{Friday Letters} 1st of 2013

Dear Friday, 
Hi there! You are the first Friday of the year. I see you. I embrace you. I am happy you are here. Until next week! 
Nos vemos. 

Dear Blog, 
I have goals and plans for you in 2013. Be patient. Cooperate and yes LISTEN. Ha. I will make it happen just trust me. 
Thanks for being so good to me. 

Dear Career, 
I am looking for you. Come out, come out where ever you are! 
No really stop hiding. 

Dear New Blog Readers!  
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE!!! As a Blogger, I totally and completely  appreciate your support! Come back daily and tell me what you think! 
Gracias!!

Dear 2013, 
play nice and no one gets hurt!! 
Just Sayin'....

Dear Hubby and Kids, 
Thank you for your patience with me as a not so perfect Stay@HomeMomma. I appreciate your love and understanding. I am trying my best. 
Love you.

{Happy Weekend everyone!!!}

{2012} In Review

It's crazy to think that just yesterday, or so it seems like it, 2012 was just starting so fresh, so new......

Then I looked at my first post from 2012; and WOW! What a difference a year makes:

::{Click here} FIRST POST OF 2012::

This year was GREAT.

{Click on EACH month to read related posts or see pictures!}
In March; Cami turned ONE! We had a fiesta and a wave of Momma-melt downs began. Many may not know this but this year I battled fiercely with Momma Blues {some type of PPD}. It wasn't fun, therapy helped and after a major melt-down and full-blown panic attack in September, I quit my Full-time job to be a Stay-@-Home-Momma. {Read about it ::here:: ::here:: and ::here::}

In May; My Hubby graduated from college with his Bachelor's degree!!!! GO HUBBY  & GO COOGS!!! Whoop-Whoop!!!

In June; I turned 31. Officially a year in my 30's in 6 months, I will be 32! Wow, just yesterday, I was 18. Wow.

In July; The Hubby landed a pretty sweet job opportunity and it's helped us realize a lot about ourselves and our accomplishments. My Hubby is incredibly smart and an amazingly hard working person. I love him. Lots.

In August; My Hubby  turned 33! Wow! We met when he was 17. Crazy huh?

In September; My Santi turned 3!!! 3!!!! He won't be a baby much longer...makes me sad. A lot. A lot! I also quit my job this month after a not so good event; to become a Stay-@-Home-Momma. Which may be ending soon... because well... it just happens...

In October; a new journey began and I attended my FIRST ever official BLOGGER Conference!!!! Thanks to the Latism Houston Chapter and their sponsorship!!!! Say whaaaa'?? It was great, great month!!! ::PICTURES HERE::

Now it's December 31st, the last day of the year... it's bittersweet....leaving behind all the good and the BAD that happened in 2012 but always remembering that NO MATTER what God was there with us EVERY.SINGLE.STEP.OF.THE.WAY.

As a constant reminder of my faith in 2012, I had some very, very harsh moments but I remained faith-ful and in prayer and God knew when I should have a melt-down and when I needed to be fierce! In everything I did in 2012; failures, successes, happiness, sadness, tears and joy...I honestly looked for God and trusted in Him to give me ever lasting strength... everyday. Every time. As I sit here on the last day of 2012; I want to thank not only my friends and family who remained constant and by my side with their never ending love and support but also Thank You to all the NEW and amazing friends that I added to my Blog, Facebook, and contact book! I love you all and I pray that you and your families have an amazingly wonderful new year!!!!!

Many Blessings. 

2 Corinthians 5:17

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

See Ya' Next Year!!!!!!!!

On the Skinny..but not so much...

Yesterday I went back to the gym after oh, about 2 years away from it. Before I had my son, I was a workout buster. Not quite a workout freak but I loved working out and oh yes there was this thing called time. You know b.K. {before Kids}! Ha.

I love my children and have attempted to stay active for them. So, yesterday while I was signing up for my membership at the gym, Francesca, yes beautiful name and she is a super cutie with a 2 year old herself, asked me; "What are your goals?" I was thinking...hmmmmmm. Well, in all reality, my goal is NOT necessarily to be skinny..let's get real, I have never been skinny, this Momma's got some meat on her. Proud of it. I have always been a "love me as I am" advocate so for me it's more about being strong, healthy and feeling good about myself! I can be as skinny as sticks, and I have been in my 20's when I thought food was over-rated but then I learned that food can be your best friend and I went with that; and still feel ugly or be ugly {inside}.

But, again, not in my 20's anymore. That's life. {No regrets here though, my 20's were great; graduated college, traveled lots, partied too much, planned my wedding, bought our home and got pregnant..TWICE..but I want my 30's and plus to be even better!}

Some nights are all about the frozen pizza and ice cream; uhm..I have an almost 1 year old, 2 1/2 year old and a 32 year old going on 2, HA! The fastest easiest thing is pizza in the oven and ice cream out of the freezer. And, don't get me wrong, my amazing Hubby and I attempt to eat healthy every night, until life happens and then we just eat. You know to survive and all. So, our best outlet and most effective way of staying healthy is to keep active! We take walks to the park and around our neighborhood or simply play in the backyard with Santi, soon Cami will be running around TOO and that will be even better. We love being outdoors and thankfully so do our kids. But, AGAIN. There is this thing called life, it tends to happen on a regular basis and well then we get all "let's just watch a movie tonight" and/or "let's try and get this house somewhat presentable to the general public." and maybe every once in a while we like to shower and sleep.

So, my goals for this whole going to the gym routine...are; to be healthy, to stay strong and to feel good! I have spoken! I don't want to get caught up in what Sally Q. looks like cause uhm my name is Momma Gomez and like I said; curves...they come with me. I have no plans to wear a yellow polka dot bikini this summer those ideas went away when I turned 18 and realized I don't look like Sally Q. plus I feel more comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt, cause those bikini's are tiny and if it falls off, everything and I mean everything will fall OUT with it. Just sayin'...

I also am NOT a fan of diets or depriving myself of yumma goodness that, YES God intended me to eat...I just don't believe it in. Again, yes, I will eat healthy I don't mind a salad and a Greek yogurt every now and again but I also don't want to be so overly protective of myself that I end up craving everything I "can't" have. I love to eat. I try to eat in moderation. A little bit of everything. Unless it's pozole and tacos, then it's on! Ha. But, again I believe that with a good balance everything is achievable.

We must also rely on God be a little secure about ourselves. God made me. He created me to be strong and have will power. To have some faith in myself and what I can and cannot do. To be happy and stable and to be me. Therefore. I should want to be healthy, strong and feel good about myself. God is asking me to maintain self-control and not have to over eat or be too lazy. I am also NOT a fan of diet shakes and magic slimming pills. No offense to anyone, I know different strokes for different folks. Don't get me wrong, in my 20's, I tried it all, and I did everything I could to be "skinny"! You learn from your mistakes and I plan on making my 30's about being well-balanced and practicing self-control. I can do it. All things are possible through Christ,{Philippians 4:13

Amplified Bible (AMP)¹³I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who ^[a]infuses inner strength into me; I am ^[b]self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].} and I may have to pray about it every.single.day from now on, but it will happen.

Not bashing on anyone or anything. Diabetes is REAL in my family. Most of my father's family has either passed away from it or is currently on dialysis. So, trust me I know I should be keeping healthy. Plus, I have had Gestational Diabetes and I've learned a think or two about balance and self-control. Being preggers and not being able to eat, MOST anything fatty and super delicious brings on the humbleness like no other.

So, what are you saying here Connie? I am saying that being healthier, stronger and feeling good about oneself is all about our own strength and self-control. It's all about obeying God and prayer. It's all about balance and well-being. It's all about doing what works best for you and fits your schedule. And, in the long run it's all about what makes you happy. Because we all know that when Momma is happy our homes are happy. Our well being stems from happiness and the happiness of our Husband's, significant others and CHILDREN. For them, I will be happy!

Happy Tuesday Everyone! Make it a GREAT one.

{Grace} ♥

My husband’s favorite word is virtuous. {"Connie be virtuous", he says} He uses it a lot. Mine is Grace or Favor. Either way, we show our virtue by being graceful. I love talking to my Husband about our Faith, about Faith in general and about what we believe. He always has the best, most direct and open insight. We grew up differently and it’s so true that opposites attract. We are night and day. He has given me new confidence, a better meaning of courage, and definitely a more open EYED view on life! He taught me not to be so gullible and not to believe in everyone or everything they tell me. He taught me to really get to know people before I said how amazing they were! I was young and naive, still some days are not good in that aspect. Oh well. Such is life and we learn.


Well, today I received one of my usual daily inspiration emails from The Daily Love Blog and this was part of the Blog:

“Sometimes our biggest problem is the greatest act of Grace. What seems like horror, terror or really bad luck is the event that we needed in order to heal our wounds, step out into our power and then use our experience, strength and hope to help other people come out of their darkness. Grace can feel like a soft feather and sometimes Grace can be a kick in the teeth (or worse).”

I thought that was so perfectly described. Some days I feel like my grace has been enough and sufficient for others to realize that what I say and do is from my heart and not to hurt. I am what I think and I wear it on my lips… I know not good but it’s true. I talk. A lot. About it all. Hence, the blog. Then there are days when I am so humbled and at times humiliated that I don’t feel like I have done enough to win back truth and reputation. But, guess what? Yep you guessed it…such is life. These things have to happen….for me to grow, to learn and to heal. I realize every day that, I am not perfect, that people are not perfect and that life may never be perfect. What I do know is that I can strive to be a BETTER ME {there is that two letter word again...ME. I think it's the 2012 theme..to be a better ME, to worry about ME not so much others... selfish maybe but I think it's necessary at times...}, every day in every way! That’s what I want for 2012!

Yes, it’s only day 5, but I feel a lot MORE confident this year than I did last year…no matter what discoursing words {or gestures; as my Husband learned a couple of nights ago that a shrug of the shoulders can be worth a thousand words…} people send our way, no matter what setbacks or disappointments life may bring…life goes on! AND YES. Such is life, that we must MOVE FORWARD. NO.MATTER.WHAT.EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.

I was feeling a little blue over New Year’s Eve, but this New Year has just really allowed me to MOVE on and LIVE MY LIFE; with my Husband and my children. Life is beautiful and worth living. We just have to work at it every day past others and what they may or may not think about you. I am fully inspired to be inspired and inspire this year!

{I know you may be thinking..."Whoa Connie slow down...day 5 and already you are in that change the world mode?" Well it's that kind of a year..it's that kind of a week..I WANT IT TO BE THAT KIND OF A FUTURE FOR MY LITTLE FAMILY! I have the BEST most POSITIVE feeling EVER about TEAM GOMEZ and Oh the places we will go.... ONLY GOD KNOWS!}

grace.

I want it.

I need it.

I breath it.

I love it.

GRACE!

Make it a GRACE FILLED day!

Taking back my LIFE! {Semana: Six!}

About 6 weeks ago I promised myself to push past the pain. Deal with whatever my body was going through and move forward with LIFE!

You see I started reading ALWAYS LOOKING UP by Michael J. Fox and after only a couple of pages I was fully inspired by his pain. Literally. He is amazing. The thought process that he has to go through to get out of BED is just incredible. Will make anyone rethink what they are complaining about...especially ME!

{Source}

I think I have managed to overcome the pain of my Kidney Stone problem and surgery fairly well. I am feeling almost at 100% these days. I didn't go back to the doctor from the fear of the words "another surgery" coming out of her mouth. So I finished my meds, started natural supplements and just coping with the everyday pain as it slowly faded into the back of my thoughts...

Now, I want more pain free days so I plan to make one more major doctor appointment and start eating better and exercising. I am 30, I need to start sometime. I had done really good throughout my 20's some years are blur others I have pictures to prove I was a size 2! I will never be at a 2 again, not sure that, that's where I want to be. But, I do want to be a healthy person and good size 10! I love being a size 10 it's my ideal size, for now I am a 14 on good days and a 16 on my blah days. I deal. Ha.

Today I plan to read more of my book and see how much more inspiration and motivation I can pile up into my week. The first week of 2012 is looking really good! I love it.

I know I will be fully motivated...THE BIGGEST LOSER STARTS TONIGHT!!! LOVE THAT SHOW! Always sooo full of hope! American Idol starts in a couple weeks tooooo! Other fav!

Hope your first week of 2012 is grand! Make it a good one!

2011?

Where did it go?
Seriously.
Aside from having Camila most the year is a blur.
Is that bad?
Is that Momma brain?

Ahii. I don't know. But, the days keep moving along into a new year and all I can think is CHANGE. Change Connie. Change. I want BIG things to happen in my life and if I want a difference then I should initiate CHANGE!

Seems to be the word of the week. CHANGE. De-cluttering. De-stressing. Simplifying. Life. Faith. Friends. Family. EVERYTHING. I don't think it's a bad thing. I think it's a good thing.

Therefore all I can think of for 2012 is CHANGE. Make a difference in ME. Make a difference in MY home. Make a difference in MY children. Make a difference in MY marriage. Make a difference in MY life. Selfish? Maybe. But we all need some time to regroup. To rethink. To readjust. To rethink. To regroup.

As, I backtrack through 2011..Good and Bad. It all worked it's self out for the best. For the truth to be revealed, for friendships to be tested. For faith to be endured. For Love to be matched. For justice to overcome. For GOOD to prevail. In the end. God has opened new doors, closed MANY others and shone His light on what should be in our lives for 2012. "Plans to prosper..not to harm you...."

Therefore no matter where we spend New Years Eve or with whom. God already has our plans for 2012. Nothing we do can change that. The only thing that needs to change is our way of thinking. Our attitude. For myself my biggest GOAL, my biggest RESOLUTION. Is ME. It takes some mistake making to learn. This year. I have learned. I promise. No really. I have.

So, 2011 Good day to you! I will miss you. You brought many a new Blessings. Especially my new little CamNoodles to Love and to hold forever and ever... no matter how many tantrums she throws as I type up this BLOG! HA. You've left me MANY a bittersweet memories to love and to cherish deep in my soul. You've left with me sadness as friends have left my side. I wish them well and so much LOVE. You leave me deep sorrow as we lost my Beautiful Aunt Lola to a disease I am yet to understand but plan to fight for! You leave us questions as my Husband lost his uncle to a questionable cold-hearted murder, I can't understand...You leave me with pain and questions to be answered BUT guess what 2012 will be better and new days will come. Truth will uphold and be revealed. Justice and Good will always overcome evil no matter how long it takes. I plan to add wisdom and maturity to my days and my words...

SO TO YOU I SAY.....

WELCOME 2012 

AND AN 

AWESOME NEW YEAR!!!!!!! 

I HOPE YOU CAN ALL CONQUER THE DAYS AND LIVE WITH PEACE AND FAITH DEEP IN YOUR HEARTS!!!

{A Menu and some Changes....}

I wanted to share what we actually ate for Thanksgiving..I don't have pictures, SORRY! 

Thanksgiving Menu:

Turkey {Marinaded with Tony Chachere's Injectable Roasted Garlic and Herbs; My Hubby made a rub for the outside from the Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning} We cooked it for over 5 hours... it was yumma! If I do say so myself!

Ham {from Sam's Club, fully cooked and honey glazed baked with fresh pineapple slices}

Stuffing {my Momma's recipe... bagged seasoned stuffing mix, ground beef, rice, chopped up onions, bell peppers and celery; seasoned with salt and pepper to taste, fried then baked together added broth from boiling the turkey gizzards.} My Mother-in-Law made some as well but I don't know her recipe... :)

Seasoned fresh Green beans { I boiled the green beans then fried them with coarse black pepper and bacon! Bacon makes everything better...}

Corn on the Cob {Boiled with butter and garlic salt}

Mashed Sweet Potatoes {I boiled them then pureed them in the food processor my hubby added nutmeg and cinnamon.}


Lumpy Mashed Potatoes { Made by my Sis; boiled potatoes, heavy whipping cream, salt and pepper to taste}


Fruit Salad {Ric's cousin Erica made it! Very Yumma! }

Green bean casserole {Ric's Aunt MaryAnn made it...also Yumma!}

Pumpkin & Pecan pies and an Apple Cinnamon Bunt Cake { My Momma bought some and Ric's Aunt Yolanda made one from scratch, my Sis-in-Law Ale made the cake..... Yummmmaa!}

Dinner rolls and Tostadas... we is Mexican and some Salsa Verde {Just boiled green tomatoes and jalapeño peppers added some salt and once they were soft I blended them....}

Whole Cranberries Cranberry Sauce {Canned Ocean Spray..HA!}

Gravy { Canned as well; white and brown}

Some White Wine and Coronas....

Ahhhhh. I  hope I didn't forgot anything....


So, after TWO whole days of this.... I have decided to make lots of changes in the next 30-days... yep! I am going to do a detox and possible "look" change...I am scared and not sure how it will go..but we shall see!


I will start December 1.

{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??

When I grow up.....

What do I want to be when I grow up....


I never thought I'd say this..but I want to be a Stay-at-Home Mom! {And own my own business...}


In the last couple of years I've thought about getting a second degree in Architecture or Civil Engineering...hmmmm....yeah I don't think most would have guessed that....


In the last couple of months I've thought about taking a Graphic Design class...or two!


These days being an adult and with all the daily Mommy/Wife responsibilities...I don't think much about what I used to wish I would be when I grew up....instead I look at the future and where I am now.

When I grow up...I wanna be a Millionaire... {HA.} No not really...or maybe?

What about you? Y tu que quieres ser?

{30 About 30}

[I've never been scared of numbers. Like 30. I embrace it. I love it. It means a lot. Age represents time well spent, wisdom and lessons learned. I love 30!]

What brought me here?

Goodness it must be this whole turning 30 thing..I didn't think I would be so reflective about the whole turning 30 thing!


But, I guess I am.

To me the number is not important..it's more about my experiences, the lessons learned, and my family memories (Good or Bad).


What brought me here?

...to this place... this place where I sit and write. Think and imagine.


Well first off a slower paced job than I am used to. Once in this job and on my down time, I found Heather. The, in my eyes, Queen of Blogs! I loved her. I wanted to be like her. I wanted to take pictures like her. I wanted to write like her. I want to be funny and carefree like her. I wanted to be open and daring like her. I wanted to be Heather Armstrong. But, I knew that wasn't gonna happen. I was and am ME.


So, I did the next best thing..I started Blogging....soon the ideas and my imagination and a new love for writing and expressing came to be. I am still not at all good at it but I try and I move forward.


My Blog was this..and that....and blah...and AHHHHH....and then it was...Oh.M.Geeeee. and things changed.


I moved into this. And a new phase emerged.

And life...went on....goes on and everything is different now....

But, I am happy, learning and seeking.

Turning 30 will be great and what brought me here is not as important as loving where I am now! {And I do. No matter what!}

Why are we so hard on ourselves?

We try and try and try...

We do our best and think that we are doing our best...

Yet when evaluation of the self comes...we fail... to ourselves...

I have gone through 5 days of Lent season now....

catching myself...

torturing myself...

failing...myself....

defining myself...

evaluating myself....

devaluing myself...

reminding myself....

praying...for myself...

And still.. I can't seem to win this battle...against....MYSELF.

God has given me so many tools and resources, so many wonderful women of support...and still I fail... BUT then I think...I AM HUMAN...we are suppose to fail...Jesus was tempted by the devil...He never failed..but we are NOT Jesus.

Then I think, I am being  SO  hard on myself. I need to stop. I need to realize that I can do this...but ONLY with prayer and grace. With willingness and an open heart..I will be victorious. I will move forward and I will have FAITH.

That through HIM all things are possible.

Philippians 4:13 (New International Version, ©2011)

¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Just holding on....

To God...

To life...

To me...

To my family....

To my husband....

To my son....

To my daughter....

To my Faith....

To my strength....

To my sanity....

To moments.....

To my word...

TO HIS WORD.

The good Lord never said it would be easy..but He did say...He would NEVER leave me...or forsake me...that no matter who else wasn't there for me..HE WOULD BE...He has been...I trust.

I have Faith.

I love.

Thank you to everyone who has been there the last 35 weeks... I am almost there..Camlia is almost here...

and GOD IS EVERYWHERE.

I am sooo BLESSED.

I AM SOOOO READY.

I am soooo happy!

My life has been amazing the last 29 years, 9 months and 7 days...

I CAN'T ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE!

God is with me...

HE IS SOOO GOOD.

ALL THE TIME.

Holding on to HIM!

Life Detox!

It's what I am calling it.

I want to start over new!

We deserve to be new.... to be BETTER. To be THE person we want to be. The person that we know we can be.

The person that God knows we are! 

I just can't wait to see what this year has in store for me....I just feel soooo READY!