Monday, June 30, 2008

Amazing video...amazing song!

This song is one of my all time favorites. It is called "Who Am I?" by Casting Crowns. I found this video on someone else's blog and knew I had to share it here. I love the way the interpret the song. Listen to the words:(Make sure you scroll down and hit stop or pause on my blog music playlist so that the video and blog music aren't layering. =] )

Who am I?
That the Lord of all the earth,
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt.
Who am I?
That the bright and morning star,
Would choose to light the way,
For my ever wondering heart.
Not because of who I am.
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done.
But because of who you are.
Chorus:
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord you catch me when I'm falling,
And you told me who I am.
I am yours. I am yours.

Who am I?
That the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love
And watch me rise again
Who am I?
That the voice that calm the sea,
Would call out through the rain,
And calm the storm in me.

Not because of who I am.
But because what of youve done.
Not because of what I've done.
But because of who you are.
Chorus:
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord you catch me when I'm falling,
And you told me who I am. I am yours.

Not because of who I am.
But because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done.
But because of who you are.
Chorus:
I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow.
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still you hear me when I'm calling,
Lord you catch me when I'm falling,
You told me who I am.
I am yours. I am yours.

Whom shall I fear? Whom shall I fear?
'Cuz I am yours. I am yours.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

First...My new nephew!!! Then something I stole from Carrie...'cause she said I could!



Meet my newest NEPHEW. Josiah Steven Delgado. He was born on June 21st at 8:40 p.m. He weighed 9 lbs. 4 oz. and was 21 inches long. Isn't he just perfect?? Congratulations Esther, Miguel and big sister Abby!



Okay, it's one of those lazy day mornings and I am cruising through my favorite blogs this morning. I've seen this survey on more than a half dozen other blogs, but just thought, meh. Then Carrie went and added it and I had some down time...so here it is. Everything you never wanted to know about me! LOL
What is in the back of your car? Stroller and one of those things you throw over the cart or high chairs for the baby to sit in.
What color is your toothbrush? Blue and White
What were you doing at 8 am this morning? Reading my Bible
What Were you doing 45 minutes ago? Probably brushing my teeth
What is your favorite candy bar? Take 5, anything with almonds or caramel
What was the last thing you said aloud? "Good Morning Naomi"
What is the best ice cream flavor? Dreyer's Limited Edition Peppermint
What was the last thing you had to drink? Coffee...lovingly made in my Senseo by my 8 year old
What are you wearing right now? P.J.'s
What was the last thing you ate? That would've been last night...hmmm...oh, a great salad that I made for Marco and me. Spinach, mushrooms, bean sprouts, pumpkin seeds, romaine hearts, fresh mozarella cheese, heirloom baby tomatoes....mmmm...I'm sure there was more stuff in it.
Have you bought any new clothing items this week? No, not for myself. I did buy a bunch of stuff for Hannah because she was going to camp and needed some new duds. =]
What is your favorite flavor of popcorn? Buttery? I really like the popcorn they sell at Target in their food court thingy.
Ever go camping? Not much since I've been married, but I am trying to change that. LOL
Do you take vitamins daily? Well, I try to remember. It's a goal. Doesn't always happen.
Do you go to church every Sunday? Yes and every time the doors open...it's important for the pastor's wife to try to be there. Ha!
Do you have a tan? Yup!
Do you like Chinese food over Pizza? I LOVE Round Table pizza, so if it were that...maybe. But usually, no. I love Chinese!
Do you drink your soda with a straw? If the soda is in a cup of any kind, yes. From a can? Never. Are you someone's best friend? Marco is my best friend....I try to be a best friend to everyone.
What are you doing tomorrow? Hopefully painting or scrapbooking
Where is your dad? Too far away. =[ Washington state
What color is your watch? ummmm....I have been using my cell phone. Yeah, I'd like a nice watch. I like the ones that are kind of like a bracelet. I don't really like the leather strap type as much any more. Love Brighton watches.
Do you use Chapstick? I don't leave home without my Burt's Bees.
What is your favorite number? 17
Do you have a dog? Yes. Crazy little Oso.
Last person you talked to on the phone? My sister Esther - yesterday. She just had a little baby boy!!! =]
Any plans today? Well, Hannah is off to camp and Taryn will be leaving in a couple of hours for the beach...we'll see what I can manage with the two little ones.
How many states have you lived in? Alabama, Colorado, Texas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan (da U.P.), California, Washington, Indiana...Yup. I think that's it for the United States.
Ever go to college? 4 years
Do you dye your hair? Who, wha? Oh, me? Yes, maybe. LOL
Biggest annoyance in your life right now? Gas prices and all inflated prices basically!
Last song listened to? hmmm...let me check. I just have random songs from Yahoo messenger playing...Back To You by John Mayer is what's on right now.
Can you say the alphabet backwards? I'm sure I could if I really focused. I don't think I"ve ever had to though...
Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? My black sandals
Are you jealous of anyone? I don't think so...Is anyone jealous of you? Doubt it.
Do you love anyone? That would be a long list...
Do any of your friends have children? Yes. Most of my friends do.
What do you usually do during the day? Clean, do laundry, read, write, do lessons, play with my kids, cook, clean, do laundry ... Now are you jealous of me?
Do you hate anyone that you know right now? Do I have reason to? Yes, but do I? No. Never.
Do you use the word 'hello' daily? Of course!
What color is your car? Lovely silver mini-van
Do you like cats? They're okay. I have 2 people in my house that are allergic to cats, so we just don't even think about cats.
Have you ever been to Six Flags? Six Flags Magic Mountain here in Cali
How did you get your worst scar? I have a few pretty bad ones. My biggest scar is from trying to deliver 10 lbs. Plus babies. Yup twice. The first one and the last one!
Well, there you go. A huge list of useless info about me. I know, I know. I should not be putting all that personal stuff out there for the whole world to see. Well, if you know me IRL, you know it's no secret! What you see is what you get.... ;0]

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Friday, June 20, 2008

Oh, brother it's the Jonas Brothers...again. =]


I am wondering how many moms of "tween" girls had to endure Camp Rock tonight? *phew* It is 10 p.m. and I am still standing. LOL Anyway, it wasn't too bad. My oldest had a friend come over for the show. First it was a swim in the pool and then out for the count down. They kept shouting out things like "One hour and twelve minutes until Camp Rock!...one hour and eleven minutes until Camp Rock..." You get the idea. Oy!

I wanted to be a good sport about it. I decided that we would have chili cheese dogs and s'mores. Taryn decided that she'd like to make brownies and since we were about to do ourselves in with sugar, I decided to also make these (clicky) from the Pioneer Woman Cooks. They were a hit. I am not a big fan of peanut butter, but these ROCKED. *chuckle*


Seriously, we had a great time. I sat back and must admit that I enjoyed watching my girls and their reaction to the show. Screams, tons of 'awwwwws', more screams and giggles. It was a good night. It is now about 10:15 p.m. and they decided they were going back into the pool. Yeah. I love summer nights like this. Oh, and here are a few pictures I thought you'd like.

Fun survey....


Picked this one up from Lee's blog. I know some of you may wonder who has time for these, but honestly? Who doesn't have time to do a fun little survey? If you don't, you need to lighten your load just a bit. LOL Don't get me wrong, we are all busy...this just helps me to unwind. =] I'll be watching for yours.


I give you money and send you into the grocery store to pick up 5 items. You can only pick one thing from the following departments. What do you buy?

1. Produce: Fresh blueberries

2. Bakery: Croissants

3. Meat: Fresh Jumbo Prawns

4. Frozen: Ben and Jerry's Chubby Hubby =]

5. Dry goods: Quinoa

Let's say we are heading out for a warm weekend getaway. You're only allowed to bring 3 articles of clothing with you. So, what's in your bag?

1. Bra
2. T-shirt
3. Shorts

If I was to listen in on one of your conversations throughout the day, what 4 phrases or words would I be most likely to hear?

1. First of all....

2. You've got to be kidding me!

3. Seriously?

4. Oh.my.word.

So, what 4 things do you find yourself doing every single day, and if you didn't get to do, you probably wouldn't be in the best mood?

1. Shower

2. Brush my teeth

3. Drink my coffee

4. Read something

You're driving down the road, and suddenly you're hit with this sense of road rage. What 3 factors probably contributed to it?

1. Someone not paying attention because they are multi-tasking on the road.

2. Someone that rides the shoulder at an exit to get ahead in line and then expects you to let them in up front.

3. Someone that will not yield and causes me to miss a turn or exit.

Sweet! You just scored a whole afternoon to yourself. We're talking a 3 hour block with nobody around. What 5 activities might we find you doing?

1. Reading

2. Scrapbooking

3. Browsing cool shops: books, antiques, crafts, botiques...

4. Getting a mani/pedi or massage

5. Re-organizing/decorating a room at home.

We're going to the zoo. But, it looks like it could start storming, so it will have to be a quick visit. What 3 exhibits do we have to get to?

1. Sea Lions

2. Penguins

3. Elephants

You just scored tickets to the taping of any show that comes on t.v. of your choice. You can pick between 4, so what are you deciding between?

1. The Office

2. Paula Deene

3. Ellen

4. King of Queens

You're hungry for ice cream. I'll give you a triple dipper ice cream cone. What 3 flavors can I pile on for ya?

1. Pineapple

2. Mango

3. Vanilla

Somebody stole your purse/wallet…in order to get it back, you have to name 5 things you know are inside to claim it. So, what's in there?

1. Red journal and mechanical pencil

2. Brighton Keychain with all my keys

3. Burt's bees chapstick

4. Red wallet

5. Suzy's Zoo 2007 - 2008 pocket calendar

You are at a job fair, and asked in what areas you are interested in pursuing a career. Lets pretend you have every talent and ability to be whatever you wanted, so what 4 careers would be fun for you?

1. Food Network Star =]

2. Traveling food/resort critic

3. Photographer

4. Professional scrapbooker, designer....

Carrot, Egg, or Coffee Beans?




This was shared by Sunnieday:


Carrots, Eggs & Coffee


A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee. You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.


A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.


Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.


Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.' 'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.


The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?


'Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently.


The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.


The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.


The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.


'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?




Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor.


If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level?


How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?


May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Happy Juneteenth...



I realize that many people have not ever heard of Juneteenth. Maybe you've heard about it, but you're not sure what it is. Well, today, June 19th, is Juneteenth.
Wikipedia says this: Though the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued on September 22, 1862, with an effective date of January 1, 1863, it had little immediate effect on most slaves’ day-to-day lives, particularly in Texas, which was almost entirely under Confederate control. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take possession of the state and enforce the emancipation of its slaves.
A Union general named Gordon Granger went with his troops to Galveston. He read an order that basically told the slaves once and for all - that they were FREE. They could could continue to remain where they lived and work for wages. One part of the Order declared "an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves..."
The belief that all slaves immediately were free after Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation is a misconception. Many slaves pooled their money and puchased land together.
In this day and age of text messaging, IM'ing, emails, webcams and more - it is hard for us to wrap our brain around the idea of not having important info in our hands the second it's been thought of. Anyway, I thought I would pass this info on to any of you that never knew the history of Juneteenth. It is a very important day in our American history and it saddens me that not many people know about it. So, pass it on!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Wordless Wednesday: Fondue?


Painting the Scraproom finally!

Monday, June 16, 2008

For All My "Sisters" out there....

Click here! Ya-Ya

Your friend,
Duchess Shedding her Fears. =]

Friday, June 13, 2008

June 12 on 12...Big Day!

So, I did remember this time that it would be 12 on 12...let my batteries die anyway. Ugh. Where is the little smiley banging his head on the wall now, huh? Anyway, I luckily had another camera (not that great), but it works. Our day was pretty full. We had a friend over and then had a graduation to attend and the party afterward. So, here we go!


Kelsi is a friend of ours that we haven't seen for two years. We had a great time though and it felt like there was no time passed between us. We just picked right up - that's neat. Little Marco really took a liking to her. He even decided to pucker up for her on command. He knows a pretty girl when he sees one! LOL

This is a common breakfast for little Marco. He wants me to hand over the whole banana, but I am not ready for that stress yet. No, not just the choking hazard - imagine the mess he would make!

So, I left Kelsi in charge of the kids in the pool while I ran out to Subway to get some lunch. I had to stop for gas and this was the cheapest I could find. Sheesh. I did see $5.oo the other day just outside of town though...

When I got back, they were all laying out. I thought it was funny that Naomi would want to lay there and roast with that safety suit on. Oh, well...she had to hang out with the big girls!

I gave Little Mojo an orange to play with while I was doing some things. He was super quiet. I was pleased. Until I found out why he was so quiet. Yikes. It wouldn't have been so bad if he wasn't in his play pen. What a mess!

We got to the ceremony, which was held on the football field, and the place was PACKED. We couldn't even get to the bleachers. So, we stood. It wasn't too bad. There were lots of graduates that night.

Here's Joanna with the girls. Marco is in the background.

Everybody was pretty tickled by this tricky item. How funny, eh? Everyone that passed it was startled to see it spilled over like this. A few of the ladies (no men, mind you...ehem.) even tried to clean it up!

Guess who? Here are some of the kids watching the Lakers/Celtic game that was Tivo'd.

Pristael was asked (begged) to sit and play for us. She even took some requests! She and her brother both play fabulously.

And finally, her is Joanna with her friend. She is finally done with high school. What an awesome feeling. I can remember how relieved I felt to finish (even though it was in the 1900's) LOL. So, that was our day. We went home tired, but happy. Oh, except for that Lakers game.... *sigh*

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

She's in the kitchen again...Mangia! Mangia!

and I couldn't be happier! We went out to get library cards today so that we could really be prepared for our summer program. We decided to stop at Trader Joe's for a few items for dinner. We left with a bounty of goodness!

I just love this store. They have healthier alternatives to foods that I love, they carry lots of organic items, great produce and the prices are very reasonable! So we came home with fresh mozarella, fresh basil, extra long spaghetti (fun), whole grain sour dough bread, a few boxes of Quinoa, sweet Italian sausage, some great balsamic vinegar.....there may have been more, but let's get to the yummy pictures!


Hannah has been helping so much in the kitchen and today was no different. She got right in there and started putting the sauce together. I buy Prego with mushroom and then we add stuff to it. She cooked up the ground beef and the sausages. I put the salad together. It's so easy and tastes great. I remember eating this salad in Italy!


Fresh Mozarella (I buy the kind in water)


Fresh Basil (chopped)


Fresh Heirloom or Grape Tomatoes


Balsamic Vinegar


Extra Virgin Olive Oil


Mix all ingredients and serve. You can chill it first, but I can't ever wait. =]


Dad was very happy when he came home to this (as you can imagine). I had to think of my friend Miriam (Hi Miriam!!). She loves bread and pasta and would've loved it. I will call her next time. LOL

Taryn is determined to get some more blog time, so she asked if she could do some baking this weekend - that's her "thing". Don't worry, I'll keep you posted! ;0)

Not So Wordless Wednesday...My amazing girl!





Yeah...she's only 12, but she's pretty amazing. Not only is she "Momma #2" around here, but she is also such a great helper in the kitchen. My 8 year old loves to help and cook just as much, but I really have to supervise her every step at this point.
Hannah, however, is a different story. Last night she made these amazing Fried Chicken Tenders all by herself. They were seasoned, breaded and fried perfectly. She even cleaned up the mess afterward! Yup. Told you she was amazing.
Then if that wasn't enough....this morning she wakes up and decided she would make breakfast smoothies for everyone. A little yogurt, ice, fresh blueberries and bananas from Costco. She even decorated them!
I tell you. I am very blessed.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

New Crocs...Oh yeah!


So, some of you may remember Naomi's mishap with her Mickey Mouse Crocs....Well, we were in Costco the other day and they had children's Crocs in all sorts of fun summer colors. She noticed them before I did and the next thing you know, they were in our cart. LOL She may be 2 years old, but the girl knows what she likes!

Saturday, June 7, 2008

SS Blog Challenge #20 - One Week Anywhere...




This challenge is presented by my friend Brynn. She actually gave a two-part challenge and allowed us to choose one or do both. I am going to choose the fun one for now, because it actually lets me dream a little and "get away".




If you were able to go on a vacation for 1 week, anywhere you wanted, & with anyone you choose, where would you go, who would you take & why would you choose that location.




The answer to this is easy! First, I would take my best friend - my husband! I would go back to Greece. I had the privilege of going to Greece when I lived in Germany. I was only in high school at the time, but went with some co-workers that were originally from Mykonos and Crete. I was there for one week and it is the most beautiful place I've ever been to - and I've done a lot of traveling in my time. =]


Marco and I desperately need to get away and spend some time just for us. This would be the perfect place because there is no rushing around to be anywhere when you are on Mykonos Island. I imagine that, by now, it is over-crowded with tourists - but I am sure that it is still just as beautiful. The Mediterranean atmosphere, food, and pace of life is just what we would need. I think it would be a respite for our souls. The ocean, the colors of the buildings, the outdoor coffee shops...getting away from it all - I can almost smell the sea if I just close my eyes...*sigh*

SS Blog Challenge #19 - Ultimate Music Mix...


This one is presented by Basket Lady.

If you had to make your ultimate MIX TAPE (er, mix CD) what would be the top 10 songs on it, and why would you choose those songs?


Okay, this one is not as easy for me as it should be. LOL I listen to so many different genres and I have everything divided into playlists on my iPod. It just depends what mood I'm in - know what I mean? Hmmm....what to do, what to do....? Okay. That's why this is called a "challenge" - so here goes! I just going to go with what my mood would be right now. This would be totally Inspirational, because that is where I'm at right now.

1. Bring the Rain - Mercy Me

2. Orphans of God - Avalon

3. Praise You In This Storm - Casting Crowns

4. Redeemer - Nicole C. Mullen

5. Voice of Truth - Casting Crowns

6. You Were There - Avalon

7. God In Me - Daniel Doss Band

8. Hold On - Daniel Doss Band

9. Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) - Chris Tomlin

10. Word of God Speak - Mercy Me

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Wow....


I haven't blogged since last Wednesday. There's a lot going on around me right now. A lot that I can't really share here. I have just found myself emotionally drained. I don't know why I let that happen to me. I should keep a level head and just watch from afar and evaluate, but nooooooooo. I've got to go and let my heart and my head get involved. So, what to do, what to do? I will go to Him. I will sit and think and pray.

I was taken to Psalm 119:65, 66 where it says: "Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word. Teach me good judgement and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.

That is what I need. Good judgement. Some people are great judges of characters. My husband is great for that. He can see trouble (usually) coming a mile away. He will warn me when he gets that bad "vibe". Me? I usually laugh it off and say, "Oh, you're being too hard. That person is just misunderstood..." Only to have it buy me in the backside later. I just think that every person is real and honest upfront. Isn't that how it should be?

Then I am taken to Psalm 121:2 that says: "My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth." My God made the heaven and the earth and all that lies therein. You'd think I could trust Him to see me through these rough patches, right? Where is my faith. I am challenged to remember that He is awesome and mighty. There is nothing He can not do for me.

I like to have some quiet time in the morning before the rugrats are up. I have my coffee, the birds are singing outside and I can pray, meditate, read. I love it. However, there are days when I don't want to have that quiet time. Isn't that sad? The reason I don't want to have it is because I know that I will have my energy and spirit renewed. My problems or cares won't be fixed in a "snap", but my burdens would be lifted. Why wouldn't I want that to happen you say? Well, because I am human and sometimes we like to wallow in our self-pity. I know I do. I don't readily admit that to others - but hey - you are the lucky few that read my blog and get to know this. =]

My final thought today is this from Psalm 143:8 - 10: Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.


If you are confused, hurting, wondering whether or not to forgive, feeling lost...I hope that these verses bring you some comfort or relief. I hope that you will share a comment or even a verse that has helped you. Yeah, serious post for me today, but I have been feeling this way for about two weeks. I want to breathe easy again!