* Madre *

I call my grandmother "Madre" it means "mother" in Spanish.  I assume that It's because that's what my mom calls her and so yeah it just made sense.

I spent a lot of summers at my grandmother's house in Guatemala and besides almost dying every single time due to her three cats and two dogs, I loved every minute.

I started drinking coffee probably at the age of 7 so it's no wonder that coffee, french bread, cheese and black beans were my staple while at my grandmother's house.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner.  No joke!  I lived on that stuff and I probably still could.  It's heaven in my mouth.

Anyway, I remember plenty about my grandmother but more importantly there are a few key things that will always stay with me.  I realize that my grandma is still around and that I can continue to cherish my time spent with her but in all reality it isn't the same anymore.

My grandmother still has the biggest heart, she still loves Jesus with every part of her being but she is slowly drifting. 

"Gracias Jesus" those words have been uttered out of my grandmother's mouth more times that I can count.  I remember thinking it was so weird to hear her constantly thanking Jesus.  I was a child and I would look around trying to see what it was she was saying thank you for.  I never physically saw anything and I don't think she was even thinking of anything in specific, she was just always thanking Jesus with a sincere heart.  I get it now.  I understand that finding true joy stems from thanksgiving.  I realize that she was just praising God and showing gratitude for everything in her life. 

My grandmother always spent hours reading her Bible.  I have one of her favorite Bibles all torn and falling apart.  I don't know how I scored that gem but the Bible is in Spanish so I haven't explored it too much.  When I was a kid she would just walk up to me and start reading, anything at all just random things out of the Bible.  (At least I thought they were random).  I realize now that she was reading scripture to me to encourage me, lift me up and to sew the seeds of God's word in my heart.

She always sang.  There was always an old hymn being sung by her while she cooked, while she cleaned, as she washed clothes as she walked around the house arms in the air I remember telling her she sounded like Snow White.  Sometimes she would sing to me and smile and I would roll my eyes thinking how silly she was.  In reality I think I inherited the singing from her.  I tend to do that with my kids now and they smile at me and think I'm silly.  

I used to color with her all the time and when I got in to Barbie she made the Barbies clothes.  She made one of my Barbies an amazing wedding dress. I still have it too!

I am thankful for her relentless love of Jesus and for her sharing that passion with me and being that example.

I am blessed by these women in my life.  I pray that I can pass on the love and passion for Jesus to my girl like my mom and grandmother have done for me. 
  

* New all over *

I normally write on my journal the very first day of the new year. It usually feels so quiet, fresh and new.  This year was the first time that it didn't feel like that for me.  I still don't know exactly why that is but I know it's unusual.  I can feel It in the air usually (the newness) but this year did not feel that way.

It feels new in other ways though.  It feels new in the way that I am searching for more of God in my life.  It feels new in the way that I am drawing closer to my husband and working on our relationship becoming stronger and better.  It feels new that I am making progress with my relationship with my mom.  It feels new in the sense that I have so much more knowledge in how I should be raising my kids.  (I thank Jesus for that). 

There are memories to be made, songs to be sung and places to be seen.  I look forward to this year because I know that God is moving in my life.  Perhaps that's why I did not sense the change of that first day. Perhaps it's because the change has slowly already been happening in my life for quite some time. 

All I know is that I am thankful, with open arms ready to receive and hear what God may have for me. 

In the quiet of his presence in the newness of his word and in the freshness of his Holy Spirit I look forward, I anticipate and I embrace this new year.  

* Published *

I haven't obviously blogged for a few months now.  (December was my last entry).  I have missed the quickness of sharing with my family and friends through this blog and well here I am.  

Recently (as in last month) I got my first Children's book published.  WHAT?? I know right.

This was truly a long process but totally worth the wait and hard work.  Most of you know that this has been a dream of mine for quite some time.  God gave me the idea for this amazing story and then provided me an illustrator.  Finding a publisher was no easy task.

This has been such an amazing experience and I am hoping to be able to work on something else soon.  Right now I need to focus on what God's direction is with this first book.  I want to encourage kids and I also want to develop myself as a writer/author.  It feels weird typing that!

My friend helped me create this fun blog that helps me share a bit more about what my goals are with this Children's book.  Here is the link;  SATURN BOOKS  here you can find out about events that I get to be a part of. It's such an honor and joy for me to join in on these fun and amazing Children's Book events.  I am more excited about being a part of the Children's Book Festival this year especially since a few years ago I only dreamed of being a part of it.  I get to be a part of it this year!  All Glory to God for that.

That's about it for now.  I have a few pictures to share here on a fun little book signing I did with my family and friends at Ryan Bros. Coffee house in Temecula.  

A special thanks to my family and my friends (who are basically my family too).  

God really know's how to make this girl (me) Happy!!  
    

* Tis the Season *

Our family began a new tradition this year.  We began doing an Advent Bible study that is four weeks long and keeps the meaning of Christmas in true perspective.

We have a word of the week such as; Hope, Love, Joy and Peace.  All which are gifts given to us by Jesus.  Each day we do a different Bible verse and a fun family activity for the week.  It has been a true pleasure sharing this with the kids and making sure that they know Christmas isn't just lights, presents, treats and candy canes.  

In the true spirit of Christmas however, we have had so much fun these past weeks doing things like; making peppermint bark, baking shape cookies and decorating them, having a Christmas party at the park with our friends while we also decorated cookies and made Christmas crafts, visits to the Santa who stops at our "Star" on our street bringing canned goods to needy families, checking out the light show down the street for the 100th time, drinking hot chocolate at home while watching Polar Express, watching Christmas movies almost daily, going to DISNEYLAND while it's all decked out for Christmas and making a ton of crafts here at home.  It is so much fun to share these moments with my kids and hopefully creating in them cherished memories they may pass down to their Children.  Below are a few pictures of what the last two weeks have looked like.

Merry Christmas 2012 from our family to yours and may God's Hope, Love, Joy and Peace reign supreme in your lives!!

XOXOXO

The Ortiz Family 

* 4th Annual Thankful Breakfast *

I may not be brave enough to host Thanksgiving dinner at my house yet, nor do I have the space to do what I would like if I did host.  However, I have a small tradition of having the entire family over (mine/his) for breakfast.  I call it my "Thankful Breakfast" original right? 

This was our 4th annual breakfast together and everything went as planned except my aunt and cousins couldn't make it.  They were taking a trip to New Jersey to visit a friend who graduated from the Coast Guard.

I enjoyed making the appetizers and breakfast items and found that making bacon in the oven is not only so much cleaner but it comes out so nice and crispy.  Who knew?

Items on the menu were;  Fritata, bacon, black beans, french bread and for appetizers I had;  stuffed mushrooms, leaf cookies with maple filling, pumpkin muffins and deviled eggs.  I also ordered some custom made candied apples that were also quite delicious.  

I also made some delicious warm cider and tried my hand at making a Beer Cocktail that didn't quite turn out as delicious as it sounded.   

Regardless I think everything turned out yummy and we enjoyed it all together as a family.  I don't know exactly how much everyone appreciates what I do each year but I truly enjoy it.  

Fall is my favorite time of the year and I love being around family.

Now my home does not smell of Ginger Pumpkin anymore it is time for Spruce in the Snow.  Everything is already up for Christmas.

It's the most wonderful time of the year.........

* Is it Fall or what? *

It finally felt like fall (for 3 days).  It was perfect while it lasted and it so happened to be our 8 year Wedding Anniversary.

Carlos and I headed up to Julian for 3 days and stayed at the cutest Bed and Breakfast Lodge called Orchard Hill.  It was such a lovely place and being there next to the forest with the gorgeous fall weather was just the icing on the cake for us.  The place is tucked away in the mountains close enough to walk into the small town of Julian.

Everyone there made us feel so welcomed and they even surprised us with a sweet anniversary dessert that had candles on it.  Guess what it was? BREAD PUDDING! Oh YES!  I was in bread pudding heaven the whole time we stayed there.

In the afternoon we had a chance to enjoy the outdoors and have a few appetizers and wine.  We chose a cute hammock tucked away next to a small pond to relax and it was perfection.

One of the day's we were there I even talked Carlos into having tea with me in a cute little Tea Cottage.  All the ladies who were there said he was a true gentleman for joining me and I couldn't agree more.  Here is a picture of the Tea House we visited while in Julian.

We had such a wonderful time enjoying nature and walking around and enjoying each other with NO KIDS! That makes a huge difference and although we missed them for those three days we truly had a wonderful time alone. 

Here we are enjoying a nice cup of coffee in the morning before breakfast next to the fire place!  Can you say Heaven?

We loved the Fall weather that we had and even got a little bit of rain on one day but now we are back at home and the fall weather has disappeared on us.  I hope it comes back quickly because we are all ready for it.

* 3 *

It is said that your Golden Birthday is the one that you turn your birth date number.  Samara just turned 3 on the 3rd so I guess that was her Golden Birthday.

I would say she had a great one.  We had her "Mulan" themed birthday party on Saturday at my mom's.  I think it was a hit.  Here she is with her Mulan birthday cake.

We had a pink castle Jumper and decorated the whole patio area with Chinese characters that spelled "Happy Birthday" and cherry blossom flowers.

I put a lot of work into making a lot of the decorations due to Mulan not being such a popular princess.  I did enjoy it however for next year I may not do Birthday parties.  Here are a few reasons why:

1.  BOTH of my kids have birthdays that fall during HOT Months.
2.  Parties can be expensive even though I am very creative in making a lot of things and not over doing it on favors and such.
3.  They can be a lot of work planning, decorating and cleaning.

I say this now but I think parties are over!  Samuel would like to visit Lego Land for his 6th birthday next year.  I may do one small one for Samara since Samuel has had parties for 5 years now.

Until next year, I'm party free for a while.