Tomorrow we move into the house 0.O

Tomorrow we move into the house... The only thing I can tell my self is good luck! Nothing is packed and the kids are home alone making a mess! I still have not bought any gifts for Marco. Last week I mentioned it would be best if we just skipped presents this year. I don't like to buy him anything because he's so picky! He has always returned all my gifts. I think I'm getting him a gift card. :) I'm almost done with the kids. I'm trying not to get all caught up on the gifts and focus on the reason for the season. Hey I just need a bracelet that says that...lol

On the other hand, I have been really blessed. There is people that God is allowing in our lives right now that have blessed us much more than they can imagine. Even though we have a hard situation in our life we God has always come through.

Christmas is just around the corner...

I'm sorry that I'm the worst blogger! I wish I had more time in the day to blog. I have so much to say and so little time. :)  With Christmas fast approaching, I really wish we had a pause button! My kids are growing so fast and with that their price in gifts they want. I can't wait until they get it, that money is hard to get. This year Jorge has decided that he "likes" a girl. She is very sweet and pretty. Don't get me wrong, I'm in no way encouraging this "liking" thing. We went through the whole you are too young and need to focus on school... I'm sure I sound like the Charlie Brown teacher! Well we had our first experience on buying a girl a present for Christmas. It was kind of weird! felt like I was promoting it. I need to take a class on teenagers or something! lol Funny thing is that we have worked with the youth before, but by no means was I ready for my own teens. :)

The other new venture in our lives is that we are moving to my mom's house in Centerton. Knowing how my life is NEVER easy, we are moving this Saturday. That's right! Right before Christmas! :) Good thing I bought a new book that is great for all that I'm going through. It's called Unglued by Lysa Terkeurst. Great book! I definitely can relate to every part of it. I'm glad that there's people out there like Lysa that are brave enough to say they don't have it all together.  God knows I am the last person on earth to have it all together. Every day I live by Grace and try very hard to allow the Holy Spirit on guiding me. So many times I want to go one way and the Lord changes everything for me. I have learned to lean on Him. Sometimes I think I'm going crazy. Then Lord puts the right person to give me a word of encouragement.  I just keep praying to stay focused on what God wants me to do. I plan to join our church in the fasting for 21 days. I have a lot to pray for. I really want to be like Beth Moore! lol Hey you never know.

It's Thanksgiving day 2012 :)

As I sit here in Alabama surrounded by the outdoors, the peace and quiet allows me to reflect on the most beautiful things in my life. We decided to come to visit the Mederos Family this Thanksgiving and even though I really wanted to go to California, I allowed God to guide us. Sure, for some it may seem like why Alabama? Well, the only thing I could think about is God's way of saying be still and know that I am God... 

The question in many people's heart today is what am I thankful for? And as the Lord convicts me about this, I can't stop and think that MY heart should always be thankful!!! God has given more than I could ever be Thankful for! From a girl that had nothing & for those that thought I would amount to nothing, wow would they be surprised now! I still remember my 6th grade teacher telling my mom during conference "You will be lucky if she even makes it! She will probably end up selling oranges off the freeway." Boy, was he WRONG!!! God knew the plans He had for me... Plans to prosper me and not to harm me. He gave life and life abundantly! A loving husband- Who has loved me for nearly 16 years! One who has a great calling from God. Gave me my first born- Jorge Luis Lugo. He has such a personality that just draws people towards him. Pablo Antonio Lugo- who is so patient, loving and super wise! all wrapped into a quiet & tiny but mighty body! Brandon Elijah Lugo- Super smart and oh so compassionate- a servant's heart for sure! Valerie Faith Lugo- Her name says it all "Strong Faith" God knew exactly what we needed in our family when he decided to add her along.  I might have been nothing to that teacher in 6th grade but to God I was much more!!!

I am well aware that if it wouldn't have been for those people that God put in our lives, we wouldn't be where we are today. I received an email from Mr. Bowers this past week and a note there really summed up my feelings about thanksgiving. I would like to share that...

  One quick quote from "Cultivating Christian Character by Michael Zigarella..."Gratitude is the characteristic that most distinguishes a high-virtue Christian from average-virtue Christians."  According to Zigarella, gratitude leads to a joyful life in Christ and maximum Christian character.

 

Wow it's October

I have so much to say and so little time! Why?? I need to really get some time for my self to go ahead and work at this. Well the last post was done about three weeks ago. Since, then Jorge has made the basketball team at school. He will be playing for the Lifeway Warriors! Brandon is pretty easy still he's still not busy. Pablo is always busy on collecting fish and has done a great job at our garden. But that garden won't last long because we are having a freeze this weekend. Oh and wow we had picture day for Valerie this past Thursday. Let me tell you that she's a handful!! :)  

These past weeks I have been very convicted by God. I really need to keep renewing my mind constantly. He has been reminding me how important it is to stay focused on His word... I would recommend reading the Book of James and let me know what you think. Maybe we can share some of what God reveals to us. 

On another crazy twist on my life, I think I might of found my real Dad??? I'm so nervous! I thought I was okay with it until I realized it might really by him. I will try to call him this weekend or just wait until I visit California to pay a surprise visit. I don't know Praying God helps me! 

Praying that everyone stays safe and has a wonderful weekend.

Fall= Busy, Busy, Busy!

I'm so bad about keeping up with this blog. I will try harder, I promise! So the first nine weeks of school are over! Time flies when your having fun :) The kids are busy, hence making me extra busy. Jorge has begun with his teen life. He has started basketball practice and is very excited about it. They have been working mainly on conditioning right now. We received an email that they are going to have to cut some people off the team and will notify us this Thursday if he made it or not. He also has volunteered coaching a soccer team of 1st graders plus wants to join the shooting team! Really, is all that possible??? We will find out.

Needless to say I have not gone to the gym in two weeks :( Oh and it was my hubby's birthday this past Saturday. That was not very fun because it rained all day. I took him shopping for clothes the next day. While all this is going on I have been convicted greatly by God. I'm still taking my James book study and boy it's been hard but really refreshing. The lesson that has really put a oops on my heart is James 1:19-

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger

Wow, Lord I'm so sorry!! but I have sinned in this area so many times. As I was studying this I was going through something right at that moment. You see I was raised in a very tough neighborhood and anger was part of strength needed to survive! This has been something that God has been working in my life ever since I accepted Jesus in my life but for some reason this time around it really made a HUGE impact in my Spiritual life. Is it just me or when God convicts you, something has to happen! You have to make a decision! you can't lie to yourself. It's there in your heart, reminding you constantly not to act that way. I just love it! Praise God for always teaching me and never giving up on me.  

Family...

I just started my new women's bible study this past Wednesday.  I was so impressed on what God had for me that very first day! So, some how I know my husband will say that I knew this but not that I can remember. I learned that James was Jesus half brother. Meaning son of Mary and Joseph. Now, I did know that one of the disciples was His brother but had never studied much on it. Well, it was a great experience. I love to be taught by God. I'm so thankful for women like Beth Moore who give their lives to ministry. One day that will be me :)

That night she talked about how James was an unbeliever.  Really, I thought. How if your brother was Jesus?? As I keep reading and doing homework, it makes more sense now. It wasn't because of Jesus it was the issues that James had. Well think about it, how many times we think we know someone really good that we become jealous of their accomplishments.  Who out there has not battle with this? I know I have and God please forgive me. So at one point Jesus being surrounded by the disciples and a crowd ignored His family (Mark 3:31-35).  I only imagine how James felt or thought. This probably made him upset and hardened his heart. Enough to make him an unbeliever.  I think about this on my own life. People that knew me for who I was, would have a hard time believing God would change me. How can  He possibly do anything for me? I had my great share of trouble and trouble making in the past.
Maybe my family would have a hard time coming to Jesus or maybe not. You see there's nothing that James could have done or not done to earn God's grace. The love that Jesus had for him was so great that it surpassed all of James issues. The bible stated that when Jesus resurrected he came to see only those that needed Him.  One of those was James. How beautiful that James realized that he needed Jesus after all. Like the word says "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advanced for us to do." Ephesians 2:8-10  
James realized he needed Him, believed and followed. Guess what?? It was not too late & How awesome is HE! Jesus did not come to shrink the family but to make it grow! I praise God for my natural family and all my spiritual family :)

Tulsa Trip

This past Saturday the Lugo family was blessed by a friend who gave us passes to the Oklahoma Aquarium.  It was a really  random offer but we calculated not much spending was needed. We drove out to Tulsa and the kids actually behaved the whole way over there! That made me so happy! God always amazes me how He made things work out. I had been a little stressed out & was thinking we needed a fun, quick get away. When she offered the passes I was really surprised, I knew it was an answer to our prayer's! This past Sunday the Pastor mentioned that God uses people, sometimes we just have to be sensitive to what the Spirit is telling us. I wonder if my friend would not have obeyed, then I don't know how our weekend would have been. But instead my whole family was blessed by going on a mini family trip and made some lasting memories!

Next time I find myself in a situation where the Lord is showing me I can be of use, I will try to make a difference.My last Thirty-one meeting, my director was reading our devotional, the part that really stood out to me was when she said, "You might think you are only one person in this world, but to one person you might mean the world."  Wow! What a statement!! We all mean everything to God & let us never forget that! He sent His son to die on the cross to shed his blood for our sins. To think, that He chose me from my mother's womb?? That was one of the hardest things to believe but now I'm convinced that He loves me unconditionally. Praying that you all are blessed and be a blessing to others. <3

"I am your creator. You were in my care even before you were born." Isaiah 44:2

Feels like fall

The weather in NW Arkansas has been great! Really feels like fall. Fall is my favorite season and with this cooler weather I feel so blessed. Thankfully all the kids are back in school. This year seems a little more challenging. The kids are split up into 3 different schools. Jorge & Pablo are in Lifeway Christian School. Brandon is in Barker Middle School and Valerie is in Mary Mae Jones Elementary.  Thank God we live so close to two of the schools. Transportation seems to be easy since my friend Aileen enrolled her daughter in Lifeway this year. She takes the boys in the morning and I take her little one with Valerie to elementary at 7 am.  Then her hubby picks up the boys up on Monday and Tuesday. She gets them then on Wednesday. I pick them up Thursday and Friday.... whooo! I'm so grateful for friends. Living so far away from family has forced me to depend on my Christian family. I can't complaint, they have been a huge blessing and encouragement through finding my self in this place I call home now. Not to put down my family back in California. I truly miss them all!

Okay, so this year we have 2 in Band, 1 in Cheer, 1 in the Shooting team, 1 in Motion and possibly doing soccer. Now it's that time again to start focusing on school work & projects. Ahhh gotta to love those projects! Maybe I will get A's on them again...lol

First day of 8th & 7th Grade

Wow is all I can say when I see my big boys! On Monday we attended our parent meeting at Lifeway. It was then that what the Principal Mr. Taylor said  hit me! "Wow Jorge you grew a foot over the summer." God it seems like only yesterday my boys were so tiny! Every year that anguish comes upon my heart.  Fearing that my children are safe while they are away & praying they stay on God's path. I think that every parent should feel the burden to pray for their child. The word of God kept coming back to me this morning as they were getting ready… for this child I prayed! It was a huge blessing for me to see my husband lead a prayer for us this morning. They are teens and I do remember going through those years that seemed eternal.  I couldn’t wait until I was an AdultJ Sadly now I wish I was a kid again.  We can’t never cease to pray for them because we all need it!

Thinking about what God put in my heart this past Saturday. As I went for a walk/run, I found that as I kept going things seemed harder & I really just wanted to stop & go back home. I was reminded how this is a good reflection of my walk with Christ. At first it seems easy and then as I start getting tired and distracted by the cramps I start feeling I want to stop!  So many times in my life I start off well but then down the road I want to start slowing down.  Well then I kept telling myself, I can do all things with Christ who gives me strength.  That is until I hit a hill and then I start questioning if I can really do it! J Wow, what faith right? Then I start focusing on short distance landmarks to slow down on. That really in the end helped me get farther and quicker then when I started. By the end of the run I was surprised that I finished but really sweaty & maybe stinky. But I finished! Well done my good and faithful servant…

First Post :)

I start with my very first post today. Being very new to this whole blog thing & it is rather intimidating!
I will be doing all the posting in this blog so, I want to apologize up front for my grammar. Just bare with me & keep up with my Spanglish! :) I am a mother of 4 beautiful children- 3 boys and 1 girl. Marco & I have been together for 15 years now.

Today is officially my birthday & I don't feel a day passed 25! My son Brandon was baptized yesterday that was an awesome birthday present! Praise God that we are continuing to lead our children on God's path. The boys are getting ready to go back to school.  Jorge 8th grade & Pablo 7th grade start Wednesday at Lifeway. Brandon 6th grade & Valerie 3rd grade start on Monday next week. Needless to say we are not ready! I still have to buy some essentials... Of course I do!