{Thankful Thursdays} LINK UP!

This week I am most Thankful for:











Paths Crossing {I have been faced with many new decisions this month and this week. So, it puts me at ease to know that other Momma friends/Bloggers are experiencing the same...challenges in decision making.... Thank You Ladies....your support, listening ears and advice make a world of a difference for this Momma!} 

Mother-in-Law { She watches my kids...for...FREE. 'Nuff said right? No. But wait! She watches them when I have late night meetings, she feeds them, she makes them laugh ::in.tears.now::, she protects them, she gets after them,she feeds them..and ME some nights, she bathes them, she plays with them, she changes them, she teaches them, she speaks SPANISH to them,she dances with them,she holds them, she give them quiet time, and guess what... she absolutely LOVES them!! I admit. Like anything else. Leaving my kids with anyone is difficult. And, my Momma heart filled with doubts as to if my Mother-in-Law could do this for me...she has a busy...BUSY household...but she does it so well...and I am SO BLESSED!}

Little Good-Bye's {Again, leaving my kids has been a Momma challenge that for months at a time has made me walk away in tears and doubt. But this week my son walks in my Mother-in-Laws house... sits on the couch, stands by the door or is held in Grandpa's arms and calmly says... "Buh-Bye" with a smile. My Momma heart sighs with relief and I walk away..still in tears but happy and at ease... Thank You Jesus for this answered prayer.}

Support {From my Husband, above all. From my Mom and my Sister. From my Cousins-in-law, my Hubby's younger cousins who are mine as well. From my Momma friends/Bloggers. From my friends as a whole. From my co-workers. From those in and out of my life....it's amazing. THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART! I MORE THAN TRULY APPRECIATE YOU ALL. I LOVE YOU.} 

What are you most Thankful for this week??

Drought.

~Praise and Worship Wednesday~

You know how sometimes your soul seeks and all it hears is silence....

Well, I feel like this Summer has been that way for me.... for almost 3 months I have been searching....

And, then the other day as I drove to work it hit me...the drought....

Texas...Houston... dry...no rain....the earth seeking the rain... and when it comes...it will "revive"..the land will rejoice..in the rain...

That's how I feel..when the "flood gates of Heaven open"...and He comes at me...like the RAIN...I will feel revival...and rejoice!

Because yes.. "My Soul Longs for You".....

::deep breath::

I am reminded that this is NOT where God wants me forever but this is where He has me NOW..so I will embrace it...

Mommy Love {Guest Blogger} ~ Tambien en Español

I am seeking anyone interested in being a "GUEST Blogger" on my Blog; Spanish or English is welcome! {You don't have to have your own Blog, you simply have to want to share your story with us!}

I want to feature a "Momma Story" from September 1st to September 16th; Since that is Santi's Birthday and it's when I became a FIRST time Momma!

In return I will feature you and your BLOG/Business/ OR SELF for FREE!!!!

Your POST should include the following:

Your name and who you are, what you do and what you love:
A picture of you and your kids {If your post is NOT anonymous}:
Your Blog/Business/or Self {OR ALL of the mentioned}:
Number of kids you have:
Their names {ONLY IF YOU WANT or you can use Nicknames}:
And then your story:
How old you were when you first became a Momma?
Was {were they} it expected?
Did your pregnancy {ies} go well?
Was your pregnancy {ies} what you expected?
Did your delivery {ies} go well?
Was your delivery {ies} what you expected?

Finally....MOTHERHOOD....

How was your first year?
Was it all that you expected?

{Format: You can either; answer each question and send it back to me or write your story as if you are posting on your Blog and I will review and then let you know if your entry was accepted! Don't forget to include your Blog links/FB Links/Twitter Links/ Or Business information that you wish to share!!!}

I will need 16 MOMMA'S willing to share all with my readers. Your post can also be anonymous if you'd like. So, no pressure there. Please feel free to share this information with other Momma's you think might be interested.

If I get more than 16 Guest Bloggers I will let you know if your entry was accepted!

ALL ENTRIES MUST BE SUBMITTED BY TUESDAY AUGUST 30TH!!!

Thank you for all your continuous support!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

{En Español, En Español}
Quería saber si alguien estaba interesada en ser una "Blogger invitado" en mi Blog; en Español o Inglés seran bienvenidas! {No tiene que tener su propio Blog, simplemente hay que desear compartir su historia con nosotros!}

Quiero contar una "historia de Momma" desde el 1 de septiembre al 16 de septiembre; Ya que es el cumpleaños de Santi y es cuando me convertí en un Momma por primer vez!

A cambio de su participacion les dare un lugar a usted y su BLOG/negocio/ o simplemente de usted gratis en mi Blog por un dia!

Su historia debe incluir lo siguiente:

Su nombre {Lo que le gusta, y quien es usted}:
Una imagen de usted y sus hijos {si no es anónimo su historia}:
Tu Blog/negocio/o simplemente usted{O todo lo dicho}:
Número de niños que tiene:
Sus nombres {sólo si desea o puede utilizar apodos}:
Y, su historia:
¿Cuántos años tenia cuando se convirtió en una Mama?
¿Se lo esperaba?
¿Le fue bien durante su embarazo?
¿Fue su embarazo, lo que espera?
¿Su parto salio bien?
¿Fue su parto lo que espera?

Finalmente....SER MAMA....
¿Cómo fue su primer año?
¿Fue todo lo que esperaba?

{Formato: Igual y puede responder a cada pregunta y envíelarmelo o escribir su historia como si lo va publicandar en su Blog y yo lo revisare y le dejare saber si fue aceptada la entrada! No olvides incluir tu Blog /FB / Twitter / o información de su negocio que desee compartir!!!!!!}

Voy a necesitar 16 MAMAs dispuestas a compartir con mis lectores. También puede ser anónimo si desea que su entrada. Por lo que no hay presión. No dude en compartir esta información con otras Momma que crea que podría estar interesada.

Si consigo más de 16 Bloggers invitadas les dejare saber si fue aceptada la entrada!

TODAS LAS ENTRADAS DEBEN PRESENTARSE EL MARTES 30 DE AGOSTO DE!!!!!!

Gracias por su apoyo continuo!!!!!!

{Summer TO-DO's}

Summer 2011 has been pretty "un-eventful"....I am NOT pregnant for the first Summer in 2 years, HA. I know. Crazy. And, other than us having two very busy children, Ricardo has been in school all Summer and well money has been tight. I am not complaining. Going to the corner store is a challenge these days, and once I get home, I want to stay home!  Can you blame me?

Our Summer has been filled with reading books, working on Santi's speech, watching movies, lots of fun Birthday parties, and lots of visits to "Gran-mA's" house. It's been fun.

Our favorite movie this Summer has been Tangled {It was Shrek last Summer}, I know every line and Santi sings every song! It's lots of fun.... I love it. It's a girly one for sure, but has lots of humor/action for the boys! Santi loves it when "Flynn Rider" gets hit in the face with a frying pan.... {My Husband thinks it's far too unrealistic and reminds me every time that he would have died in real life...ahiii.}

Just last week we got what I am now calling our favorite book of the Summer {Love You Forever}, if you haven't read it... DON'T...unless you want to cry your eyes out! Ha. I never knew children's books would take the place of my 100 {plus} page how to on life books...sitting in my living room balling my eyes out as my almost 2 year old tries to console me...PRICELESS. I kid you not. It's the sweetest most amazing Mommy book EVER. EVER. You must read it if you haven't!

This Summer has also been filled with lots of walks to and thru the park; as well as lots of nights in the swimming pool! Texas is hot and we haven't had rain in like a ga-zillion days! No joke. 

In all our Summer was great but we SO ready for the snow! If we had annual snow in Houston that is....

What was your Summer filled with???

{Money Matters Monday}

This is a follow up to my "Finances and Such" post from last week...

Here are some tips and things that we  have "downsized" on. Over time, you don't realize they are gone but it makes a difference.

PLEASE KNOW THAT WE ARE IN NO WAY BITTER ABOUT OUR CUT BACKS AND THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT POST...We realize that right now...we are in a time of downsizing, for the good of our little family. Plus we realize that it's a little more "do-able" since the kids are little and will not remember that we didn't have extras as they grew up.

Let's begin.... 

We no longer have:

1. Cable {Only Internet for Ric's school}
2. A home telephone {Does anyone?}
3. Someone who cleans our house {Shame on me..I know...}
4. A Yard guy {We limit the amount of times the yard guys come}
5. A Car note {and we don't plan on having one until next year when Ric' God willing finishes school!}

Things we no longer do:

1. Go to the movies {we Red Box baby!}
2. Go out to eat {Rarely}
3. Have people over constantly {We used to host pretty large crowds at our house but we don't anymore}
4. Have long vacations {We do shorts trips here and there, when we can, only}
5. Go out with friends {Not that we don't love you guys, just that we can't afford it right now..that's all}
6. Go shopping {We don't buy clothes or shoes often or on a whim anymore...}

We only shop:

1. For needs not wants {house and kids; food and school}
2. If it's on sale {we stock up!}
3. With coupons {We are DEFINITELY Coupons clippers, and I will be that person holding up the lane, so move on please...}
4. With lists and meal plans in minds {My Husband is the King of list making....more than me!}

We just don't:

1. We don't have Internet on our phones or expensive data plans. {My only splurge is $10.00 a month for unlimited texting...}
2. We don't have fancy phones or gadgets {We did spend on an electric can opener...::shrugs shoulders:: HA.}
3. I don't go to the hair salon and have not gone in years...except for a trim, I don't get my nails done {rarely I get a pedicure}, I don't get my eyebrows done {I do my own}, and I don't shop for clothes or shoes unless it's for work.

Don't get me wrong, we are NOT totally deprived of these extras and there are times when we do try to gets things that we want, and as much as we try not to eat out for dinner, we do spend on lunch. We definitely try our best to live within our means and according to our budget. Also, we are so very Blessed to have amazing Mom's who can help us. Ricardo's Mom watches our kids...FOR FREE. Nuff said! My Mom serves as my car pool, she lives close to my job so I drive to her house park there and she brings me into downtown, that saves me about $6 to $12 a day on parking.

{PLEASE NOTE: Ricardo and I are NOT financial experts and what we do may NOT work for everyone. I am simply sharing our system in hopes that what we do does help someone out there.}

Next week.... Coupon Clippers!

What's in a ring?

5 years of Marriage....

{Marriage is work. We work on it together...as a Team "Team Gomez" everyday and Love it. We love one another, we respect one another, we communicate with one another. No one is above the other and our children come first. Family consist of 4 people; Daddy, Momma, Lil' Daddy and Lil'Momma we all rely on God. He is who keeps us going and shining!}

12 years of History.....

{If you would have told me 12 years ago that I would have married Ricardo G., that we would have TWO amazing Blessings; and those to come, I would have said....PU-LEEZE! Today, I say....Thank God. I am Blessed. }

2 Amazingly Beautiful children...

{Our children are the best and most amazing accomplishments and gifts that God and this life could have ever given us. Nothing else matters. Ever. (Except God) }

and ONE Hard working Hubby!

{He really is...I love him, admire him and support him in everything that he will ever want to accomplish for the better of our little family of FOUR.} 

{Wedding} ♥

Not mine.

Ha.

In my {Thankful Thursday} LINK UP! I mentioned a wedding...

~Brissa and Juan David~

Here are some pictures from that wedding...  I didn't get many..I blame my lack of photography skills and poor equipment... excuses, I know! The food was YUMMA beyond YUMMA! Ha. Very traditional Mexican food! Gorditas de chicharron y picadillo, arroz, frijoles y una agua de Limon! Me encanto. No le tome fotos a la comida! Bad Connie. But trust me, estuvo todo muy delicioso y muy, pero muy bonito!

My favorite moment was when Brissa danced with her father...and he sang in her ear they swayed back and forth...all I could think was one day, God willing, Ricardo will be holding Cami that way..I hope he doesn't sing {Ha.}but if he does...It will be from pure Love and from his big ol'Daddy/Man heart! It was an amazing night.

We almost didn't make it out to Wimberly, Texas to Red Corral Ranch; as we attempted to get on  I-10 in Houston...OUR CAR BROKE DOWN. {As my friend Casey would say..DRA-MA!} Thankfully we have amazing friends and family always willing to help out!

Ricardo and I drove the 3 hours; talking, dreaming, praying that one day, and enjoying the dry but beautiful view! We fell in love every step of the way to Hill Country. We sang and remembered.

Congratulations Brissa and Juan David. Les deseamos mucha felicidad y muchas Bendiciones en su matrimonio....

{Thankful Thursdays} LINK UP!

This week I am most Thankful for:

Weddings {What better way to start off our Anniversary  week, than to have attended a traditional Mexican wedding on Sunday evening. It was Beautiful. It was a great little adventure and get-away night for Momma and Daddy to Wimberly, Texas. I think we will move there one day...no joke. It's amazing!}

A Perfect fit {So, I have said it before. Times are tough. And, I am low maintenance. Therefore. I don't ask for much and try not to want more than I can have. So, when it comes to borrowing clothes and SHOES these days. I have no shame. I simply ask. Thankfully; Ricardo's Sister is about  my size in clothing and his little cousin is about my size in SHOES. Which she let me borrow for that wedding on Sunday! Thank you ladies...you always make me feel like Cinderella...by the way Miss. E..I lost a slipper at the ball..and uhm you may not get either one back! HA!!}

Toothless Grins { I had almost, ALMOST, forgotten what a toothless grin looked like and how much it fills your heart....overflows your joy and brightens your days....My little Mama helped remind me of that this week as she flashed that toothless grin at me all week... ALL WEEK. I love her. I am Blessed.}

Night Owls {Ever since my little Man was a baby, he's been a night owl. These days..when I can't sleep..he is my faithful companion. We walk around the house and seek out new adventures. Laugh and create new memories. I love him. So, MUCH.} 


Days off {It gives me time to re-group, re-think and re-energize...and time to pretend that I am a Stay-at-Home Momma.}

 

When I feel Blah....

{Praise & Worship Wednesday}

Just the other day, I was having a conversation with a dear friend. About approval. How I obsess and how it makes me nervous. How I worry and how it infects me. It makes me over think...me. It makes me over analyze, relationships. It makes me BLAH. Beyond my belief. Beyond my control. It makes me spin...out of control!

It's the enemy. I know.

That same day I am blogging, fb-ing, pintrest-ing, and so on and the enemy fills my heart with lies....so I wait. And....

I pray...

Dear Lord, heal this heart, and rid it of unnecessary jealousy. Surely it's not what you want from me or for me. And, we are all loved by you the same...

Then I noticed a new fan on my Blog... and as part of her profile....a scripture....

As I am a seeker....I search....and.....then....I find. 

And, immediately. 

Peace. 

This week. I will tattoo this verse into my soul and never forget the task at hand...

TRUTH. 

not...

ever.....

popularity...

Always TRUTH.

Luke 6:26 The Message (MSG)
 26"There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.

 My answer: "Your task is to be true, not popular."

"Your task is to be true, not popular."

Finances and such. {Money Matters}

Finances. The word makes me blah...all.over.this.page.

No really it does. Luckily I married a man who LOVES the word, not like he will marry it or anything but more so like he tolerates it and knows he has to live with it, so he embraces it.

Therefore, what I have learned about finances. I have learned from him. It's true that habits, especially bad ones are inherited. {In a way.} We grow up with our parents and we see what they do, how they live and where they spend. We are taught by behaviors that certain things are "OK", but I think it's up to us to break those cycles and habits by learning better and improved ones.

My spending. For example. I was taught that if you have the money you should spend it...in so many words. My parents grew up; "without", so when they became working adults with children, they decided that they would live "with". Not always a good thing. I believe we can't give our kids EVERYTHING we didn't have. I learned that with TIME. Lots of time. And through my Husband.

Ricardo is a budget watcher and savings creator. He doesn't like animosity when it comes to money and he doesn't like to think he has more than he actually has.

When we got married. I was the opposite. Never, EVER, knowing what was in my bank account and not knowing what tomorrow, may or may NOT bring! I know. I sound like a monster...or do I?

Truth is. That's how I grew up, so there are more than ONE of me out there.

How am I attempting to break that cycle? By going to the school of life...and finances given by Ricardo G. my Hubby. {Ladies, he cooks too!}

So, here is what we do:

Hubby:

•  Is a note maker. He makes all kind of written and mental notes about our spending. Never missing a beat. 

• He has BILL time. He makes time at least ONCE a week to sit down and go over bills. {When they are due and how much is due.}

• He has an organized system of balancing his check book. {He prints his current bank statement and verifies that all his current spending, he saves all receipts, is being cleared. He does this at LEAST once a week.}
• Once he has verified EXACTLY how much money he has in the bank and when the specific amounts are due on bills, he starts writing checks. Once those checks are mailed {or amounts are paid online}, he subtracts that money from his account and ONLY spends based on the amount left. So, if his bills are $250.00 and he has $500.00 in the bank until all the bills are cleared he assumes that he ONLY has $250.00 in the bank and works from that. NEVER over spending.

Me:

• I am the supporter. I make sure all the bills get to Ricardo in time. That means. I am the mail keeper. I only keep bills and important mail. Throw everything else away. Immediately. So, I sort mail everyday. 

• I also keep my receipts and balance my checkbook weekly. I do everything online so I don't really print much. 

• I assure that I have extra money by not over spending or spending on things I don't need. {I try not to spend cause I want. And make sure I keep tabs on what I do spend on.}

• When Ricardo sits to do bills, I stay close by with my check book and exact amount of money in my bank account to help with the check writing. {We do this together every week if possible, if not at least every other week. TOGETHER.} 

One thing I have learned is my partnership with my Hubby. We live together, so we spend together. It's the only way. Of course he knows that I deserve some me time which usually consists of spending, when I have extra money, at Hobby Lobby or getting my pedicure and eye brows done. I am pretty low maintenance.

In all we watch what we spend and try not to over self~indulge.....and we know after almost 5 years of marriage that COMMUNICATION is key!!!! 

Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

⁵ Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
   “Never will I leave you;
   never will I forsake you.”

{PLEASE NOTE: Ricardo and I are NOT financial experts and what we do may NOT work for everyone. I am simply sharing our system in hopes that what we do does help someone out there.}  


**Next week...we talk about downsizing.

But, How do you know?

You know when you're little and your head fills with ideas, goals and fantasies about what you want to be when you grow up? I thought I knew. Some people just know. 

When it came to Motherhood; I knew I wanted to one day be a Mom but I never saw it as a "career" choice for me. It was always something extra...a perk if you will.

And, I started my life journey at 18...college, jobs{sssss}, love, community, involvement, growth, faith, marriage, friends, hobbies....

But, it's not until I start that quiet journey in my house during nap time...of picking up the sea of toys that seems to never end, the mysteries under the couch, the stuffed animals {friends of Santi} in the big blue tent sitting in the middle of my living room, arranging the books on the shelves, putting tiny socks in the washer, and cleaning up Cheerios and spilled milk off the floor that I think....

When I grow up..I want to be a Momma.

And poof! 

I am. To, TWO beautiful children. {Blessed, I know}

But, I never thought I would be. I never thought THIS would be me. I never thought I could enjoying being a Momma the way I do. My now, one and ONLY career of choice! Because, I may not be a Stay-at-Home Momma but I am a full-time Momma and I am so happy that this journey {God & life} has given me such an amazing career!

How about you...did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? Did you ever imagine to be where you are now?

I sure didn't....

BUT, I AM IN LOVE WITH IT. 

 More and More... every.single.day! 

Great Monday All.