Happy Reformation Day!

Happy Reformation Day!!! :) Earlier this month, I intended to do a post about the Reformation fathers and what today symbolizes, but I forgot that I would be at the beach. As of today, we got home from our short family-vacation and so I don't have a lot of time to write at the moment (due to unpacking and settling back in). I hope you all have a wonderful Reformation Day and remember what it stands for! Don't forgot to set your clocks BACK tomorrow (we gain one hour of sleep - yay! :) as Daylight Savings Time ends!! May you all have a blessed, restful Sunday tomorrow!

Many Blessings!

P.S. Pictures of the beach will be up shortly! :)

They're coming home today!! :)

Dad and Mother are coming home today!! I'm so excited! Well, actually, their plane gets in at 11pm and they won't get home till around 12 or 1 tomorrow morning, but we're planning on staying up for them! :) (So you might see me playing around on my blog while I'm waiting (hey! I just used the title of one of my favorite songs! :) Okay, you can see that I'm really excited! :) I just miss them SO much!! And then tomorrow we're leaving for the beach! We're staying till...I think the plan is, till Saturday. So you'll have to do without me for a few days. :)

Well, anyway, I just wanted to update y'all. :) Hope you're having a wonderful day!

Blessings!

Today...

Today has gone well! My Uncle Oscar and Aunt Lili came by and we had a fun time visiting with them. Aunt Lili showed me a yummy way to bake squash (we had it for dinner tonight!) and we made lunch together (just some leftover bow-tie noodles and peas with melted cheese, a tomato salad, and my homemade bread).

Noah needed something at Michael's for an art assignment and Uncle Oscar offered to take him. I joined them, as I need an ingredient for my soap. :) I made a new batch today! I also bought some little sea animal plastic toys to put in the soaps and they turned out quite nicely.

When we got back home, Grace had fallen asleep and so Aunt Lili and Uncle Oscar didn't stay too long afterwards. It was nice to have some company over, though. :)

The rest of the day we spent cleaning up a little more (they're getting back in two days!!!) and getting ready for our trip to the beach. Yes, you'll have to do without me for a few days, I'm afraid. :) This Wednesday we're all going to our friends' beach house in Pacific City, Oregon. We've been going there the past couple of years, for family vacation. They let us borrow it - free of charge and it is one of the most beautiful beach houses! :) It sits right on the beach and there's a huge dune surrounding almost the entire house, so it's very secluded from the neighbors. The neighborhood is very quiet and serene and...it's just a lovely place! :) Mother hopes that it storms while we're there. She loves beach storms. :) Then, hopefully, we'll go out onto the beach and see what washed up during the large waves! I'm hoping to get some photography taken too. I'll try posting some!

Anyway, that just about summarizes our day! Oh, we also talked to Dad and Mother a little. They're doing well. Visited a church today and said that it was a very nice service and the people were friendly. They've eaten 4 whole pineapples since they've been down there! :) Just the two of them! :) A whole pineapple (here) takes our whole family one night to eat it. :)

Well, Grace is fussy...I need to get her in bed. Please pray that she starts sleeping a little better. The first few nights, she was doing fine, but she keeps waking up in the middle of the night and fussing. I think she's beginning to miss Mother. I haven't been getting much sleep, on account of that. Hopefully she'll start sleeping a litlte better.

Blessings!

P.S. I think I've decided on a name for my bazaar! :) How does "Zoila's Creations" sound to you? You see, my middle name is "Zoila" (pronounced: "S"oila) and it's Latin for "Zoe" which means "life". Mrs. I. (I've mentioned her in previous posts :) thought how neat it would be if I named my bazaar something with my middle name, and then I thought of how it means "life", so it's really "Life's Creations"! :) Give me your feedback! :)

He got to see one!!

Today, our parents called us - just to catch up on what we're doing, how we are, tell us about how they are, etc. A couple hours after talking with them, the phone rang again and it was them! Dad was on the other end of the phone that I held up to my ear.

"Raquel?" he said.

"Yes, Daddy, it's me."

It was quiet on the other end for a second, and then, "I got to see one!"

I didn't have to ask what exactly he had got to see because I knew that the only thing that he hoped to see would be his sea turtle. :) It's been a life-long dream of his to see "his" turtle and today, God granted him the chance, not only to see it, but to feel it and take pictures of it.

Aren't they beautiful animals?

Truly a work of a marvelous, loving Creator!!

This could very well have been my Daddy! :)

Thank you to all who prayed that he would be able to see one! He was so blessed today! (In case some of you don't know where he is at the moment, check out my post on their anniversary trip here.)

My last post...

First of all, I wanted to thank the girls who commented on my last post (Titus 2 Woman compliment)! I love coming to my blog and seeing comments waiting for me. :) But I wanted to make sure everyone understood the reason I wrote that post.

When I had finished writing it, I went to bed, but lay awake, wondering if I had been "bragging" in telling my blog readers about what Mr. I. had told me. I had just wanted to encourage any girls out there who sometimes wonder if everything that they're doing is really worth it. So many times I stop in the middle of my tracks and really wonder if all the time that I spend helping Mother keep house is going to help me in the future. To have someone encourage me and tell me that he (especially coming from a man who I respect very much) believes that I will be a Titus 2 wife...well, I just wanted to bless other girls in turn. What you're doing is not in vain! Even if you are called to be single, God is showing you ways that you can serve your family and other people.

May God continue to bless each and every one of you!

Happy anniversary to my parents!!

Once upon a time...

this man...

and this woman...

were united in holy marriage on October 21st, 1989. In the presence of bridesmaids, groomsmen, family and friends, they gave their vows to each other to live together and obey God's commands in marriage.

Not 6 months after being married, their marriage was a mess. They both wanted divorce, and tried to push out the reminder that they had committed themselves to the other.

In June, I posted an article that my Mother had written and gotten published in the "Crowned With Silver" magazine. I just thought I'd repost it in this post. She wrote it back in 2002.

"Only ten years ago I would have thought 'Crowned With Silver' was 'hind the time' and 'too old-fashioned' for my 'tastes'. Now, however, I find it as a source of nurturing to my God-given feminine roles as wife and mother!

When I married my husband 12 years ago, I had no idea what marriage was about. I didn’t know that you each came in with an individual role. I had absolutely no desire to have children, as that would ruin my figure too much.

I contemplated divorce after only six months of marriage but knew that this was not God’s will for marriage. I even began to plan ways, in my head, of how I could divorce 'biblically' so that I’d be free to remarry! What utter wickedness!!! Every time I tried to devise a plan, the Holy Spirit would remind me of my wickedness and cause me to see how utterly unfaithful I was being to the man I vowed to stay married to now matter what!

Even though, at the time I would never have considered myself a feminist, my worldview had certainly been influenced enough to think like one. I needed help!!! I went to counseling; the counselor only listened and got paid with no real input. I spoke to many of my trusted girl friends who encouraged me to divorce since I wasn’t happy. But the Holy Spirit’s urging was much more compelling than all the wicked advice I received.

After consistently hearing the Word of God taught and preached, the Lord slowly and carefully began to show me areas in my life that needed some major changing in order to restore my marriage. He caused me to remember testimonies I had heard of broken, seemingly hopeless marriages that God miraculously pieced back together, therefore, confirming to me that He WAS able to restore MY marriage.

He showed me how dominating I was; how I constantly tried to overthrow my husband’s role as head. He showed me how important it was to surround myself with godly women who were not afraid to tell me what I didn’t want to hear. He showed me how I needed to pray continually for my husband an d how in those prayers, that I need to show genuine thankfulness and gratitude to my Heavenly Father for having given me a husband at all!

Finally, and most importantly, He showed me how I needed to find out from His HOLD WORD what marriage was exactly…how He designed it; what were our roles, how I was to submit to my husband’s headship, etc.He is so gracious and faithful in restoring marriages to anyone that trust Him and obeys.All too often, the world does so well to paint pictures of marriages that are “perfect” and that live “happily ever after”, yet God’s intention for marriages is to teach us submission; to serve one another; showing us our individual faults; disagreeing but at the same time accepts each other’s views graciously; dying to ourselves daily for God’s glory and honor; working hard towards loving each other even under the most difficult circumstances. This is all very hard work! Only when we take this challenge of hard work and willingly obey our Father’s instructions do we see the most beautiful, wonderful union take place.

Four years into our marriage, the Lord blessed us with our first child and now I am pregnant with our fourth! We are excited to see where He will take us in this journey of marriage. We have certainly not arrived. Every day, new challenges occur that are sent our way to teach us something. The most joyful thing about those challenges is that they are sent by a loving, caring Father who knows that we learn best by trials.

'…Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.' ~James 1:2-4

So, I would encourage you to persevere, to love your husbands, love your children, pray for them, find out ways to encourage your husband, show him that you are thankful that God put you together in this life. Keep a watchful eye on your motives; don’t expect anything in return. When you have had bad thoughts about your husband, make a list of things you are thankful for about him. God will honor your efforts with blessings beyond comprehension. He can restore any marriage; no challenge is too difficult for His infinite power.

All glory, honor and power be His,

Mrs. Ricardo (Tanya) Duarte

This year, they are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary.

Since writing that article, my parents have had 4 more children...two of which God took from us.

At the moment I am writing this, they are enjoying themselves on the island of Maui in Hawaii. They are staying in a condo on Nepili (sp?) Bay for 9 days. Both of them have never been to Hawaii and had been counting the days down till they left. :) They were able, through a wonderful couple of friends, to go completely free and only have to pay for a car rental and the condo. (Thank you, Johnsons!!)

Dad's dream is to see and swim with a sea turtle (his favorite animal) - please pray that he is able to. :) Mother is looking forward to just laying on the beach.

Dad and Mother:

I thank you for the love that you've shown me and my siblings.

I pray that God blesses both of you on your anniversary today.

You don't know how much you both mean to all of us.

Thank you for all your

wisdom..

kindness...

love...

patience...

and endurance with all of us. :)

We love you both so much...

(a picture of my sweet parents, taken a couple months ago)

(another picture of my parents - with little Grace peeking out of her carry-on on Dad's back :)

When my readers are happy, I'm happy :)

Well, for some time now I've been wondering about what to write on my blog. I mean, I love writing about my day-to-day activities, family events, parties, birthdays, get togethers, church, etc. but is that what all you - my dear followers/readers - want to read? I want to write what you feel is worth reading and commenting on. If there is anything specific that you would like me to write about, please feel free to do so. I've also thought of writing articles but didn't know if my readers would want to take the time to read them. So PLEASE tell me!! "When my readers are happy, I'm happy :)"

Blessings,

Autumn evenings...

A fire is blazing in the wood stove. I can hear the sounds of my family talking, laughing, arguing - being together. Outside, the wind is blowing, the night air is sharp and cold - the total opposite from in here. Just a second ago, my Mother asked me to take our dog out so I bundled up in a thick coat and put his leash on. As soon as I stepped out onto the porch, the rain slashed at me and the wind tried to get underneath my coat. I tried to make our dog hurry to do his business, so by the time I got back inside, I was starting to get pretty cold. But as soon as I stepped into the house, onto the black and white tiled hearth that Mother put a couple years ago, the warmth enveloped me again. And now, my family is calling me to watch a movie. Happy times, good memories...

Modest and Feminine Dresses...

I recently visited a friend's blog and saw that she put a post up of some modest and feminine dresses from different online stores. I just thought I'd steal her idea and do the same here. :) I didn't choose the same dresses as she did, though.

(Navy Blue Sailor Dress)

(Barefoot in the Garden)

(Cat's Cradle)

(Athena)

(Helena)

(The above were all from www.shabbyapple.com. I don't approve of all of their dresses, but they do have some fun, cute ones! :)

(Sabrina...*sigh* don't you love that movie? :)

(Orchid)

(I couldn't resist putting this pic up! :) Of course, the only way it could be cute is if they're married :)

(The last three photos were from http://www.christa-taylor.com/)

Let me know which ones are you favorites! :)