Christmas Day

On Christmas Day we woke up semi-early and let Rachel open her present from us (Ben picked it out, though, it was so cute to see his excitement about getting it! He wanted to give it to her earlier in the month, but he waited!) Well, it was the Little People Airport! She loves it! :) It has a car, a helicopter and a plane along with the air traffic control tower and a little track for the car. It is cute! She seems to like to play with it with Daddy! ;) He likes to show her how the plane and helicopter go!

Here she is opening it up! (Notice the milk, she has warm milk every morning to start her day!)

"Thank you Daddy!" Mwah!

"Thank you Mommy!" Mwah!

After playing for a bit, we got ready to go to my mom's for Ben's present (I had it delivered there so he would try to find out what it was).

He liked it! It was a camera backpack case for his camera & accessories. :)

We went to visit Ben's Dad afterwards. I only had blurry pics, so I will need to upload Ben's later (when he gets his uploaded to the computer first).

After visiting Papa Ben, we went home for Rachel to nap. Then we headed over to Ben's mom's house to see the rest of the family!

Here are J.J. and Heather looking so happy! :)


Rachel, Yaya, and Papa Richard

I'll post more pics later, but that was just a little more about our last few busy days! :)
God bless you!

More pics!

For Christmas Eve we went to 5pm church service and then off to my parent's house for dinner and presents! ;) It was so much fun to just enjoy my family by the fire after dinner and sing Christmas songs (I didn't get any pics because I was too involved in singing)! ;)

We were able to take some pics or Rachel getting her BIG present this year.....

Yep a little tricycle. ;) My parents wanted to get her something that she could use at there house (with all the space they have). She loves it and especially loves the Dora helmet and pads that they got for her too! ;)

Papa and Rachel... they love each other SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much! It's so wonderful to see! (What a blessing from God!)

The Girls! :) We always have to have one to give to my father! We look pretty good! ;)

Ben taking pics of Rachel on her tricycle. :) He is getting really good at taking pics with his camera and using the different lenses (not pictured here). :)

Merry Christmas!

Long time no post. I have been busy working on a video for my family (we met on the15th), but then I got busy with getting ready for Christmas, so I haven't posted! :( I have been taking pics., though so here goes:

We met with my family (Marquez Gathering) on Sat. Dec 15th at Las Fuentes Hall (huge dance hall that my mom works at and where we had our annual Christmas Party this year). There was a microphone that they were using to say a prayer and tell what we were going to do next. Well, my little "shy" girl took a liking to it and wanted to talk on it all night! She kept going to it and saying, "Merry Christmas! and Happy New Year!" and singing Twinkle, Twinkle. She loved it! Well, the next week, we went to the Dollar Tree ( my favorite place to go to get some knick knacks) and she was allowed to get ONE thing. Well, you can see what she picked out...Yes, she has a little microphone to sing all her songs with and to yell at the top of her lungs! :)
She loves singing and dancing! It's too cute! Here she is in her 1 year old b-day dress that she wants to put on every time she sees ppl dancing on TV. :) She wants to be like Dora when she gets a dress to go the dance party! ;) It's funny!


AND...
She's been going peepee in the potty! :) yeah! She got up on the 13th with a dry diaper, so I asked her if she wanted to go pee in the potty, she said "yes!". She we headed over and she sat for a few minutes and then let it out!! :) YEAH!! That was her first time! She's had the potty for a year now and just sat on it and talked about it, but that day she finally went!! :) I was so happy and proud that I took pics! ;)


Warning, if you are grossed out, pass the next pic, it has the evidence of her GREAT SUCCESS ON THE POTTY THAT WONDERFUL DAY!! ;)









Sorry for the gross pic, but I was so excited! ;) That was the first time!!











I gotta run, but I will post more pics soon! :) I promise! I also want to post the video that I made for my family when we got together on the 15th. It was the life of Christ in a 16 mins. video with songs that I just love to hear! :) Check back soon!

Merry Christmas from the Reyes Family! :)Ben & Rachel

Mommy & Rachel

God bless you!!!

John 3:16

This is a beautiful video.. I found it on Godtube while I was waiting for mine to be uploaded. I will post mine soon! Here is the other while you wait! ;) It's so thoughtfully and wonderfully made. It really is a wonderful view of the verse John 3:16 (my favorite verse from the Bible). :)

The Pioneer Woman

I have been reading this blog for a few months now... Confessions of a Pioneer Woman is so funny and has been known to give me a WONDERFUL BELLY LAUGH (Ben knows when he hears my constant giggle from our room, I'm reading PW's blog). Anyhow, She was actually asked for an interview on CNN's "News to Me"... I wanted to link the youtube interview of Ree.

Fun with Kelly!

We were invited to my be-fri's house last Saturday to bake cookies. It was so much fun! Here is Rachel playing with Charlie (She was just smittin with her 2 cats and dog Milo). The other is of Rachel playing with Mr. Potato Head while we were finishing up in the kitchen! :) It was fun! Thanks Kelly for the fun time! :)

The True Christmas Story

Here is the video that I created for this Christmas to remind me (and those who see this) what the season is really about! I can't wait until JESUS comes again! We are waiting just as people waited thousands of years ago and then came a baby boy, Jesus to change all of eternity for us!!!

Mary Did You Know?

Breath of Heaven

Beautifully done! Just thought I'd share! (BTW, the reason I have so many Youtube videos on here is b/c I'm getting ideas for a video that I'm trying to make for our family Christmas get together!)

Oh Come O come Emmanuel

Amazing Grace

Via Dolorosa

I was looking for some things on Youtube and Godtube tonight and I found these. I know that it's repetitive, but I was looking for the right one, so I posted them on here more for me than anything else. If you do watch beware of some graphic scenes of Christ's death. It does give us a glimpse of what HE went through for us (me). John 3:16- For God so loved the world that He gave HIS only SON that whoever believes in HIM shall not perish, but have eternal life.



This one is very graphic with scenes from the Passion Of Christ. (Very graphic)




Can be viewed by all- not at all as graphic as the previous two.

A Charlie Brown Christmas... I like this part! ;)

We recorded this last week or 2 weeks ago and watched it with Rachel. I had not really paid much attn to what this Charlie brown episode was about, but I know that I really liked this part! :) I am glad that they are still showing this part on TV. Anyhow, I found it on YouTUBE and wanted to post it! It's cute! I like this character, Linus. :) Enjoy- may it bring you some nice Christmas memories of when you were a child (like it does for me)! :)

Long time no post

I've been neglecting my blog posting. I've been pretty busy and lazy when I do sit in front of the computer. Actually, I've been using my laptop and my photos that I want to blog about are on the desktop. Oh well, we're all good! We had a great time getting back into a routine when Ben went back to work. It was nice to get back into a schedule. I have been working one day a week and wondering if I was gonna get any calls to sub. Well, I did get a call this week to work tomorrow, but I'm not taking it because I am not sure that's what I want to do right now. I love teaching, but I don't want to be in the public schools right now. I know, I know, I wanted to do it early this year ands what got me back into subbing, but I've been praying to God for guidance. He's showing me that I am doing well teaching my daughter and being a housewife. He also has shown me that I am very blessed to have my part-time job at Gigglebytes (teaching computer skills). I am in prayer right now for God to show me what I need to do for my career in the upcoming years when I do have to work full time (outside of the home). I am also praying that God will lead us in the right direction about Rachel's schooling. I am in prayer about everything... can you tell!? I am learning how to fully rely on GOD and trust Him in ALL things.
Well, Ben's taking his final tonight for his Biology class, so he's almost done with his schooling. Just one more class. I am so proud of him and all that he's doing. The next class is supposed to be a hard one, so I'll be praying for him ALOT.

Rachel is growing! She is fitting into a 2T now and I almost cried when I put on her blue jeans. She's such a big girl. When I dress her in her jeans and all, she looks all grown up. Like she's ready to go to school already. She is talking alot too! She doesn't make a lot of sense because it all blends in and she doesn't articulate well, but she's getting good at holding a conversation. It's funny when she doesn't know how to answer you or say something, she just says, "yes!". It's funny! She is learning so much so fast. She knows the alphabet and counts to 10 (english and spanish) very well. She recognizes many letters (uppercase): A for apple, B for ball, C for cat, D for daddy, E for elephant or Elmo, F for fish, L for Lala and Lee, M for mommy, R for Rachel. She says that when we ask her about the letters. She also is getting better at spelling her name... it was R-A-C-L at first ( a few months ago), but now it's R-A-C-H-L (closer)! :)

Well, I gotta go... she's awake. I'll post pics later (hopefully). If you're reading... please drop me a comment, I'd love to know who's reading. God bless you all! :)

Scripture to remember...

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? Psalm 27:1

I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me. John 14:6

As many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them.
Galatians 6:16

I call to you in times of trouble, because you will answer me. Psalm 86:7

"If anyone believes in me, rivers of living water will flow from that person's heart." John 7:38

November 30

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3 (NLT)

How did Jesus endure the terror of the crucifixion? He went first to the Father with his fears. He modeled the words of Psalm 56:3: "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you."

Do the same with yours. Don't avoid life's Gardens of Gethsemane. Enter them. Just don't enter them alone. And while there, be honest. Pounding the ground is permitted. Tears are allowed. And if you sweat blood, you won't be the first. Do what Jesus did; open your heart.

And be specific. Jesus was. "Take this cup," he prayed. Give God the number of the flight. Tell him the length of the speech. Share the details of the job transfer. He has plenty of time. He also has plenty of compassion.

He doesn't think your fears are foolish or silly. He won't tell you to "buck up" or "get tough." He's been where you are. He knows how you feel.

And he knows what you need.

Tuesday before Thanksgiving

On Tuesday (before Thanksgiving), Ben took Rachel to the zoo so that I could have some alone time with my good friends from my bible study (lunch) and later to spend some time with my mom (doing our pedicures). ;)

Here are some pics that Ben took of Rachel at the zoo! :) They had fun and bonded! :) Rachel walked into the reptiles section and said, "Ewwwwwwwwwwww!"

Ben said that I'm brainwashing her to not like those types of creepy crawlies! Oh well, I can't help it! In the pic, you can see her little finger pointing to it!
This one is looking right at my baby! Augh! Don't worry she's giving it a good lecture about scaring people!
Cheese Daddy! (hurry and take the pic)
Running all around the zoo! Ben tried to take a pic of him and Rachel together, but she kept moving and/or he would not get them at all. In the evening when I finally got home, I was so happy to see them!! Here I am trying to get a pic of Ben and I (he's always making faces b/c of the flash)!
My pretty nails! (I got a pedicure and the lady talked me into getting a manicure too! I was gonna post a pic of my curly-pedicured- toes, but thought that it would gross everyone out, so I didn't!)
Cheese! Mommy & Rachel
That's all for now. I'll post more later! :)

Thanksgiving Week

Happy Thanksgiving! :)

We had a great time with our family on Thanksgiving Day. We were warming ourselves up at Lala and Papa's (my mom and dad's home).
We allowed Rachel to bring one of her toys to play with and she chose her Little People School Bus! She had to bring all the Little People her little hands could gather, of course! :)
It's tradition to have Dad make the turkey, he also has the honor of trimming it before we eat! :) It was YUMMY!!! Uncle Ashley and Aunt Lilia joined us this year at mom & dad's house. They are so much fun to talk to and catch up with! :)
Here we are before prayer time and food. (Can't you tell we're hungry.)

After lunch we all scoped out the deals in the newspaper for "black Friday".

(Ben was the only one to brave the cold to go to Comp USA at 9pm that night to buy Photoshop 6 and a card for his camera. He said it was an experience that he had to try once at least in his lifetime! ;) He was gone for 3 1/2 hours just to get those few things! He made it back home alittle after midnight!)

After lunch, dessert, reading the paper, & nap (Rachel's), we decided to watch Rudolph. Rachel loves the movie, but is scared of the snow monster. :) She sits real close to daddy to protect her! ;) It's too cute! She and he were having a father-daughter moment! :)

Thank you Lord for blessing my family and I. We are honored to be YOUR children. You are amazing and each day I see your wonderful work in my life. I love YOU LORD!

Last Wednesday

Rachel and Uncle John just "chillin". :)

We had a great time visiting with my Tia Paz and Uncle John. They were at my mom's last week and we decided to go and visit and have dinner. Unfortunately, I didn't get anymore pics of the others. :( It was nice that evening, though, because we got to eat outside on my parent's patio and we felt the cool front come in as we were outside! :) It was amazing how fast the weather can change. :)

Last Tuesday-

Last Tuesday, Rachel and I played outside at Lala and Papa's house. She loves to run around and play on her little slide. :) She and I had a blast bonding. :)

Happy Belated Anniversary to Jonathan & Heather

Okay, I wanted to post this last month! I'm a bit behind!

Happy One Year Anniversary to J.J. and Heather!!! We love you both very much! :)

May God bless you with many, many more years together.

Sunday- November 18, 2007

Happy One Year Anniversary Nitin & Arati!

You have 1 year under your belt as a married couple! :)
May God bless you with many, many more years together.

Here's a pic of Arati getting ready for her reception. Look at how radiant she is!
Friends for life! :)
Me, Kelly, & Arati (friends since middle school)

My Girl

Psalm 91:2

November 14
You are my place of safety and protection. You are my God and I trust you.
Psalm 91:2
Have bad things really happened to you? You and God may have different definitions for the word bad. Parents and children do. Look up the word bad in a middle-schooler's dictionary, and you'll read definitions such as "pimple on nose," or "pop quiz in geometry." "Dad, this is really bad!" the youngster says. Dad, having been around the block a time or two, thinks differently. Pimples pass....
What you and I might rate as an absolute disaster, God may rate as a pimple-level problem that will pass. He views your life the way you view a movie after you've read the book. When something bad happens, you feel the air sucked out of the theater. Everyone else gasps at the crisis on the screen. Not you. Why? You've read the book. You know how the good guy gets out of the tight spot. God views your life with the same confidence. He's not only read your story...he wrote it.
Come Thirsty
Max Lucado

I've been feeling a bit *off track* lately. I don't know what it is, but I'm feeling a bit anxious and insecure. I think that I am just focusing too much on what's going on in the world and now looking up to the LORD. I have been doing so well with God's help when it comes to doing things (out of my routine) and it's been so wonderful to feel so confident in God and His power that runs through me. But the last 2 days, I've been *shaken up* and I am getting up off the ground again and recovering as best I can. I am talking to my Lord and He's SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO responding to me and it's SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO wonderful. Like today, I read this message (above) and it's like God is saying, "Melony, just trust in ME , for I am faithful." I am going to continue to seek my Father at all times, in the good time and bad.

(Also, the message above shows me that this little *pimple problem* is just that to the Lord, He's in control and will be faithful to me and always be with me!)

Thank you Jesus for the wonderful blessings which you have bestowed upon me. I am so grateful for the awesome PEACE that HE has given to me when I am feeling *out of sorts*. Lord you are so good to me! :)

Scrapblog

Just wanted to share what I did on Scrapblog.com!!! Thanks again Angie for letting me know about this gem-of-a-website! :) Enjoy! :)

Parmesan cheese anyone!?

Rachel just loves to put Parmesan cheese on her spagetti and pasta and pizza, so the other day I was letting her *pretend* to pour it on her food and she ended up spilling it on her plate as well as the table! ;) Oh well... she wanted to eat it just like that!

She really cracks us (Ben and I) up! :)