Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Sisterly Love
One of our rainy days last week Ally decided to set up a tea party for her and Bailey. Bailey just thought that she was such big stuff sitting up on that stool with Ally. It's so sweet to see the two of them play together. Bailey just adores her older sister and will do whatever Ally wants her to which just makes Ally thrilled. She loves being the boss :) It's times like these that I cherish and hope that the love between them now lasts through the teenage years ;)
Sorry it's been so long!
Sorry I know it's been a long time since I have posted anything. So here's just a little update on what has been going on with us for the last 6 weeks. The second week of January Ivan left on a missions trip to Chile. He was gone for a little over 2 weeks. We missed him so much but we knew that the Lord was using him and blessing him in a mighty way. He loved it there and can't wait to go back next year Lord willing. Here are some pics of him in Chile.
Ivan has to show his Mexican pride :)
We just been staying busy with kids in school and church functions. I have been busy getting ready for the Women's Retreat in April and I am teaching Bible study also.
Ivan has to show his Mexican pride :)
We just been staying busy with kids in school and church functions. I have been busy getting ready for the Women's Retreat in April and I am teaching Bible study also.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Looking back at our 2008
This year has been full of changes for us as a family and full of blessings. As I look back on the year I am so thankful for all that God has done in us, through us, and for us.
My favorite verse this year has been Lamentations 3:22-25
"Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed. Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, Therefore I hope in Him! The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks him."
This passage has ministered to me and to Ivan so much throughout this year as we were tested in our faith and tested in our patience.
Ivan:
He has had a great year. Though there are always times of testing and times of stress he always comes out loving God more and wanting to serve Him better. Ivan had the opportunity to go to Israel last February for a week. He did a Pastor's Tour with a bunch of other Calvary Chapel Pastors from all over the country. He loved it! He came home and said that it was like seeing the Bible in color. Now he had a visual for all the places and events he studies. In August Ivan's brother Jessie came home from Minnesota and once again joined Ivan in ministry at our church. Nothing makes Ivan happier than to serve along side his baby brother.
Lauren:
I learned so much this year about who God is to me. I was tested this year in my faith and with my obedience to trust in Him. I wanted to move so badly, we were living in a 2bdrm mobile home with no yard for the kids to play in, and not in the greatest neighborhood. Our neighbors would sit outside and do drugs in broad daylight! So I was couped up with kids in the house constantly! I prayed that the Lord would somehow provide a way for us to move somewhere safer, and bigger. I knew that the Lord just wanted me to give that desire to Him and let Him take care of it. Being the control freak that I am it was very hard for me to just sit back and do NOTHING but pray. In August we were told that we were going to get to move into a house. This house was perfect.......it had everything we needed and wanted......God is so good! We moved in November and finally feel settled in. I also started serving more in ministry this year as the kids are getting a little bit older. I taught a study at our Women's Retreat in April and I also started teaching at our Women's Bible Study on Tuesdays. The Lord has done a great work in me and I can't wait to see what's next for 2009.
Allyson:
She is my little helper. She helps me so much with the two little ones and with a happy heart most of the time :) Ally went through some major changes this year and we all know Ally has a hard time with change. She started 1st grade this year which for her meant going to school a full day. It was hard on her at first but she acclamated pretty quickly. Soon we found out we were moving to a different part of town and she would be switching from private to public school. Through all of the change for her she still has that big smile on her face, although she is missing some teeth now :)
Benny:
Oh my little Benny! I'm told that I spoil him rotten but he is my little boy and the poor middle child. I guess being a middle child myself I try to give him a little grace :) Benny has grown up so much this year. Back in May we had him tested for his speech. It became apparent to us that he was not developing his speech the way he should. They told us to enroll him in preschool as soon as we could so that he could get speech therapy. The preschool did not have any openings until October. He started school in October and he has progressed so much in the few short months he has been there. Now it's not just mommy that can understand him when he talks and Ally is doing much less interpreting these days :)
Bailey:
Bailey did all the huge milestones that occur the first year. She got her teeth, she started eating solid food, she learned to crawl, and walk. She has developed quite the little personality too. She is my little spit-fire. She is not afraid to get or take what she wants when she wants it. She maybe smaller than the other two but she can hold her own. She has such an adorable laugh that in just infectious. She loves her older sister and will sit and play polly pockets all day with her. She loves to wrestle with her brother and be rough. I can't wait to see how she grows this year.
Well I hope all of you had a great 2008 and Ihope that you grow closer in your walk with the Lord in 2009. We love each and every one of you.
My favorite verse this year has been Lamentations 3:22-25
"Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed. Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, Therefore I hope in Him! The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks him."
This passage has ministered to me and to Ivan so much throughout this year as we were tested in our faith and tested in our patience.
Ivan:
He has had a great year. Though there are always times of testing and times of stress he always comes out loving God more and wanting to serve Him better. Ivan had the opportunity to go to Israel last February for a week. He did a Pastor's Tour with a bunch of other Calvary Chapel Pastors from all over the country. He loved it! He came home and said that it was like seeing the Bible in color. Now he had a visual for all the places and events he studies. In August Ivan's brother Jessie came home from Minnesota and once again joined Ivan in ministry at our church. Nothing makes Ivan happier than to serve along side his baby brother.
Lauren:
I learned so much this year about who God is to me. I was tested this year in my faith and with my obedience to trust in Him. I wanted to move so badly, we were living in a 2bdrm mobile home with no yard for the kids to play in, and not in the greatest neighborhood. Our neighbors would sit outside and do drugs in broad daylight! So I was couped up with kids in the house constantly! I prayed that the Lord would somehow provide a way for us to move somewhere safer, and bigger. I knew that the Lord just wanted me to give that desire to Him and let Him take care of it. Being the control freak that I am it was very hard for me to just sit back and do NOTHING but pray. In August we were told that we were going to get to move into a house. This house was perfect.......it had everything we needed and wanted......God is so good! We moved in November and finally feel settled in. I also started serving more in ministry this year as the kids are getting a little bit older. I taught a study at our Women's Retreat in April and I also started teaching at our Women's Bible Study on Tuesdays. The Lord has done a great work in me and I can't wait to see what's next for 2009.
Allyson:
She is my little helper. She helps me so much with the two little ones and with a happy heart most of the time :) Ally went through some major changes this year and we all know Ally has a hard time with change. She started 1st grade this year which for her meant going to school a full day. It was hard on her at first but she acclamated pretty quickly. Soon we found out we were moving to a different part of town and she would be switching from private to public school. Through all of the change for her she still has that big smile on her face, although she is missing some teeth now :)
Benny:
Oh my little Benny! I'm told that I spoil him rotten but he is my little boy and the poor middle child. I guess being a middle child myself I try to give him a little grace :) Benny has grown up so much this year. Back in May we had him tested for his speech. It became apparent to us that he was not developing his speech the way he should. They told us to enroll him in preschool as soon as we could so that he could get speech therapy. The preschool did not have any openings until October. He started school in October and he has progressed so much in the few short months he has been there. Now it's not just mommy that can understand him when he talks and Ally is doing much less interpreting these days :)
Bailey:
Bailey did all the huge milestones that occur the first year. She got her teeth, she started eating solid food, she learned to crawl, and walk. She has developed quite the little personality too. She is my little spit-fire. She is not afraid to get or take what she wants when she wants it. She maybe smaller than the other two but she can hold her own. She has such an adorable laugh that in just infectious. She loves her older sister and will sit and play polly pockets all day with her. She loves to wrestle with her brother and be rough. I can't wait to see how she grows this year.
Well I hope all of you had a great 2008 and Ihope that you grow closer in your walk with the Lord in 2009. We love each and every one of you.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Benny and Daddy
Ivan and Benny have such an awesome relationship. They both are so affectionate and so they just hang all over each other. Benny has had a fascination with wrestling since he first laid eyes on the movie Nacho Libre. There was something about it that just caught his attention and he can't watch it enough. He has the lines memorized, he has the wrestling moves memorized. He is so cute re-enacting each scene that he loves. Ivan and Benny wrestle on the nights that Ivan is home and Benny just loves it. The funny thing is that he doesn't always want to be the one that's winning, he loves it when Ivan puts the moves on him. I thought I would share some pictures of Benny wrestling with daddy.
And this is what we have to do after Benny wrestles with Daddy. It's asthma season :)
And this is what we have to do after Benny wrestles with Daddy. It's asthma season :)
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Christmas Eve 2008
Christmas Eve is spent with Ivan's family. We spend most of the day making tamales, which, I have to say are the best tamales! Then we go to church for Christmas Eve service. We come back to the house and fill our tummy's with all kinds of good food. We hang out til around 11pm and when the kids can't possibly wait any longer we all pile in the living room to open presents. It's tight and cramped but we wouldn't have it any other way. We love it and the kids love it.
Here are all the grandkids and great grandkids with Ivan's dad. From the left top is Joshua, Jailynn(his little girl), Grandpa, Jose Jr, Layla(Jose's daughter), Nivia, Israel (Nivia's son), Jessica, Bailey. Bottom from the left is Allyson, Benjamin, and Lysette. Whew! that's alot of kids.
The Martinez family: Lionel, Nena, Dad, Alfonso, Ivan, and Jessie
Here are all the grandkids and great grandkids with Ivan's dad. From the left top is Joshua, Jailynn(his little girl), Grandpa, Jose Jr, Layla(Jose's daughter), Nivia, Israel (Nivia's son), Jessica, Bailey. Bottom from the left is Allyson, Benjamin, and Lysette. Whew! that's alot of kids.
The Martinez family: Lionel, Nena, Dad, Alfonso, Ivan, and Jessie
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Ally had her Karate test on Saturday morning. She was testing for her yellow belt. She was so nervous, but we practiced and practiced, she had to learn the stances, punches, kicks, student oath, John 3:15, and some info about her instructor. She did great. There were 4 different levels that she could have tested into the lowest being a plain yellow belt then there were 3 degrees or stripes added to the yellow belt depending on how many points you accumulated during the test. 3rd degree yellow belt is the highest before testing for green belt. Anyway, all of that to say that Ally got 2nd degree yellow belt and she has only been in the class since September. We are so proud of her! Her instructor told me that he has been so suprised how fast she has learned and how well she is doing. In May she will be testing for her green belt.......ahhh that's my girl :)
I got to put on her new yellow belt as part of the ceremony......so cool!!!!!!!
I got to put on her new yellow belt as part of the ceremony......so cool!!!!!!!Thursday, December 4, 2008
Bailey Grace
Bailey had her pictures taken last month by my good friend Kristy from Inspirations Photography. She always does such a good job photographing my kids. Anyway, here are some of my favorites. They aren't edited yet but I thought I'd share them anyway.
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