Celebrating Independence Day

Mexico does it well when it comes to celebrating their Independence. Most of the time, it's my favorite time of the year.

This year we celebrated the Sunday before with Gabo's family and then on Thursday the 15th with our friends. I think we are going to need to do something completely different next year cause me hosting their Independence day is a lot of pressure.

Anyways, here are some pics first with the family. 

I made a cake to show my love. It was a double win because they love my cakes and I was showing my Mexican Pride. :)

My man with  my cake.

Con Ximena...look likes she wants to dig in!

Some of Gabo's siblings and their families. 

And then the celebration with our friends. We invited everyone who didn't have plans.

Gabo with Violet

Sweet Lily playing "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" which ended up to be a very controversial game.

There is a small problem at our house...there is no very good phone signal so the phones have to be lined up by the window. Pretty crazy. Reminds me of when I visit my mom's house.

We fell into bed about 3:30am. It was an exhausting night. Next year I might go to a hotel. :)

Presenting the new apartment!

Moving out of our old apartment was bittersweet. We loved where we lived. We had some great parties, meetings, and conversations there. I fell in love with Gabo in that apartment and learned so much more about the Mexican culture and about Jesus and my relationship with him. I lived there 3 years. 2 with Angie and 1 with Gabo.

This is what our living room looked like the Sunday before we left. We had way more stuff than we thought! 

The process to leave with the owner and his beloved secretary (hint: sarcasm) was a little bit unnerving. But overall, the process was pretty seemless giving that we live in one of the largest cities in the world.

Here are some pics of the new apartment.

The cute little dining room.

The cross collection right above the new and improved buffet.

The Kitchen...the plus this time is that it's open and I am not cooking in a closet!

The office. This is still a work in progress.

The living room and the front door.

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.