaning. And I thought....didn't their mama teach them this? I was miffed at first. Cause I thought this was a cardinal rule.

Now, I don't want us to go to extremes in this. Our worth in who we are is not based on if people think we are good houseguests or if we "serve" well. But we should learn to think about others needs. I mean read the first couple verses of Phil. 2. That kind of puts us in our place. Jesus served. I should pick up my mess too. 

Don't the the sun go down on your anger

Now this rule was particularly funny growing up. I would be mad at my sister and I would storm into my room change into my pajamas and think, "Forget it. I am done with this for the night". And then came Cath to tell me that I needed to go talk to her. My mom has always been a little uncomfortable when her kids aren't getting along. I think this was her way of easing her own sanity is by forcing us to make up.

But it has been interesting being married. Sometimes, I want to resolve it and sometimes I just want to go to bed crying cause I feel so hurt, misunderstood, etc. Sometimes I want to sleep on the couch instead of being next to him. My way of resolving conflict isn't exactly the way that Gabo does it either. I am always ready for a good, lively discussion and he is more of a timid, quiet person. 

But the sun has gone down on my anger. And I don't sleep that well. I wake up feeling yucky and like trying to sleep was a waste anyways.

So those are some things that I feel have more weight now than when I was 10. What did your mama tell you?

Christmas 2010

Instead of spending 1,200 USD on plane tickets this year, we decided to hang out in Mexico City. It had been an adventurous week leading up to our break so we were looking forward to getting some things done but laying low as well. We spent some really good time with Gabo's family too.

We got my friend's car fixed. That is an adventure for those who don't know Mexico and their systems and a whole separate post which I promise this next week...without pictures because I don't want one single memory of the ugliness of Greenie the Cavalier.

Gabo helped me decorate sugar cookies for the first time in his life. It was really fun! I think it might start a tradition :)

Then we celebrated Christmas Eve at his dad's house. There were 20 of us in all! The party started at 10 and we got home at 2am. A little different than my celebrations in the states. 

 This is us with Gabo's Dad.

 On Christmas morning. Mexico missed the memo about having the ingredients to make "Monkey Bread" a tradition from my family. So I made egg casserole instead.

 Have I told you that I have this incredible, talented musician husband? Last year, a movie came out here in Mexico that Gabo composed all the music. I made him a picture collage to remember us going to see the movie and seeing his name printed on the sign and all that jazz. It was pretty incredible.

 Then we went on the Turibus! You know I love it but this was Gabo's first time...cause he is really not a tourist. :) It was a special route to see all the Christmas lights. We had a blast even though it was really chilly.

Let's be Honest

I got into a car accident a week ago. 

It was a mess. I mean the accident wasn't that bad but I am a foreigner in Mexico...

- in a friend's car

- with problems with insurance

- on the way to pick my husband up from the airport

- in rush hour traffic

It was a mess. 

I think what I experienced most is shame that I had an accident. If you know me well I have a complex of wanting people to not have to extend grace to me. I mean perfection is a long way off but I just want to be in a place where I am just neutral. So every time I saw the junked up car out my window, I was reminded that I screwed up. 


Luckily yesterday we took it to the place to get fixed. I told Gabo it was taking away my guilt and shame by moving it out. 


But I am not perfect. And I won't ever be and I am probably going to have more car accidents in my lifetime and I make mistakes daily. But sitting in my guilt and shame doesn't make anything better or teach me to rely on God. 


Hopefully everything works out at the mechanic and the repairs are minimal.

Lots of Celebrating

The fall and the beginning of December are shaping up to be quite the celebrating time for the Hernadez family.

We celebrated my 29th birthday on November 5, 2010

Then we celebrated Thanksgiving with about 20 friends. This was my 4th Thanksgiving here in Mexico.

Then we set up our first Christmas tree. Don't you love it?

Just a couple of days ago, we went to Cuernavaca to celebrate with Pao and Tim and their wedding. This was our first wedding since our own. It was a fun day with lots of adventures!

And today we celebrate Gabo's 35th birthday. What a blessing he is to me and to many others.

The culture of Fighting for Freedom

Lately, I have come to the stark reality of a part of the US culture that not everyone shares.

Mexicans have not fought for freedom or rights in the last 100 years. That's right in 1910 was the Revolution. We just celebrated it on November 20. Now I am not an expert on the history of Mexico but what I understand that just 100 years ago there was about 150 rich families that controlled everything and everyone in all of Mexico. Well there was a revolt and a revolution and that is how Mexico was changed from not being ruled by the rich and now supposedly it is more equal (I wouldn't bet my life on it) but at least 150 families are not controlling a country. We have "new" issues here like corruption of government and drug cartels, etc. But Mexico is only 200 years old.

Here is the crazy thing, the majority of the people in the country have no idea what it's like to fight for freedom or the defense of others.

I found this last month when a new friend asked me about the Army and the soldiers in the states. We honor the men and women that fight for our country. We miss them when they are gone and we understand what it's like to live in a world where our dads, brothers, sons may not make it home. It gives us pride but it gives us a worldview completely different from other countries.

We sing songs about it. We write stories about it. We even have shows about the lives of Army Wives. It is who we are. And I think it has made us less passive and more patriotic. Yes, there are many Americans that are in disagreement as to how much we get involved in the affairs of other countries but as a whole we are united to support our troops.

That is what makes these pictures precious to us.

Cause these people are real to us.

Think about how our lives would be different if we left this part out of our cultural makeup.

On the first day of my 29th year....

I want to remember all that God has done the last 365 days of my life. 

The biggest one is that I don't think a year ago that I truly believed that I would be a married woman in this moment. I mean, I knew my time would come where Jesus would bring a man into my life but it still last year at this time was still just a dream. Gabo and I celebrated a million times with my friends and even though we were talking at marriage at this point, I didn't think it was a reality yet. Gabo has become my best friend and so much more in the last couple of months. I have learned so much about myself through him. I am grateful for the hard moments in marriage and love even more the great days.

I gained an entire Mexican family and that has been crazy and fun. They rarely plan things and all the nieces and nephews love me. Gabo is one of the youngest of 6 so his nieces and nephews are like 16-22.I am still learning a lot but the good news is that my father-in-law loves me. :)

I have become more of an adult. Most of that has come with the marriage...we bought furniture finally last week and I have my very own kitchen aid mixer. It's like I am becoming a real lady (that's for you Kellie Dahl..after all these years).And then for my birthday, Gabo bought me this set of glasses with a matching pitcher. I LOVE IT.

I have grown in knowing Jesus more. Right now I am going through a study with Beth Moore on the fruit of the Spirit. I am learning I am not so much a bearer of some of those guys. I feel like Jesus is speaking over me more and more asking me to love people like I say I love him. He is asking me to put my words into action but to his people. It is really challenging.

I have missed my family more. This one has been strange. I am pretty used to living away from my family but I guess it's just part of adjusting. Plus those guys are pretty incredible.

I love this time of my life. I enjoy the challenge and where God has us. I am thankful.