the story of "us" - countdown to our 10 year anniversary Part 2

part 2.

we were young. 15 and 17. over the next couple of months, Jose would walk me home from church, occasionally pick me up to go to church and we'd spend time together while at church. That was pretty much the extent of it. And honestly, with hardly any time together, we didn't really get to know each other that well. I knew I really liked him and I thought he was pretty cute, but that was about it. Things quickly started to go downhill. A few people didn't approve of the relationship as I was American and Jose was Peruvian. Nothing  good could come from it! A missionary, close to our family, who I'm sure meant well also, told me that I really needed to be  careful. Peruvians only dated to find a spouse and I was young and probably didn't want to start thinking about marriage yet, so it was best to not show too much affection (holding hands at church) or spend too much time together because people and Jose would start to get the wrong idea. That scared me (although when I told hubby this later, he said that was really not true and the farthest thing from his mind) and I started to panic! I was 15! No where near ready to make a long term commitment. He was my first boyfriend, for crying out loud!
As I shared these fears with my good friend from our church, he encouraged me to maybe rethink my decision to date Jose. The more we talked, the more I was convinced that while I did like him, we didn't really do anything together and I didn't want anyone getting any ideas.

The youth group went bowling one night together and afterwards went to a park nearby to hang out and have ice cream. I took that opportunity to talk to him and we ended up breaking up. It's weird, because as soon as I did, I knew I'd made a mistake. But, its hard to take it back at that point. I think I was more devastated than he was and sobbed all the way home.

That night, worried that he would stop coming to church because he was a new Christian and it would be awkward to be around each other, I wrote him a note, begging him to forgive me and also begging him to keep coming to church. It was funny because I think I ended up breaking my own heart too, I was so devastated.

That note was the first of many that we exchanged over the next couple of weeks. As I read his notes to me, I became more and more convinced that I had made a mistake and some how, through those notes, became smitten with him all over again. We got back together shortly after.

I wish I could say that was it and that we've been together ever since, but no...

...I broke up with him again 2 more times. 

Turns out, that best church friend had a crush on me and when he saw an opportunity, 3 months later, to convince me that Jose was bad for me, he did just that. I had no idea at the time that he had feelings for me. He was older than me and I looked up to him like the big brother I never had. I believed him and trusted his word and decided it was a good idea not to be with Jose anymore. It's funny, after I broke up with Jose the 2nd time, I remember my dad being upset (not because I'd broken up with Jose, but because I was listening to my friend and what he was doing was clearly not right.

And again, as soon as we broke up, I felt that pang of loss in my heart. Granted I was young, but he somehow just made such a difference (still does) in my life that I immediately felt like I was the one that had lost.

Wouldn't you know it, notes again passed between us as they would between a 16 and 18 year old :) and before long, I was sure I'd again made such a big mistake. During that time, my friend from church also revealed his feelings for me and I was furious with myself for having listened to him when he clearly was pushing his own agenda.

Church camp with camp fires and warm, toasty feelings brought us back together for the 2nd time. I was sure this time we would be together for a good long time, and when we did break up, it would be for good. And...we lasted almost an entire year!

If you missed last week's post, part 1, check it out here

recipe of the week: coconut crunch

This week I'd like to share a recipe that my mom actually shared with me. (she's doing GAPS with us).
It's the easiest thing to make. I just have to decide if it's a handy snack, dessert or granola! You decide!

ingredients:
3 cups coconut flakes
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup honey

mix all ingredients together and heat on stove until toasted and crispy.
as the mixture cools, it will stick together for such a tasty treat!

I've eaten it plain and with coconut milk on top. It definitely hits the spot! And full of coconutty goodness, too!

I would love to hear what you think...dessert, snack, granola??


This post has been linked to Fat Tuesday and Fight Back Fridays

Mami Moments

I'm just gonna share it like it is, ok?

I walked in to the bathroom today to find my son trying to clean up a toilet accident. I'm not exactly sure what happened, but my full potty-trained son had pee all over the floor and poop all over the toilet seat. Lovely.

These are the moments in my life when I wish I was not the Mami. To not be the one that has the privilege of cleaning all that up. It just looked at me and I looked back at it..and great!

Nico got whisked to the bathtub for a much needed bath and I pulled out the rubber gloves. Thank goodness for rubber gloves!

As I was cleaning and trying to hold my nose, I wasn't grumbling, but I wasn't exactly pleased either. All of a sudden, Nico peers out from the bathtub and his bath play and simply states in the sweetest of voices, "Thank you Mami for cleaning all that up!"

That's all it took. The smile was back on my face. He's 3. And he thanked me for cleaning up his mess. What a sweetheart!

As moms, we have moments we'd much rather avoid or not have to deal with. Seriously who wants to clean up messes like that? But a simple thank you from my son made everything better in that moment and helped me remember what an honor and blessing it is to be a mom...even those "wipe  the snot off their noses, wipe their bottoms, change their diapers, clean up the puke" moments. I really wouldn't trade it for the world. Seriously...I don't think you can have kids and not have the messes so I choose it, poop and all! ;)

I hope you know how much you're valued, Moms! 

dear lucas

Dear Sweet Lucas,
Happy Birthday Sweet Boy! I can hardly believe it's been a year since we welcomed you into our arms and into our family. It just doesn't seem possible that a whole year has passed. I think I say that to each kid, every year. :) A year ago today, at 4:10 in the morning (after only making mami suffer through 4 hours of labor!) you made your entrance into this world. Your start to this world was a bit scary as you had the cord wrapped around your neck. Thankfully you suffered nothing more than some black and blue bruises (not from lack of oxygen, thankfully). Papi and I joked that you were so little but had already had your first fist fight.

I have to confess, when you were born, I was nervous. We already had your sister and brother, so one would think I'd feel really prepared to be a mami for the third time, but something about having two opposite kids already, made me think I had no idea what I'd be doing with you and that somehow I wouldn't know what to do. The first couple of days, specifically at the hospital, you were a bit fussy and grumpy and I wondered if we were in for it with a fussy baby, but nothing could have been further from the truth. Once you hit your little groove and got used to life out here (and that didn't take more than a couple of days) you were the sweetest, most laid back kid. It's true...you were completely different from your brother and sister and in that respect, I was right, but what I could never have imagined was how sweet and content you'd be.

From the get-go, you've been such a blessing! Even more so as you started to suffer with eczema, around 4 months. Despite being miserable in your skin (literally!) you have showed mami how to have peace in the midst of a storm; how to be content in your circumstances. Watching you just handle life, at such a little age, without really knowing you were doing it, has been such a life-lesson for me. I'm incredibly amazed at how you just live life, even though your circumstances could make you perpetually miserable.

You are such a sweetie boy. You have given us quite the ride this first year, but I wouldn't change a moment. I am so happy that you are a part of our family and so thankful that your brother and sister love you to bits too!

We love you so much sweet boy and cannot wait to see what happens this year! I am prayerful that this year will be the year we get rid of the eczema! I look forward to your first steps and hearing more words come out of your mouth. I can't wait to see how you continue to interact with your sister and brother and start sticking up for yourself when you need! Most of all, I look forward to just loving on you every day. You are our little blessing and we love you so much!

Happy, happy 1st Birthday, Lucas Antonio! 

Lucas Turns ONE!

Yesterday was Lucas' birthday party and what fun we had!! I think the birthday boy enjoyed himself too!

Lucas is definitely our highlight this week!!

 Thank you to all who joined us in celebrating his special day!! 

Lucas 1-year pictures

Our dear friend and one of the kids' favorite people took Lucas' 1-year pictures.

I'm so pleased that she captured all his many expressions.

Here are a few of my favorites!

lent

The church that we attend follows the church calendar so now more than ever, I am aware of things like Ash Wednesday and Lent. I've given things up for Lent in the past, but more out of a sense of obligation or  guilt. Not because I truly wanted those 40 days before Easter to be a significant time of drawing closer to God. Last night our church had it's Ash Wednesday service and what a significant time of reflecting and worshiping and receiving the mark of the cross.

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This year I debated about what to give up. I didn't want to give something up just to give it up and say I had. And then, God nudged my heart....at the beginning of the year, I really felt like he was asking me to give up some of my sleep (which as a mother of 3 with one kiddo still frequently waking at night, sleep is a precious commodity) and spend time with him. After the kiddos wake up, spending time alone, in the quiet, with God, is next to impossible and most days I am lucky if I have prayer time. I knew this was something I needed as a wife and mom. I need to tap into his grace and strength to get me through the day. I also knew that if I said I was giving it up for Lent, it makes it much more significant that a New Year's Resolution.

I told hubby and my mom Tuesday night that I was going to do this. Making it more official by telling someone greatly helps. Thankfully I have an amazing hubby who offered to wake up with me at 5 each day! What a great guy! 

We started this yesterday and I have to say, my life is 100 times better already! It's amazing what quiet, still, sweet time with God will do to my outlook and attitude! I feel refreshed! I feel energized even though I'm tired and I feel sweet peace! 

They say it takes up to 3 weeks to create/break a habit so I'm so grateful that Lent is twice that long. I know that to be the wife and mother God wants me to be, I need his help. I fail miserably on my own strength and yesterday and this morning, just by inviting him into my day first thing, I have a renewed joy as I think about being mami and wife to my family. I'm so thankful for the power of the cross and for his ultimate sacrifice.

If you celebrate Lent, did you give anything up?

1-year Anniversary

A year ago this week, I said good-bye to my corporate job of 7 years, packed up my stuff and came home to be a stay-at-home mom. The thing I have wanted since finding out I was pregnant with Sophia!

This was also the only week between work and Lucas' birth and the only week that Nicholas had me all to himself.

So much has happened this past year! The good, the bad and the ugly! Thankfully the good really does outweigh any negative things that happened and I've learned so much.

So, I just wanted to take a moment and say:

the story of "us" - a countdown to our 10 year anniversary Part 1

In one month, we'll be celebrating 10 years of marriage. I thought it would be fun to share the abridged story of us. I say abridged because hubby and I have known each other for 17 years...so this story is extensive :) But it's such a good story and after ten years of marriage and three kiddos, I thought it would be fun to write it out. I hope you enjoy! 

This story all started out with two little kids, in two totally different worlds. And, I am sure that at the time of our births, neither set of parents could imagine that across the miles, in a totally different culture and country, each of our lives were forming and preparing us for that moment where our lives would intersect.

I was  born in Marion, Indiana. My dad is a pastor and my mom is a nurse. We lived in Michigan until I was 7. At that time, my family left the USA and went to Costa Rica to learn Spanish so we could be missionaries in Peru. I have to admit that I was angry for a long time about that decision. It wasn't until I was 13 that I finally came to terms with the fact that we were missionaries and that instead of hating it and resenting my family for it, I too could become part of their ministry and make it my own. I never looked back after that and truly consider my upbringing overseas to be such a blessing! 

Jose Antonio was born in Lima, Peru, just two years before I was born. He was number three of five children and from the get-go his life was very different. The first person we met from his family was his sister, Candy. She and my sister (same age) became good friends and Candy started coming to our church. It wasn't until three years later that I met Jose.

We met when I was 15 and he was 17. We actually officially met at my 15th birthday party. (March) He was there as he'd been invited by some friends from the youth group. I think he intrigued me from the beginning, but I didn't think much more than that. Honestly at 15, most boys intrigue, don't they? :)


He came to a few church functions. He and his family lived right across the street from the church so I would always see him. 


On May 1st, a holiday in Peru, we had a youth party. The church where we met had been converted from a house into a church so there was still a 2-car garage. The youth had claimed that as our own and that day, we were giving it a youthful makeover. We painted the walls and then on the far wall, we dedicated a special wall for our hand print and the date that we had accepted Christ as our Savior. As we were all getting our hands full of paint and putting our dates up on the wall, hubby told my dad that he too would like to have a spiritual birth date. What a day of celebration. Not just Jose, but also his brother, came to Christ that day! 


He continued to be very active and involved in our youth group and church, but we were just friends. Until...one day about 3 months later...my dad pulled me aside and told me that he'd noticed that there might more more than interest in each other as friends and wanted me to know that he gave me his blessing if I was interested in dating Jose. Apparently that was all I needed to develop a full blown crush on the guy. We had a group of teenagers come to Peru around that time on a mission trip and once they knew I was interested, their sole mission was to match us up and they succeeded two days before they left. Somehow, over the course of a weekend, we officially became a "couple" and exchanged our first kiss. ;) 


If you've enjoyed this first part of the story, I hope you'll come back and read the rest of the story! The countdown continues :)

P.S. I love You - Pinning Week 13

Linking up with Courtney at Baxtron Life for this week's pinning.

This post is dedicated to my sweet, wonderful hubby! We'll be married 10 years next month and I'm so incredibly thankful for him!

Love you baby!

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pinterest project - homemade deodorant

My February Pinterest Project for 12 by 2012 was to make my own homemade deodorant. The original pin I had I decided to not do. Too many ingredients I didn't already have on hand. ;)

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Instead, I found this recipe and I only needed to get the arrowroot powder. Everything else I had on hand.

Here's my version of it:

(can I just tell you how much I love that none of these are a threat to your health?!?!?)

I didn't use my coconut oil as a solid. I chose to mix it while it was between a solid and a liquid as I found that it mixed much easier.

This took literally less than 10 minutes to mix up.

I've been using this a for a few days now, and so far, so good. It's not as fool-proof as my go-to Degree deodorant, but man I feel good knowing that it has none of the dangers linked to deodorants like Degree do.

For more information on these dangers, check this out

I'm so happy that I did this! And hubby has agreed to switch over too! Yay!! :) Here's to health in the kitchen and bathroom!! 

highlights: a trip to the park

Yesterday it was sunny and in the mid 50s. Although a bit windy, it was really the perfect day to go to the park. The kids were ecstatic as we hadn't been since November! And, it was the first time Lucas really wanted to participate more so what a fun time we had!

How was your week?