Happy 2nd birthday Chum Chum

When I found out I was pregnant for the second time, I cried and thought that I could never love another child the way I did with my Asher. Two years later, I could not even imagine doing life with out my Caleb Joshua.


Tomorrow he will be two years old, yet his personality goes well beyond his age. He is gifted with the same love for music and worship that his brother has, yet  rambunctious and fearless, completely opposite of his brother.

Strong willed by his nature, he can put down a good tantrum not getting his way. However, very loving and gentle in his own way. People in the city know him because he always carries his puppy, Gently kissing him, feeding him and carrying him by the ear. Just don't tell him that puppy is not real.

Caleb Joshua-

My boy the day you busted out of my tummy, I knew you would not be a boy that would stay still. The energy that drives me crazy some days, is the very thing that I know that will make you do great things for Jesus.

I am so proud of the boy that you have become at only two years old. I love to sit and watch you read, and your love for worship, just blesses my heart. Your memory blows me away and your passion for what you want ministers to. You don't give up, and you are so strong in your abilities.

The love and loyalty you have for your brother, lets me know that you will always be taken care of not only by God by your brothers. No fear right now worries me, as I foresee many broken bones in our future. But that same thing will not hold you back from sharing Jesus with others and doing things that might seem crazy! I only pray that they are crazy for Jesus.

Son I also know that there will be times that you may not want to listen to mommy and daddy. You may even not want to listen to Jesus. You will have to learn to depend on your own faith and not ours. I know, It is my prayer that when you walk away it isn't to far. I want you to know that you have a mommy that prays for you. A mommy that is on her knees, and will battle with the enemy who tries to steer you away from what is right.

You also have a mommy that is human, which means I will make mistakes. I am not perfect, but as long as I am in prayer and in Gods word, then I hope in His instruction in my life. Although your daddy and I love you so much, you should know that you have a heavenly father that loves you more. I know it is hard to imagine right? When I think about how much I love you, and think how God loves mommy more than that it blows my mind.

Another thing that you should know is although I love you, your brother and daddy that much, I love Jesus more. I know it is hard concept to learn, but as you grow you will learn that in order for you to love others and be the man you are called to be you must love the Lord more that anyone else.

Oh son I so look forward to the things you will do, and also the trouble you will get in because I know those times will be growth opportunities in your life. I pray that you never lose the heart of worship, listening to you sing just soothes my soul! So as we celebrate another year of life, I thank God for your health and allowing me to love and take care of you and the laughter that you bring to our family!

Happy 2nd Birthday Chum Chum!
I love you,
Mommy

Halloween and a Parenting Failure!

It was no surprise that this Halloween Noah Asher wanted to be Captain America. About 8 months ago we bought him a captain America costume for a super hero party he was invited to. We paid about 75 bucks for the costume and the accessories, and let me tell you that he has gotten 750 dollars worth of usage out of it!

For weeks he has been telling me he wanted to use his costume and for weeks I have been telling him we are getting a new one. So last night there we were in the middle of the costume shop going back and forth why he "needed" a new one and he pleaded his case why he wanted to wear the old one.

And like Holifield being taken off guard with a bite to his ear by Tyson . There I was about to get side swiped with the parenting fail left jab!

MANY years of my life I struggled with what others thought of me. I struggled with me or my stuff not being good enough in the material sense. Although,  I have made tremendous improvement in this area,  there is still the old man that seeps through all to often. We have vowed to instill in our kids what we have is sufficient, not wanting more, not needing what we cant afford and being confident in who we are.

There in the store he said in the most innocent voice " mommy I dont need a new costume I just want to be the Captain America I have at home. Why do I need another one?" And there it was in my face exposed. My insecurities trying to be passed off to my son. He could never be so right. And if I could have been honest to him my answer would have been this. Son, you dont need a new costume, the old one you have is perfectly fine, looks good and still fits. But you see mommy is concerned with other moms would think about you not getting a new costume, when they have all gotten their kids new costumes. Mommy is more worried about what you may look or not look like more than the fact that you are content in just being captain America.

Ugh, awful right? But as the Lord is my witness its the truth. I just looked at those big brown eyes, and with a few tears, I knelt down asking him to forgive me, thanking him for teaching me and praised him for being simple and content!

Its funny how this parenting thing works sometimes, at times I often wonder who is teaching who here? I love how God uses our kids to teach us the simple lessons that we "think" we are teaching to our kids. I thank God for Noah's heart to be content. I thank God for keeping me humble, by revealing the nasty in my heart.

Do you struggle in this area? If you do, I come along side of you in prayer. May we be content in who we are, what we wear and not worry about what others think. Trying not to be perfect but be perfect in who we are!

So Caleb will be Hulk and I decided to have fun and use what we have here and spend minimal on his costume and you know what he actually looks pretty cool! So here is to simple, and not trying to keep up with anyone else!

Much Love.. Avengers Assemble,
Moni

Sacrificing, Blessings and 10 years!

It felt like the night before our wedding, only this time I needed to get three boys ready for the next days celebration. I sat down at midnight looking over my to do list, to ensure that every detail had been covered.

It was the night before our wedding times two! Yup ten years later to the day before family and close friends we were to witness us take new vows before the Lord and each other. Lets back up a second, actually Feburary 7th to be exact:

This conversation happened on a blog. When Bianca challenged us to do more, and asked us what we were giving up for Jesus. You see it was always my desire to renew our vows for our 10 year along with a short expensive laundry list of to do's on our tenth! As you can see. And so there on that day I left the desires of my heart there before the Lord, and gave it up. Sacraficing my will to the Fathers using our time and finances, so be it!

And here eight months later. I sat in awe of a God who not only allowed us to serve him in service but ALSO granted me the desires of my heart. As I read Bianca's comment I cant help but cry. I look back at a year of abundances of blessings, forgetting and wondering where was the sacrafice? I forgot because it was so minimal to what God has blessed us with. We put our finances in the Lord and he tripled them back down to us. Now I didnt get that upgraded diamond, oh and I am not that holy because it was not for lack of trying! I did get earring though.. woot woot! On saturday before a group of about 50 we gathered and glorified the Lord.

We stood as a represetation of how Christ can take jacked up people like us and make a family that love and works! I said my vows in true fashion, giving refrence to the Kardasians and lady gaga, and of course my husband in true fashion loved me the way Christ loves the church. He got down on his knees and surprised me by washing my feet. I cried, he cried and I think 80 percent of our guest cried. He said I cried because he choose a red bucket that clashed with my color scheme. Yup interenet a RED bucket, bless his heart that he also took a towel that we use to dry the cars with after a car wash :/  I think he was half right!

It was an amazing afternoon and many tears shed of gratitude, remembering and love. Laughter bounced off the walls as we caught up with friends and family. The un-newlywed game we played with a few couples just put a stamp on this love letter! We ended the night in Laguna Beach the place we got engaged and married. We had a wonderful dinner and finally for the first time since having the boys stayed the night away!

As we laid there flipping between dumb and dumber and the baseball game, yup I know totally romantic right... we were in awe. I could not have asked for such a better day and night. That day on February 7th,  I laid my desire and it was the very day that the Lord granted it. We put the Lord before all things and He?  well He just blew us away. It was our prayer that we would glorify Him with our celebration and He would be in every detail. Before we left the mining company, the head waiter wanted to talk to my husband.

He said in the 20 years he has been working there, he has never seen such a beautiful display of love and celebration. He said that it made him take a look at his life and re-evaluate many things, he didnt finish because he was starting to breakdown but Lord knows. To God be the Glory always.. In our marriage and in everything we do... !

I dont have all the pictures for the day yet but here are a few to share...

Ten tables for each year, each table had a willow tree to correspond with the significance of that year this was table #2 and it was 2003 which was "Growing in Love"

Our colors were silver and blue the tradiational ten year colors. Our scripture was Song of Solomon 6:3 "I am my beloved and my beloved is mine, he feeds his flock among the lilies." The flock reminded us of our little family and so we used the sheep to represent that. It was a cookie from the double tree hotel. The two bibles there were our first bibles, as a married couple and the ones that got us through a first tough year of marriage.

 Ten year tradition is tin, so we used a tin that the cookies came in. The pliability of tin and aluminum  is a symbol of how a successful marriage needs to be flexible & durable and how it can be bent without being broken. This has signifinace for us because our wedding night we stayed at the Double tree hotel, and fell in love with their cookies. Every year on our anniversary we buy a tin, ok sometimes we go more often :)

I want to thank Carmen of Expressionary Events who did my flowers. They were amazing! She is a one stop shop for weddings and parties, you can find her on Fb here!

Aganist my will, a friend paid to have my make up done.. I gotta say, although I am more the natural type, I fell in love with what she did! Thank you Britney of Rock Me Up Sudio & Spa!  Check her out here!

I wish I had a picture, but also want to thank Shannon Quintana for her amazing voice in leading us in worship that day. Look her up on Fb here!

Also want to thank Bianca for challenging your blog readers to do more and be more! You can check out her blog and keep up with her and all she is doing to change the world here on her blog. I promise you will not regret the reads!

I want to thank everyone that help make our day special and joining us.. For those that couldn't make it you were missed! I want to thank my Lord for loving so much that He gave me a man that I could love a little less than Him!