October 15th

Today is national Pregnancy/Miscarriage and Infant Loss Awareness Day. Being "1 in 4" myself, and knowing many other friends and family members who have been through the same thing, I feel it is important to be a part of the movement to "break the silence".

I never imagined our journey to start our family would take us through such heartache and pain, but it did, and it has forever changed us. After our first loss, so many friends and family members shared their stories of loss with us, and it helped bring us through a very difficult time. At the time of our loss, three of my close friends actually suffered a loss as well. I just never knew it affected so many. And no one talks about it.

For those that have never been through it, it's hard to understand. For those that have been blessed with children, imagine the excitement you felt when you first learned you were expecting. You loved that new life growing inside of you already, and it represented so many hopes and dreams. For those that go through a miscarriage or pregnancy loss, those hopes and dreams are crushed. It fills you with a grief as strong and deep as any loss would bring, and yet you feel like you can't talk about it, and you feel like you can't share what you are going through with others.This is the hardest thing. The silence. I have been fortunate enough to meet some wonderful women in an online support group that have given me an incredible amount of strength and encouragement, and talking to others who have been through it has been so helpful. If you have dealt with the pain and grief of loss, you shouldn't have to go through it alone.

While I am doing well now, and looking forward to the future and the blessing of children, I will never view pregnancy and motherhood in the same was as I did before my losses. I know that my innocence has been stolen away, and when we are blessed with another opportunity to be parents, the joy will always be overshadowed by fear. Even so, I look forward to continuing our journey, and God has provided me with a renewed sense of hope as we wait for another blessing.

Season of Rain

 I love this song by Josh Garrels, and since I couldn't find it to put into my playlist on here, I decided just to post the lyrics. It really suits this season in our lives.   

Season of Rain

Praise the Lord, when it’s all gone wrong

Everything fades but our love shines on

Praise the Lord, when your hope is gone

Everything fades but our love shines on

Like waves on the ocean singing old songs

Like waves on the ocean breaking beyond

So faint the impatient can’t hear

The sound of the one without years

The culmination of every child’s tears

Form tide breaking on the eternal lands

Time stands still

In the moment when we are healed

I questioned if this was real

But then I opened up my heart and I could feel

The feather of a bird in the wind

Fire in the brush if we only

Speak when we must

A hush of heart will become a good treausure

Kept in a place without systems of measure

But as real as an undying love

We will discern what comes from above

Compared to that which could never be sustained

The season of rain will bring labor pain

But its end will be the most wonderful

Joy, Oh Lord

Praise the Lord when it’s all gone wrong

Everything fades but our love shines on

Praise the Lord when your hope is gone

Everything fades but our love shines on

Like waves on the ocean singing old songs

Like waves on the ocean breaking beyond

Ch-ch-ch-changes

You know that song about changes right? Well...we have one big life change to announce. No, unfortunately we aren't expecting again....but Santi did get a new job!!! As of Monday morning, his new title will be personal banker at Chase. This isn't exactly the opportunity we had been imagining when he finished school and began his job search, but we have prayed and prayed about the "right" opportunity coming his way, and we believe that this is the opportunity God feels is right for him at this point. The pay will be about the same as Verizon, but the kicker is that he will have regular hours! This may not seem like a huge deal, but it is. It's is such an amazing blessing to know that he will now be working normal M-F hours with weekends off! Since we began dating over 6 years ago, one of us has always had an irregular schedule with weekend shifts. This will be the first time we will be on the same schedule, and we are so thrilled. I know he is anxious about starting something new after three years at Verizon, and we are hoping and praying that this new job renews his spirit. He has been so exhausted with retail hours and stress for the last couple of years, and why we are very thankful for the wonderful opportunities he had at Verizon, especially with them paying for his school, we are looking forward to what this new job may bring.

What Not to Say...

What we wish you knew about pregnancy loss:

A letter from women to their friends and family
by Elizabeth Soutter Schwarzer
I assert no copyright for the material. Please use it as you see fit to help women who have endured this terrible grief. Thank you.

When women experience the loss of a child, one of the first things they discover they have in common is a list of things they wish no one had ever said to them. The lists tend to be remarkably similar. The comments are rarely malicious - just misguided attempts to soothe.

This list was compiled as a way of helping other people understand pregnancy loss. While generated by mothers for mothers, it may also apply similarly to the fathers who have endured this loss.
When trying to help a woman who has lost a baby, the best rule of thumb is a matter of manners: don't offer your personal opinion of her life, her choices, her prospects for children. No woman is looking to poll her acquaintances for their opinions on why it happened or how she should cope.

-Don't say, "It's God's Will." Even if we are members of the same congregation, unless you are a cleric and I am seeking your spiritual counseling, please don't presume to tell me what God wants for me. Besides, many terrible things are God's Will, that doesn't make them less terrible.

-Don't say, "It was for the best - there was probably something wrong with your baby." The fact that something was wrong with the baby is what is making me so sad. My poor baby never had a chance. Please don't try to comfort me by pointing that out.

-Don't say, "You can always have another one." This baby was never disposable. If had been given the choice between losing this child or stabbing my eye out with a fork, I would have said, "Where's the fork?" I would have died for this baby, just as you would die for your children.

-Don't say, "Be grateful for the children you have." If your mother died in a terrible wreck and you grieved, would that make you less grateful to have your father?

-Don't say, "Thank God you lost the baby before you really loved it." I loved my son or daughter. Whether I lost the baby after two weeks of pregnancy or just after birth, I loved him or her.

-Don't say, "Isn't it time you got over this and moved on?" It's not something I enjoy, being grief-stricken. I wish it had never happened. But it did and it's a part of me forever. The grief will ease on its own timeline, not mine - or yours.

-Don't say, "Now you have an angel watching over you." I didn't want her to be my angel. I wanted her to bury me in my old age.

-Don't say, "I understand how you feel." Unless you've lost a child, you really don't understand how I feel. And even if you have lost a child, everyone experiences grief differently.

-Don't tell me horror stories of your neighbor or cousin or mother who had it worse. The last thing I need to hear right now is that it is possible to have this happen six times, or that I could carry until two days before my due-date and labor 20 hours for a dead baby. These stories frighten and horrify me and leave me up at night weeping in despair. Even if they have a happy ending, do not share these stories with me.

-Don't pretend it didn't happen and don't change the subject when I bring it up. If I say, "Before the baby died..." or "when I was pregnant..." don't get scared. If I'm talking about it, it means I want to. Let me. Pretending it didn't happen will only make me feel utterly alone.

- Don't say, "It's not your fault." It may not have been my fault, but it was my responsibility and I failed. The fact that I never stood a chance of succeeding only makes me feel worse. This tiny little being depended upon me to bring him safely into the world and I couldn't do it. I was supposed to care for him for a lifetime, but I couldn't even give him a childhood. I am so angry at my body you just can't imagine.

-Don't say, "Well, you weren't too sure about this baby, anyway." I already feel so guilty about ever having complained about morning sickness, or a child I wasn't prepared for, or another mouth to feed that we couldn't afford. I already fear that this baby died because I didn't take the vitamins, or drank too much coffee, or had alcohol in the first few weeks when I didn't know I was pregnant. I hate myself for any minute that I had reservations about this baby. Being unsure of my pregnancy isn't the same as wanting my child to die - I never would have chosen for this to happen.

-Do say, "I am so sorry." That's enough. You don't need to be eloquent. Say it and mean it and it will matter.

-Do say, "You're going to be wonderful parents some day," or "You're wonderful parents and that baby was lucky to have you." We both need to hear that.

-Do say, "I have lighted a candle for your baby," or "I have said a prayer for your baby."

-Do send flowers or a kind note - every one I receive makes me feel as though my baby was loved. Don't resent it if I don't respond.

-Don't call more than once and don't be angry if the machine is on and I don't return your call. If we're close friends and I am not responding to your attempts to help me, please don't resent that, either. Help me by not needing anything from me for a while. "

Journey to Healing

As I work through my feelings of grief and loss, I am always looking for words of encouragement.
This poem was really uplifting for me shortly after our first loss, and I am reminded of it again today.

Tiny Footprints on a Mother's Heart

When a baby arrives,
be it for a day, a month, a year or more,
or perhaps only a sweet flickering moment-
the fragile spark of a tender soul
the secret swell of a new pregnancy
the goldfish flutter known to only you-
you are unmistakeningly changed...
the tiny footprints left behind on your heart
bespeak your name as Mother.

This is a difficult journey, and the healing process will take a lifetime. We will always miss our angel babies, and we will always grieve their loss.

Up and Down

Up and down. On a roller-coaster ride I would like to get off. This whole trying to have a baby thing is so much harder than I ever imagined it would be. I wish I could go back to being naive. Miscarriage takes that all away. Forever more my experiences with pregnancy will be more fear filled than joy filled. Friday the 13th proved to be all it's cracked up to be. We got another positive test. We were ecstatic. Only to be crushed yet again 5 days later. Another loss. Up...and down. The emotional ride this journey has taken us on is difficult to say the least. The only "positive" thing I can take from this experience is the fact that it has helped me to let go of my constant need to control all aspects of my life. I can't control this. This is truly, 100% in God's hands. I am okay with that, but I would like off of this ride now.

Over the next few weeks I will have testing done to see what is going on with my body. Why we can conceive fairly easily, but can't seem to get past that. I don't know what we will find out, if anything, but I can only hope and pray that it is something that can be corrected quickly and easily. Only time will tell...

In the meantime, I am left battling bitter feelings. I don't want this to make me bitter, I want it to make me better. But that's easier said than done. And no one gets it. No one gets that I don't want to talk about/hear about pregnancy and babies. I am not being ridiculous or selfish. Right now being around all things baby and pregnancy related feels like someone is pouring salt into my open wound. So, when I don't respond joyfully to an invite to a baby shower, or the announcement of another pregnancy, don't judge. I will heal and get past this, but for now these are my feelings and emotions. They are real, and they are justified.

27...

Yep, that's how old I am now. Forgot to mention in my earlier post that yesterday was my birthday. It was a nice, low-key birthday. I am just thrilled it didn't fall on the first week of school this year. Last year I was so exhausted on my birthday that I came home, took a bubble bath, and went to bed early.
Santi got me a bouquet of roses and took me dinner to Maria Maria La Cantina. I told him I didn't want to do anything big since I had just spent quite a bit of money on my girl's trip to New York. Dinner was fabulous. As a lover of good food, I usually avoid "chain" restaurants. Maria Maria is technically speaking a chain since it has several locations....but it pales in comparison to most chain joints. It is owned by Carlos Santana (love) and run by an executive chef. It is basically an upscale Mexican place. The environment is really great...very chic. They had a live band playing Bob Marley and I enjoyed some amazing steak tacos and of course a margarita. It was a lovely birthday.
Day one of being 27 has almost come to an end, and so far I don't feel much different that I did at 26...that's good right? I'm still young and fun, right? Okay, it's 9 on a Saturday night and I am lounging around in my p.j.'s playing on the computer. Who am I kidding? That's okay, I am kind of a homebody these days. It's nice just to relax in my favorite place. I am hoping that 27 brings many wonderful things my way, and really praying that this is the year I become a mom. I don't want to see my 28th birthday without a baby in tow.

Happy New Year! (and yes, I know it's August)

Wow. On Monday I will begin my fourth school year at Desert Oasis...that's right, I said fourth. That means we have been living in Arizona for three full years. Where has the time gone? I feel like just yesterday we were packing up our cars with wedding gifts and starting the journey to our new adventure out west. This is our home now, it's where we began our lives together as husband and wife. Where I began the career I love. We have had so many wonderful experiences since moving here. I know this is where God wants us. Maybe in the future we will move on to a new adventure in a new place, but for now this feels like home. I will always be a Hoosier, but you can have roots and wings.

There is something very refreshing about starting a new school year. Teachers are lucky. We get to have two "New Years". Two times each year where we get to "start over". When the back to school supplies roll out at Wal-Mart I start to get a little excited about the prospects of yet another year, a new bunch of personalities to get to know. While beginning a new year with a new group of kids is always challenging, there is nothing more rewarding than watching a group of 5 and 6 year olds grow and change and learn. I love it. I love my career. I am so blessed.

I have spent the last few weeks getting my room prepared for my new arrivals. Here is a sneak peek:

Special thank you to my wonderful aunt Julie and my grandma Jo for helping me out with the colorful seat sacks. The kids were so thrilled with all of the bright colors when they entered the room for "Meet the Teacher" night.

Leap of Faith

Psalm 34:18
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit

This blog was intended to be a way to share our journey together as husband and wife with those that love and support us. On the journey of life, there will always be ups and downs, and as husband and wife we have vowed to see one another through those ups and downs. This is one of those times. I am reminded in this moment of weakness of a song sung during the lighting of the unity candle at our wedding, "Tomorrow morning if you wake up and the sun does not appear, I will be here". I know we will pull through this together, and the sun will appear again.

On February 28th, we were pleasantly surprised with a pregnancy that we hadn't really planned for, but were absolutely thrilled about. We went through the whole, "Do we tell people, and when?". While Santi was excited and ready to tell the world, I felt anxious and uncertain. I had this instinct that maybe letting our little secret out wasn't the best idea just yet. We waited. We saw one doctor for the basic blood work. All was well, but we decided we weren't fond of that doctor and wanted to switch. We had an appointment with the new doctor during my 10th week. It was the earliest we could get in. On that day, we had planned to let our secret out after the doctor's appointment. I had felt it would be okay then.

During that appointment, we discovered two things about our surprise pregnancy:
1) It was twins

2) It was not a viable pregnancy, both twins had stopped developing at around 6 weeks

While we went through a range of emotions after receiving that devastating news, I felt as though I had known all along. It was instinct.

It didn't matter that we hadn't "planned" that pregnancy, we wanted those babies, they were our babies, and we were lost without them. I was instantly taken back to December, when we had taken a "leap of faith".
In December, we had the big "baby talk". While Santi was more than ready, I was hesitant. I wanted more money in savings, a better job for Santi, I wanted to be finished with my master's degree...the list goes on an on. But I felt God calling me to take a "leap of faith" and trust that He would provide for us and for a child if we would only trust Him with the timing of children. So, I agreed that we could "let things happen", but we weren't going to try to make anything happen. It was up to God.
Well, I took that leap of faith and it took me down a path I could have never imagined. All that worry about how we were going to afford a baby, daycare, finishing my master's, etc. disappeared. Instead, it was replaced with heartache and longing for a baby, and fear that we may never have children. I felt like the whole world was pregnant and everywhere I went there were babies. It was a constant reminder of what we had lost. For awhile, and sometimes still, I felt angry with God. It just didn't seem fair. One day towards the end of the school year, one of my kindergarten students came up to me in the morning and told me she had something for me. She of course knew nothing about what I had gone through. She handed me a little stuffed frog that she had obviously found somewhere around her house, and it said "leap of faith" on the front. It was like a reminder from God that He is in control, and that He is going to honor my leap of faith by being faithful in return and blessing us not only with a child, but with the financial peace to comfortably raise that child. I felt relieved. Tevez has since eaten that little stuffed frog (of course), but I will always remember that sign from God.

So here we are, still waiting for another opportunity to be blessed with a child, but not forgetting the angel babies we lost. While I have found a lot of comfort in an online support group for pregnancy loss, as well as through talking with friends and family members who have been through the same thing, it is still a struggle for both of us. Every day we must rely on strength from God and one another to get through this trying time, and I know the sun will shine again.

We debated for a long time about whether or not to share our loss with others. Of course our immediate family knew, and friends from Bible study, as well as colleagues out of necessity, but we weren't quite certain about sharing  the loss of a pregnancy with anyone else when we had not even shared our pregnancy news to begin with. To some miscarriage is a taboo subject. It's not something people talk about, despite the fact that many deal with the grief of pregnancy and infant loss.  After our loss, so many people I was close to, and even those I didn't know very well, came to me and shared their stories of loss. Although it was disheartening to know so many had suffered the same pain, it was also comforting to know they understood and were there to support us. I hope that maybe sharing our journey can help others better understand where we are coming from.
In my time with my online support group, I found a lot of things that have helped with the healing process, and some of these things explained my feelings better than anything I could have written myself, so I thought I would share them here as well.
The first is a poem that I really liked

Tiny Footprints on a Mother's Heart

When a baby arrives,
be it for a day, a month, a year or more,
or perhaps only a sweet flickering moment-
the fragile spark of a tender soul
the secret swell of a new pregnancy
the goldfish flutter known to only you-
you are unmistakeningly changed...
the tiny footprints left behind on your heart
bespeak your name as Mother.

Some more things you should know about what I am going through:
1) It will take time to move on, it's not going to "all go away" in a few weeks or months
2) A new pregnancy will not help me forget
3) My life will never be the same, even after I have a healthy baby
4) My grieving over a life that was only known to me does not make me weak
5) It is really hard to hear about new pregnancies or healthy births of friends or family members. I usually feel jealous, hurt, and angry. I will tell you congratulations, and I mean it. I am truly happy for you, but I am not delighted to hear it at a time when I am dealing with my own loss. I sometimes avoid situations where I will be around pregnant friends or friends with babies, which is not always easy. This does not make me a bad person. I am human, and I am trying to move past these feelings and emotions with the grace of God. I am being totally honest here.
6) I am not upset that you are pregnant, I am upset that I am not. 
7) It doesn't matter how far along I was in my pregnancy, we bonded with the babies from the beginning, and our grief is no less than any other.

I know that now I have gotten all this off my chest, I can move forward with the healing process. For those who love us and actually read our blog, please know that we love you all and your support means so much to us. We are sharing this not in a search for sympathy, but to share a part of our lives that has affected us greatly. We will keep you posted on our journey to becoming parents, and hopefully our second chance will come quickly.

Update on my 101 in 1,001

 I have managed to cross a few more things off my list!

My 101 in 1,001: 101 things to tackle in 1,001 days
Start Date: April 24, 2010
End Date: January 19, 2013 (wow that seems like a long time from now!)

Personal Improvement:
Attend yoga at least once a week for two months
Attend kickboxing class at least once a week for two months
Try acupuncture
Not eat out for a month
Have a no tv/internet week
Participate in some type of run (5k, etc.)
Finish my Master's Degree (anticipated graduation date is October 13, 2010!)
Try a whole Zumba class at the gym
Do strength training exercises twice a week for a month (working on this)
Jog 3 miles again like I used to be able to do:)
Have a spa day
Get some new jewelry
Get an awesome pair of heels and actually wear them
Get a tan! (completed 7/10, I have been spending some time at the pool with my friend Audrey!)
Get teeth professionally whitened

Faith:
Finish reading the entire Bible
Consistently journal my Bible reading daily for at least one month
Share my faith with someone new
Complete a missions trip of some sort
Pray for others every day (work in progress)

Travel:
Visit San Diego (completed 6/10, our five year plan now includes moving here!)
Visit Tombstone
Go camping
Return to Ecuador
Go to the Galapagos
Go on a cruise
Drive route 1 in California (completed 6/10, only the southern portion, we will work on the northern portion!)
Stay at the Venetian in Vegas
Go to the Phoenix Zoo (and not just for Zoolights)
Go to Napa Valley
Stay somewhere new in Sedona
Visit Flagstaff in the winter

Adventures:
Hike Camelback mountain
Hike the Grand Canyon
Learn to play golf
Learn to play blackjack
Try 20 new recipes (8/20)
Learn to make a new mixed drink
Chop my hair off (Done! 5/28/10)
Read 10 new books (currently reading 1 of 10)
Try the night tour of the Desert Botanical Gardens
Try 5 new hiking trails in Phoenix
Find 10 new restaurants to try in Phoenix (3/10) 
1. Ta Carbon (super yummy Mexican hole-in-the-wall kind of place)
2. Joe's Farm Grill (another restaurant from Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives)
3. Over Easy (great little breakfast place, also from Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives)
Make ceviche again  Done 5/16/2010
Learn to bake and decorate a cake
Get a bike or rollerblades
Go horseback riding again
Go to a concert
Stay for both movies at the drive-in
Go swimming in Lake Pleasant
Find a place to go fishing in Phoenix
Drive across the border
Buy an expensive bottle of wine (more than $20)
Try 5 new sushi rolls (1/5)
1. Hawaiian roll
 
Family/Friends:
Have a baby
Have a girl's weekend with my college roommates (leaving on Thursday!)
Have a designated date night once a week for a month
Go on a picnic with my husband
Take my dog to the dog park in Gilbert with the lake (checked it out on 5/16/10, planning to take Tevez in a couple of weeks, it looks really cool!)
Get grandma and grandpa out here for a visit
Have a candlelight dinner with my husband once a week for a month
Take a dancing lesson with my husband
Take a mother/daughter trip
Host a wine and cheese party
Go to at least 5 sporting events with my husband
Get professional pictures taken of my husband and I

Financial:
Pay off the Nissan Altima
Get a minimum of $5,000 in the savings account
Reach a point financially where I can stay home or work from home
Stick with a budget for five full months
Not buy any new clothes for a month
Spend less than $300 on groceries in a month
Put $5 in the savings for each completed task and donate $5 for each incomplete task

Hobbies and Creativity:
Make Shutterfly albums with all of our pictures
Learn some type of new craft
Get a nicer camera and learn how to take great pictures
Update blog at least once a month (in progress)
Go to a pottery studio

Home:
Redecorate/repaint our bedroom
Buy a sectional sofa with a pullout couch for our guests
Finally clean and organize the office  (completed 5/1/10 thanks to my husband!)
Buy something from Etsy
Put grass in our backyard
Get some flower pots for the front yard
Have a shredding party and clean out the filing cabinet
Get a digital picture frame (done 7/10, love it!)
Make the bed every day for a week  (done 5/10)
Organize my favorite recipes
Keep up with cleaning for an entire week (done summer '10, does it count since I was on vacation?)
Bake something once a month for three months

Reaching Out:
Volunteer somewhere other than church
Leave a 50% tip for dinner
Give money to one of the homeless people by school
Actually meet and know both of our neighbors names
Lend someone a microloan
Send handwritten notes to each of our sponsor children in Ecuador
Pay for the person behind me in the drive through
Make a new friend
Buy a goat for someone in a poor country

Getting Green:
Use reusable shopping bags every shopping trip for a month
Try a new "green" method of cleaning
Eat fruit off the trees in our own backyard
Grow an indoor herb garden (done 6/10, unfortunately there is no good place to keep them and they died)
Learn to garden desert style and actually have a vegetable garden in our backyard

There you have it! If you are interested in starting your own list, here is a great website to get you going:
http://dayzeroproject.com/

And.......I'm bored.

Vacation has come and gone, just as vacations tend to do. We had a wonderful time (albeit very very sticky) in Indiana visiting with family. My parents even planned a big get-together lunch in North Vernon so I could see my extended family. It was a great surprise! California was totally awesome as usual. We spent a couple days hanging out with Santi's family in L.A. and then drove down to San Diego for a mini-vacation. It was nice to have that alone time, the weather was incredible, and southern California is just breath-taking. Santi and I agreed that moving there is definitely in our 5 year plan! Here are some pics of our fantastic trip, enjoy.

I have spent the last week cleaning and catching up on some household chores, but let me say the last couple of days have been so boring. Santi is working, which leaves me home with Tevez ALL DAY LONG. It is too hot to go outside and do anything, and I am trying to avoid retail therapy so that means I pretty much can't leave the house. Don't get me wrong, I have plenty I could be doing for grad school and my classroom, but no matter how hard I try I cannot seem to get motivated to tackle those things. I will have to suck it up and go into school a few days this week. I really want to get a head start so I don't feel so rushed the week before like always. The bad thing is, I really need to do my annual back to school shopping for my classroom, and that is usually pretty dangerous. At least tomorrow is the 4th of July and believe it or not Santi actually has the day off! I am looking forward to spending the day together and not being stuck in this house all day. We have church in the morning, then some yard work before it gets too hot (yesterday was almost a record breaker). Then, we are going to the grocery store to pick up some things to grill out. We are having a family from Bible study over to BBQ with us, then we are all going to the Goodyear Ballpark to watch some fireworks. It should be a good time!

Ahhhhh Summer....

Well, this is the end of my second week of summer vacation, and let me say it's been fantastic! The end of the school year is always a hectic time, graduation, finishing up curriculum work, testing, cleaning up the room, parties, memories. It's exhausting. I will say that every May I get sad to see my class move on, especially knowing I won't see some of them again because we have a very migrant population. I had an amazing class this year, which I think I mentioned before a few times:) They looked so precious in their graduation outfits, and every year I am so surprised at how much the grow and change over the course of just one year. Here they are all decked out for kindergarten graduation:

 Can you believe how cute some of those boys are?! They look like little men. Ha ha ha...if only you knew how they acted!
So, since school has been out, I have done a lot of nothing. Cleaning, sleeping, hitting the gym, cooking. Tomorrow morning I have to take a test on the U.S. and Arizona Constitutions to renew my state teaching license.  So technically I should be studying right now. I'll get to that.
 Oh! And I chopped my hair off to donate again! I almost forgot to mention that! I would add a photo but it's not working. 

In less than 2 weeks we leave for vacation and I cannot wait to get out of here! I am getting cabin fever being home alone all this time. Our first stop will be Indiana for a few days to visit family, then we will be bringing Santi's grandpa (who is here from Ecuador) back with us to Phoenix. That evening we will repack our bags and hop in the car to drive out to L.A., which is only about a 4 hour drive from here. We will be staying with Santi's aunt, uncle, and cousins for a couple of days to celebrate Father's Day with grandpa. Then, they are off to Europe with grandpa and Santi and I are driving down to San Diego for a nice vacation ALONE. We have not had a vacation with just the two of us since our honeymoon, so I am really looking forward to spending that time together. It's also kind of a belated anniversary for us. That's right, our 3rd wedding anniversary is coming up on the 9th. It's so hard to believe it has been 3 years already. Time flies. Over the course of those three years we have done a lot, seen a lot, traveled a lot, accomplished a lot, and been through a lot...but we have done it all together. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband and a wonderful marriage. I cannot wait to go through the rest of life together.
Moving on to my 101 in 1,001. I am slowly checking things off our list. I have been doing a lot of cooking, so I have several new recipes to add to my list (they will also follow below). I have made the bed an entire week (which is only because I am on summer break and have the time, and I am now the last one out of bed). My indoor herb garden is growing, I guess it looks okay so far, we will see if we ever get actual "herbs" or just some green sprouts. So, for now, here is my updated list:


My 101 in 1,001: 101 things to tackle in 1,001 days
Start Date: April 24, 2010
End Date: January 19, 2013 (wow that seems like a long time from now!)

Personal Improvement:
Attend yoga at least once a week for two months
Attend kickboxing class at least once a week for two months
Try acupuncture
Not eat out for a month
Have a no tv/internet week
Participate in some type of run (5k, etc.)
Finish my Master's Degree
Try a whole Zumba class at the gym
Do strength training exercises twice a week for a month (working on this)

Jog 3 miles again like I used to be able to do:)
Have a spa day
Get some new jewelry
Get an awesome pair of heels and actually wear them
Get a tan!
Get teeth professionally whitened

Faith:
Finish reading the entire Bible
Consistently journal my Bible reading daily for at least one month
Share my faith with someone new
Complete a missions trip of some sort
Pray for others every day (work in progress)


Travel:
Visit San Diego
Visit Tombstone
Go camping
Return to Ecuador
Go to the Galapagos
Go on a cruise
Drive route 1 in California
Stay at the Venetian in Vegas
Go to the Phoenix Zoo (and not just for Zoolights)
Go to Napa Valley
Stay somewhere new in Sedona
Visit Flagstaff in the winter

Adventures:
Hike Camelback mountain
Hike the Grand Canyon
Learn to play golf
Learn to play blackjack
Try 20 new recipes (8/20)
Learn to make a new mixed drink
Chop my hair off (Done! 5/28/10)

Read 10 new books (currently reading 1 of 10)
Try the night tour of the Desert Botanical Gardens
Try 5 new hiking trails in Phoenix
Find 10 new restaurants to try in Phoenix (2/10) 
1. Ta Carbon (super yummy Mexican hole-in-the-wall kind of place)
2. Joe's Farm Grill (another restaurant from Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives)
Make ceviche again  Done 5/16/2010
Learn to bake and decorate a cake
Get a bike or rollerblades
Go horseback riding again
Go to a concert
Stay for both movies at the drive-in
Go swimming in Lake Pleasant
Find a place to go fishing in Phoenix
Drive across the border
Buy an expensive bottle of wine (more than $20)
Try 5 new sushi rolls

Family/Friends:
Have a baby
Have a girl's weekend with my college roommates (in the planning stages)
Have a designated date night once a week for a month
Go on a picnic with my husband
Take my dog to the dog park in Gilbert with the lake (checked it out on 5/16/10, planning to take Tevez in a couple of weeks, it looks really cool!)
Get grandma and grandpa out here for a visit
Have a candlelight dinner with my husband once a week for a month
Take a dancing lesson with my husband
Take a mother/daughter trip
Host a wine and cheese party
Go to at least 5 sporting events with my husband
Get professional pictures taken of my husband and I

Financial:
Pay off the Nissan Altima
Get a minimum of $5,000 in the savings account
Reach a point financially where I can stay home or work from home
Stick with a budget for five full months
Not buy any new clothes for a month
Spend less than $300 on groceries in a month
Put $5 in the savings for each completed task and donate $5 for each incomplete task

Hobbies and Creativity:
Make Shutterfly albums with all of our pictures
Learn some type of new craft
Get a nicer camera and learn how to take great pictures
Update blog at least once a month (in progress)

Go to a pottery studio

Home:
Redecorate/repaint our bedroom
Buy a sectional sofa with a pullout couch for our guests
Finally clean and organize the office  (completed 5/1/10 thanks to my husband!)
Buy something from Etsy
Put grass in our backyard
Get some flower pots for the front yard
Have a shredding party and clean out the filing cabinet
Get a digital picture frame
Make the bed every day for a week  (done 5/10)

Organize my favorite recipes
Keep up with cleaning for an entire week
Bake something once a month

Reaching Out:
Volunteer somewhere other than church
Leave a 50% tip for dinner
Give money to one of the homeless people by school
Actually meet and know both of our neighbors names
Lend someone a microloan
Send handwritten notes to each of our sponsor children in Ecuador
Pay for the person behind me in the drive through
Make a new friend  (met a girl from Gilbert, AZ)

Buy a goat for someone in a poor country

Getting Green:
Use reusable shopping bags every shopping trip for a month
Try a new "green" method of cleaning
Eat fruit off the trees in our own backyard
Grow an indoor herb garden (in progress, just planted my cilantro and parsley!)
Learn to garden desert style and actually have a vegetable garden in our backyard

There you have it! If you are interested in starting your own list, here is a great website to get you going:
http://dayzeroproject.com/


And some delicious new recipes!
 Try them!

An Ecuadorian favorite, not  the first time we have made this one:
Swordfish Ceviche with Chifles and Patacones, and served with Bud Light Lime of course:)

This recipe comes from a cookbook I bought in Ecuador. It is a very popular dish there, and soooo good. 

1. Cut fresh swordfish into small squares
2. Place fish in a large bowl with 1 cup of freshly squeezed lime juice, salt, and pepper
3. Mix together and allow to sit in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, stirring occasionally (the acid in the juice "cooks" the fish)
4. Meanwhile, slice a red onion very thin, and put in boiling water to make it soft and take away some of the bitterness, drain
5. Add to the onion one diced tomato and a handful of chopped fresh cilantro, set aside
6. Remove fish from fridge, add in a small amount of orange juice and a tbsp of dijon mustard, mix well
7. Cook on low heat for 10 minutes, then add onion, tomato, and cilantro
8. Mix and taste (you can add more orange juice if it's too bitter
9. Let ceviche cool in the fridge, then serve with chifles and patacones as well as some fresh popcorn (we used something special from Ecuador)
YUM!
To make chifles, you take a plantain that is green (they look like big bananas at the store) and you slice it very very thin like potato chips and fry them in oil, add a little salt
To make patacones, you take a green plantain and slice it into about 2 in pieces, then you fry those pieces in hot oil, take them out and smash them down with a glass, dip them in salt water, and put them back into the frying pan until they are golden brown

This is what patacones look like. We have a special tool to smash them, but a glass works fine.

Next recipe is...
Grilled Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos

I love fish tacos. Here's how I made these:
1. Marinate two Mahi Mahi fish fillets in olive or canola oil with chili powder (lots), lime juice (lots), and chopped fresh cilantro.
2. Grill the fish in foil until flakey, then flake fish with a fork and place on corn tortillas (they have to be corn for fish tacos)
3. Serve diced tomatoes, chopped fresh cilantro, chopped green onions, shredded cabbage, and sour cream on top
4. We ate ours with brown rice and sliced avacado

And my favorite salad ever...
Strawberry and Spinach Grilled Chicken Salad

This is the best summer salad!

For the dressing:
1. Mix together balsalmic vinegar, olive oil, strawberry preserves, and dijon mustard (I just played with the amounts until it tasted good)
2. Heat them over low heat until strawberry preserves "melt", then put in the fridge to cool
3. Grill some chicken with just basic salt and pepper seasoning, cut into strips and set aside
4. The salad consists of spinach, sliced strawberries, feta cheese, chopped walnuts, and chopped green onions
5. Arrange chicken on top and pour on the dressing. Soooo good. Even Santi asked for it again the next night!


Well, that's all I have for now. Time to go study!

Summer is so close I can taste it!

One more week and I am officially on summer vacation. For the first time in forever I have a pretty low key summer planned. No visitors, no projects, no moving, only a little traveling which is always fun. Once school is out on Friday, I have until June 15th to do basically nothing. I can't wait! Well, I do have to take the AZ/US constitution class on the 5th to renew my license, but other than that...NOTHING. I can't wait to relax, do some organizing and cleaning, maybe a little planning for next school year, and of course lounge by the pool. Then, on the 15th we leave for Indiana to spend four days with family, including grandpa who is coming from Ecuador. We are then bringing grandpa back to Phoenix with us for one quick day, then driving him out to L.A. for father's day with the family out there. After a couple days in L.A. with family, Santi and I are driving down to San Diego for some couple time and a relaxing vacation. This will be the first vacation we have had as a couple since our honeymoon. All other vacations have been family trips, or trips to visit family, so I am excited to have this alone time. I am also hoping to squeeze in a girl's weekend in July with my old college roommates. I miss them terribly and it's been WAY too long since we've seen each other.
Other than counting down the days until summer, I have been busy with all of the last minute end of year school stuff, not to mention grad school. I am pleased to announce though that I am only 2 and a half classes away from being DONE. I cannot wait and I really hope it pays off (literally because I owe a boatload of money on student loans now). In between all the craziness, Santi has had two whole weekends off which has been FANTASTIC. I have also accomplished a few more items on my list of 101 in 1,001. We visited a new restaurant, our third from Food Network. It's called Joe's Farm Grill and it's located in Gilbert, AZ on the east side of Phoenix. Here's a couple of pics:

It was a really cool restaurant located on an urban farm. It was featured on the show "Diner's, Drive-Ins, and Dives" with Guy Fieri. It was set up like a burger joint, and all the food is made with ingredients straight from the urban farm on the property. I guess it's been in their family for years, and they turned the old 60's style ranch farm home into the restaurant. It has tons of outdoor seating, and huge old trees (which are rare in Phoenix) to create some shade. They also have misters for hot summer months. It's got a really neat retro vibe, and the food is all organic and healthy. We have also visited Matt's Big Breakfast from that show, located in downtown Phoenix, which is also delicious. Here's a pic there with the Food Network logo in the background:

Aside from visiting another restaurant, I have been trying some more new recipes. So here they are:

Greek Chicken Pitas with Tabouli Salad

I admit, this is technically the second time I have made this meal, but I love it and it's so quick and easy to make. Here's the recipe:

Cucumber Sauce
1/4	cup Yoplait® Original Fat Free plain yogurt
1/3	cup finely chopped seeded cucumber
1	medium green onion, sliced (1 tablespoon)
1	teaspoon grated lemon peel
	Dash salt and pepper
Sandwiches
2	teaspoons lemon juice
1	teaspoon olive or vegetable oil
1/4	teaspoon dried oregano leaves
	Dash salt and pepper, if desired
2	boneless skinless chicken breasts (4 oz each)
1	pita (pocket) bread (6 inch), cut in half to form pockets
1	small tomato, sliced
2	thin slices red onion

1.	Heat gas or charcoal grill. In small bowl, mix sauce ingredients. Set aside. (Sauce may become watery if it stands longer than 30 minutes.)
2.	In another small bowl, mix lemon juice, oil and oregano. Brush lemon mixture over chicken, coating all sides. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
3.	Place chicken on grill. Cover grill; cook cook over medium heat 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170°F). Wrap pita halves in foil; place on grill 1 to 2 minutes or until warm.
4.	Place chicken, tomato and onion inside pita pockets. Top with sauce.

For the tabouli salad I cheated and bought the box mix. Much easier. I like the Far East brand best. Look for it by the couscous and rice.
I also tried this:

Mediterranean Chicken with Rosemary Orzo

1/2	lb uncooked chicken breast tenders (not breaded)
1	clove garlic, finely chopped
3/4	cup uncooked orzo or rosamarina pasta
1	cup Progresso® chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)
1/4	cup water
2	teaspoons chopped fresh or 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
1/4	teaspoon salt
1	medium zucchini, cut lengthwise into fourths, then cut crosswise into slices (3/4 cup)
2	plum (Roma) tomatoes, cut into fourths and sliced (1 cup)
1/2	medium bell pepper, chopped (1/2 cup)

1.	Heat 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in skillet about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until brown.
2.	Stir in garlic, pasta and broth. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 8 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed.
3.	Stir in remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 5 minutes, stirring once, until bell pepper is crisp-tender and pasta is tender.

And this:

Crab Cakes with Cilantro Lime Salsa

I had to use a lot more bread crumbs than what the recipe called for, but they were pretty good. I served them with brown rice and avocado. The salsa was delicious and I actually used the leftovers in another recipe the next day (see below). Here's the crab cake and salsa recipe:

Salsa
1	can (15 oz) Progresso® black beans, drained, rinsed
1	can (11 oz) Green Giant® Niblets® whole kernel sweet corn, drained
1	large tomato, chopped (1 cup)
2	tablespoons lime juice
1	tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
1/2	cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4	cup chopped red onion
2	teaspoons ground cumin
1	teaspoon sugar
1/4	teaspoon salt
Crab Cakes
3	cans (6 oz each) crabmeat, drained
1/2	cup finely chopped green bell pepper
1/2	cup Progresso® Italian style bread crumbs
1/4	cup chopped fresh cilantro
1	medium green onion, sliced
1/4	teaspoon salt
1/8	teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
2	tablespoons mayonnaise or salad dressing
1	egg, beaten
2	tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
2/3	cup Progresso® Italian style dry bread crumbs

This is what I did with the leftover salsa:

Chicken Soft Tacos with Mexican Rice

This was my own invention. I just browned some chicken in the skillet, added some water and taco seasoning, then the leftover cilantro lime salsa. I served it with flour tortillas and some Mexican rice which I just make by adding Goya brand "sazon" which makes the rice orange but very yummy.

Well, that's all for now I think. Right now we are working on some delicious Ecuadorian swordfish ceviche with tostado and patacones. I will post this recipe and pic at a later date;)

My husband needs a new job because...

...it's not about the money. I miss my husband! This weekend my husband was lucky enough to get both Saturday and Sunday off. This is a rare event. I am usually blessed if I have him home one day of the weekend, let alone two! We didn't plan anything special, but we did manage to accomplish a lot of work around the house that needed to be done, mainly cleaning up the backyard, weeding again, and cleaning the office which was an absolute disaster zone. I would have taken before and after pictures but I was too embarrassed. I can't really take credit, my super amazing husband tackled it by himself while I worked on other housework. Which means, I can check "clean office" off of my 101 in 1,001 list! I can also add that I can update "try 20 new recipes" to "try 17 new recipes". This past week I got motivated to get in the kitchen and try some new things and this is what I came up with:

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

 We always have bananas that we let get a little too ripe, and I am always making banana bread because Santi loves it. This time I took my mom's basic banana bread recipe and used whole wheat flour and threw in some chocolate chips. It was soooo yummy! I am going to use this version from now on!
Then I tried this:

Minestrone Pasta Salad

If you like minestrone soup, this is basically the pasta salad version. It's also pretty healthy, and I used wheat pasta. Here's the recipe:

3	cups (7 1/2 ounces) uncooked medium pasta shells
2/3	cup Italian dressing
1/2	cup shredded Parmesan cheese
2	medium carrots, sliced (1 cup)
1	medium green bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)
1	can (19 oz) red kidney beans, drained, rinsed
1	can (15 oz) chick peas (garbanzo beans), drained, rinsed
1	can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with Italian herbs or stewed tomatoes, drained

1.	Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.
2.	Toss pasta and remaining ingredients. Serve warm or cold.

Then I made this:

Black Bean Pasta Cancun

This is like a Mexican pasta dish. I used quinoa pasta in this one (found it at Sprout's). It was pretty yummy. Here's the recipe:

2	cups uncooked radiatore (nugget) pasta (4 oz)
1	can (14.5 oz) Muir Glen® organic fire roasted diced tomatoes with green chilies
1	cup Progresso® black beans (from 15-oz can), drained, rinsed
1/2	teaspoon grated lime peel
1/4	teaspoon ground cumin
1/4	bell pepper, cut into 2x1/4-inch strips
2	tablespoons fat-free sour cream
2	lime wedges
	Cilantro leaves, if desired

1.	Cook and drain pasta as directed on package, omitting salt.
2.	Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, heat tomatoes to boiling. Stir in pasta, beans, lime peel, cumin and bell pepper. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until hot. Garnish with sour cream, lime and cilantro. Squeeze lime over pasta.

I decided I like to take pictures of my new dishes, one because it makes me feel like a real chef (ha ha ha), and two because I feel like I need proof that I can actually cook if I take the time. Anyways, most of the new things I have been trying come from www.eatbetteramerica.com which is a great place to find easy, healthy recipes. I also use the Food Network website when I am feeling adventurous. I love Bobby Flay.
On another note, I survived field day at school yesterday. The kids had a good time, I was a little stressed because I did a lot of the planning and organizing and it included all of first and kinder this year which was a LOT of kids. Here is the evidence that they had fun:

And here is what brought them to that point:

I am going to tear up at graduation this year. I was so blessed with a wonderful class of some really great kids this year. They are really a great group.

101 in 1,001

So I was looking for something interesting to spice up my blog. I wanted to do something different than just blog about our daily lives. In my quest for new ideas, I came across the idea of 101 in 1,001. A list of things I want to accomplish, see, do, try, etc. over the course of 1,001 days. I saw it as a challenge. Something to push me to do things out of the ordinary, try new things, experience new things, experience all life has to offer. Now, I am always up for adventures and trying new things, but I thought what a cool way to motivate myself to actually do all the things I want to do. I am going to keep you all updated on my list through my blog, just to keep things interesting between posts about our exciting or not so exciting lives:) So, without further ado...the list:

My 101 in 1,001: 101 things to tackle in 1,001 days
Start Date: April 24, 2010
End Date: January 19, 2013 (wow that seems like a long time from now!)

Personal Improvement:
Attend yoga at least once a week for two months
Attend kickboxing class at least once a week for two months
Try acupuncture
Not eat out for a month
Have a no tv/internet week
Participate in some type of run (5k, etc.)
Finish my Master's Degree
Try a whole Zumba class at the gym
Do strength training exercises twice a week for a month (working on this)
Jog 3 miles again like I used to be able to do:)
Have a spa day
Get some new jewelry
Get an awesome pair of heels and actually wear them
Get a tan!
Get teeth professionally whitened

Faith:
Finish reading the entire Bible
Consistently journal my Bible reading daily for at least one month
Share my faith with someone new
Complete a missions trip of some sort
Pray for others every day (work in progress)

Travel:
Visit San Diego
Visit Tombstone
Go camping
Return to Ecuador
Go to the Galapagos
Go on a cruise
Drive route 1 in California
Stay at the Venetian in Vegas
Go to the Phoenix Zoo (and not just for Zoolights)
Go to Napa Valley
Stay somewhere new in Sedona
Visit Flagstaff in the winter

Adventures:
Hike Camelback mountain
Hike the Grand Canyon
Learn to play golf
Learn to play blackjack
Try 20 new recipes (8/20)
Learn to make a new mixed drink
Chop my hair off (Done! 5/28/10)
Read 10 new books (currently reading 1 of 10)
Try the night tour of the Desert Botanical Gardens
Try 5 new hiking trails in Phoenix
Find 10 new restaurants to try in Phoenix (2/10) 
1. Ta Carbon (super yummy Mexican hole-in-the-wall kind of place)
2. Joe's Farm Grill (another restaurant from Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives)
Make ceviche again  Done 5/16/2010
Learn to bake and decorate a cake
Get a bike or rollerblades
Go horseback riding again
Go to a concert
Stay for both movies at the drive-in
Go swimming in Lake Pleasant
Find a place to go fishing in Phoenix
Drive across the border
Buy an expensive bottle of wine (more than $20)
Try 5 new sushi rolls

Family/Friends:
Have a baby
Have a girl's weekend with my college roommates (in the planning stages)
Have a designated date night once a week for a month
Go on a picnic with my husband
Take my dog to the dog park in Gilbert with the lake (checked it out on 5/16/10, planning to take Tevez in a couple of weeks, it looks really cool!)
Get grandma and grandpa out here for a visit
Have a candlelight dinner with my husband once a week for a month
Take a dancing lesson with my husband
Take a mother/daughter trip
Host a wine and cheese party
Go to at least 5 sporting events with my husband
Get professional pictures taken of my husband and I

Financial:
Pay off the Nissan Altima
Get a minimum of $5,000 in the savings account
Reach a point financially where I can stay home or work from home
Stick with a budget for five full months
Not buy any new clothes for a month
Spend less than $300 on groceries in a month
Put $5 in the savings for each completed task and donate $5 for each incomplete task

Hobbies and Creativity:
Make Shutterfly albums with all of our pictures
Learn some type of new craft
Get a nicer camera and learn how to take great pictures
Update blog at least once a month (in progress)
Go to a pottery studio

Home:
Redecorate/repaint our bedroom
Buy a sectional sofa with a pullout couch for our guests
Finally clean and organize the office  (completed 5/1/10 thanks to my husband!)
Buy something from Etsy
Put grass in our backyard
Get some flower pots for the front yard
Have a shredding party and clean out the filing cabinet
Get a digital picture frame
Make the bed every day for a week  (done 5/10)
Organize my favorite recipes
Keep up with cleaning for an entire week
Bake something once a month

Reaching Out:
Volunteer somewhere other than church
Leave a 50% tip for dinner
Give money to one of the homeless people by school
Actually meet and know both of our neighbors names
Lend someone a microloan
Send handwritten notes to each of our sponsor children in Ecuador
Pay for the person behind me in the drive through
Make a new friend
Buy a goat for someone in a poor country

Getting Green:
Use reusable shopping bags every shopping trip for a month
Try a new "green" method of cleaning
Eat fruit off the trees in our own backyard
Grow an indoor herb garden (in progress, just planted my cilantro and parsley!)
Learn to garden desert style and actually have a vegetable garden in our backyard

There you have it! If you are interested in starting your own list, here is a great website to get you going:
http://dayzeroproject.com/

Blessed

“As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.” Ecclesiastes 11:5

It's been awhile, I know. We have been BUSY. I know I always say this, but we are ALWAYS busy. Since the last time I posted we have had some major life accomplishments worth celebrating!!! On March 21st, Santiago became a United States citizen!!!! What an amazing gift from God. I got teary eyed during the ceremony. Just looking back, just thinking of all Santi and I have been through together. Thinking of how long he has waited for this moment. Thinking of the weight that has been lifted off his shoulders. Thinking if how proud he is to have reached this point and have this opportunity. While he is now a U.S. citizen, he will always been an Ecuadorian first. I know his pride for Ecuador will never fade, but I also know he is just as proud to be an American. God is good!
So that leaves us with working on his parents immigration status. Practically as soon as we got home from  the ceremony, we got rolling on all the paperwork for his parents. We are really looking forward to being able to lift this weight off their shoulders as well. They have been waiting over 13 years. It's been a long time coming. I will keep everyone posted on their status as well. It will be yet another moment to celebrate.
At the end of March God brought us to another milestone, and Santi completed his bachelor's degree! He has worked so hard and I know it has not been an easy road for him. We are so grateful he had this opportunity, and not only that but it was completely paid for. I know he is so relieved to be finished, and I know he feels truly accomplished. He is actually thinking about pursuing a Master's degree already! I am so proud of my husband. I have the best husband in the world, and God truly blessed me when He sent Santi my way.

Now that he is finally finished with his degree, the job search begins. It is a little scary and overwhelming to be looking for a new job in this economy, especially because he needs to find one that matches or exceeds his current salary, which isn't too shabby. What he really needs is regular hours (weekends off so I am not stuck home alone every weekend), and a job that fulfills him. I know his current job is stressful, and it's not where he wants to be. We could really use your prayers that God sends the right job his way at the right time. I just have to remember that God's timing is impeccable.

Along with all of these blessings, we have also had some personal struggles this month. And while I know things aren't always going to be easy, and life is full of ups and downs, I find comfort in knowing that God is in charge. My strength is in Him and Him alone. He gives and takes away. In the end, we are truly BLESSED.

The First Month of Twenty Ten

Is tomorrow really the last day in January already? Wow. As I was changing our classroom calendar to February on Friday after school, I found it hard to believe how fast the first month of 2010 has gone. I would say this year has gotten off to a pretty good start for us. We have successfully maintained our resolution to eat better and get more exercise (I think Santi has done a little better than I have on that one, he has lost about 15 pounds!), we are still working our budget (there will always be room for improvement in this area), and we are plugging away with school and work. On the 23rd we celebrated Santi's 29th birthday. His last year in his 20's. We have heard that the 30's are better than the 20's. I guess he will have to let me know if that is true next year:) I think I pulled off a pretty good birthday surprise. I started the day off with a massage appointment for him, then surprised him with lunch at The Brazilian Bull, then tickets to the Suns game...and the Suns even won! I think I enjoyed his birthday just as much as he did. Really, any weekend we get to spend together is a great one since it doesn't happen too often.
Last week Santi got a letter about his citizenship. It was a list of all the documentation he needs to prepare before his interview. One more step in the process. We are getting there. It feels so close! He is also only about two months away from graduation. We are ready to celebrate that as well! Speaking of graduation, he is on the hunt for a new job, which is not the easiest task in the current job market. We have been praying for the right opportunity to come his way and waiting for God to provide. This week we discovered that Goodyear is going to be home to the new Solartech plant, right down the road from our house. They will be bringing over 200 jobs to the area. According to the paper they are going to be opening in September and will be looking to hire mostly locals. Could this be God's provision? I'm not sure, but it definitely gives us a feeling of hope! So for now, we will keep praying that Santi finds a career that he enjoys, that allows us time together, and also allows him to provide for us. As for my job, I just have to pray that all of the current state budget cuts aren't going to mean a salary cut or furlough days for me next year. It is not looking too promising at the moment. I know that God will be faithful and that He has a plan, but sometimes it isn't easy to sit back and wait to find out what that plan is.
Here's to hoping that February brings even more promise and hope!