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.