Hello from Puerto Cabezas

We are now back from Costa Rica. Our tour was great. On our bus ride back we were doing well until we were 30 minutes away from our destination. Our bus hit an SUV. Luckily everyone came out alive. I will post a pic later. We spent one day in Managua and then caught the plane out to Puerto. We have only been here for a day.

Our luggage did not come with us, so we are here at the airport waiting for them. I will post more on another day. We have not done much here yet.

Take care and God bless you all.

Hello from Costa Rica

Jeff and I have now been in here for 3 days. We have not really done to much. We arrived tired on Friday evening. We went straight to the hotel and stayed there. On Sabbath we went to the Adventist Univesity campus for church. We had lunch at my friend Brenda's home.
Brenda took us to another city, Naranjo, to visit with her boyfriend and some of his brother's girlfriends family. We were actually visiting the home of the brother's girlfriend (yes, very confusing). We then took off for San Jose (the capital). Last night was the festival of lights, a christmas parade. Brenda has lived here for 14 years and had not gone once. It was nice experience. We did not get back to the hotel till after 12am. This morning we just slept in and and went to the mall to watch a movie. We did some shopping and we are now back at the hotel.
Tomorrow is our one day tour. We will finally get to see some of the tourist places in Costa Rica. We will not be back till late at night. I hope we have good weather tomorrow. So far the weather has been great.
I miss Alysia, but I know she is doing well with my family.

Take care everyone and may God bless each one of you.

One more day till Jeff comes

This week has flown by. I can´t believe that we will be picking up Jeff tomorrow night. It will be nice to see him. Alysia and I have missed him.
Last night we picked up Max and his friend Phat. They are in Nicaragua for 2 weeks. The last time I saw Max was 3 years ago, when he was also vacationing in Nicaragua.
Early Friday morning Jeff and I will be leaving for Costa Rica. I doubt I will write in my blog while I´m there, but we will take lots of picture.

Take care everyone and may God bless each one of you.

Things I like about Nicaragua

Yesterday I started to write some of the things I like about Nicaragua. I stopped because I thought the electricity would get cut, but my mom told me that for yesterday, today and tomorrow we will have electricity all day. The electricity company has promised not to cut the electricity for the Purisima.
The Purisima is a Catholic thing here in Nicaragua. People who want to ask blessing from the virgin Mary, or who would like to thank her for blessings, set up a small altar. They display a statue or picture of the virgin in front of their home, then people come to the virgin and sing praises to her. Every person who comes to sing gets something to snack on. I can compare it to Halloween. They also set off a whole bunch of fireworks. Today is the eve of the Purisima. tomorrow is the Purisma and it´s also a national day off. The more rich people do a private party. They only invite a few people to come to sing to their statue.

Anyways back to my list.
1. Being able to visit with family.
2. Love the food and drinks. Can´t get enough of them
3. Paying only 1 price for cable tv and getting all the channels they have. We get a lot of movie channels.
4. 5 people being able to eat out for less than 15US. Of course at a restaurant you would pay more. This was more like fast food, but very delicious.
5. Alysia would say she likes the fact that she does not have to use a carseat here (this does not mean I don´t agree with carseats).
6. How much cheaper dentist are here. No I have not had to use one here.
7. Being able to afford a maid, or cook or housekeeper :).

Take care everyone and may God bless each one of you.

Day are slowly going by

Well it has been more than a week since I came back from Costa Rica. We have just been hanging around the house watching tv :). I thought I would include in this blog some of the things I appreciate about living in Canada.

1. Having electricity almost all the time. Here the electricity is cut off for a few hours everyday. When we are finally getting used to a routine, they change the times the electricity is cut in our neighbourhood. It keeps things interesting. It also forces us to sit together and talk :).

2. No dust in my house. I´m sure some of you are saying of course we get dust in Canada. But here in Managua we get a lot. What takes more than 2 weeks to accumulate in my house takes only a few hours here. Luckely my mom has a lady who cleans the house every morning.

3. Being able to do almost all my banking by internet. Well this complaint is really not for me. I´m still doing most of my banking online. My mom and aunt have to stand in long lines sometimes to get all their banking done.

4. Being able to drive. I would only drive here in Managua if it was an emergency. I just don´t feel very comfortable driving here (neither would Jeff). But my mom and aunt are very good at it :).

5. The nice cold weather. I don´t tolerate heat well. I get very grumpy (yes more than usual).

Now that I have listed to complaints I will also state some of the things I love about Nicaragua.
1. Being able to visit with family.
2. Love the food and drinks. Can´t get enough of them

I have decided to pospone making this list in case the electrity goes and I don´t get to publish this blog. So I will say all the things I like in tomorrows blog.

Take care and God bless you.

Here is my post about Costa Rica

Last Thursday my aunt Lola was supposed to leave for Costa Rica. She missed her bus. I offered to travel with her the next day (since the lady she was going to travel with had left with the bus). After some talking we decided that I would accompany Lola to Costa Rica.
I have a friend in Costa Rica who was one of my companions when I was studying nursing. She is still living on the campus of the university with her aunt. I called her early on Friday to let her know that I was coming. She knew I was coming in December but this trip was last minute. She said we could stay with her and she would pick us up. My friend’s name is Brenda. Since I left Costa Rica we have emailed each other less than 10 times. But our friendship is still strong. Lola and I had a great time staying with Brenda and her family (aunt, grandmother and 2 cousins).

On Saturday we stayed on the campus of the university. I got to meet old acquaintances and make some new friendships. On Sunday Lola, Jorge (my cousin who is studying at the university) and I went to see Volcano Poas. It was too cloudy so we were unable to see the crater. We then went to the San Jose (the capital) to have supper and walk around a bit. It’s funny, we could not find any typical food from Costa Rica that we liked so we went to eat at a Nicaraguan restaurant (yummy). Brenda and her friend William came to pick us up and then she treated us to some ice cream.

On Monday Brenda drove Lola, Jorge and I to the bus station so that we could come back to Nicaragua. All in all we had a great time, thanks to Brenda and her family.

The bus ride back had better movies. We got to watch Gladiator, Pirates of the Caribbean (part 2) and a Jackie Chan movie (also very good). My mom picked us up and we finally got home last night at 10pm.

In all this Alysia was here in Nicaragua with my mom. She had a great time and behaved well and is slowly speaking more Spanish. Jeff is also well in Texas. He calls me every night.

I will actually be seeing Brenda again in 2 weeks. Jeff and I will be going back on December 15. This time I can thank her properly for all she did. This trip we used only 30US dollars in total since we did not have a lot of money.

Take care everyone and may God bless each one of you.

Busy, Busy, Busy

This past weekend I was in Costa Rica. I have written up a blog for my trip, but the internet is not working at the house. I´m writting this from an internet cafe. I will post about my trip when get internet at home.

Alysia is doing fine and so am I. I have to check my email so I will say goodbye. TTYL. Take care and may God bless you all.

It's so hot here

I know some of you will say that's good, but I can't tolerate the heat. I have to keep taking showers to cool down. Alysia is now taking her shower with the cold water. The water is actually warm, but it was still to cold for Alysia the first time. She is now used to the water and I don't have to heat up her water. She has been having fun playing and fighting with two of my cousins. My aunt Santa and her hubby Walter have been inviting the whole household (10 with them included) out for supper. This past few day I have been to 3 big malls here and enjoyed some good food. Nicaragua is a lot better than it was the last time I was here. I truly hope the new goverment keeps its promises and makes the country better.

Jeff is also doing well in Texas. He and I talk every night. Alysia really misses him. To make up for the lack of daddy, she latches on to my aunt's husband. My aunt has 2 little girls who are younger than Alysia. So you can imagine the noise and fighting with 3 kids under 4.

Today I went with my Aunt Lola to get a visa for her to travel to Costa Rica for a few days (this will actually help for her application to get a visitors visa to Canada).

Alysia has been enjoying the fact that she does not need to sit in a carseat. She and my cousins love to sit in the back of the car (sits 10) and the love it when we go over big bumps.

Take care everyone and may God bless each one of you.

I AM FINALLY HERE

After a long day of flights, Alysia and I arrived safe and sound to Managua, Nicaragua. Alysia was very happy to get here and was actually in a good mood and was hugging everyone. Today she is again in front of the tv. At least it's in spanish and she is learning.

I now get to spend a month just being a stay at home mom but in Nicaragua (away from the cold).

I don't have much to say, since I have not really done much. Just happy to be here. Take care everyone and may God bless each one of you.

I'm in Toronto

We arrived safely to Toronto yesterday morning. I am seriously considering drugging Alysia for my flight from Toronto to El Salvador (5 hours). But otherwise everything was great.

We visited with our friends Des and Laura for lunch yesterday. In the evening we went to my aunt's home. Jeff, Alysia and I were so tired we went to bed at 8:30 Toronto time.

This morning we worshiped with our friends at Kingsview Village Church. We then came to the home of Dee for lunch. We had really good roti. I will be leaving here in a few minutes to go visit Alison (Jeff's cousin) and her family.

Alysia will be sleeping over at Elena's place (my sister). Jeff leaves tomorrow. But Alysia and I will be staying over at Sharmilla's after he leaves (only for a day).

I can't believe we are here, and soon we will be leaving for Nicaragua.

Take care and may God bless each one of you.

3 more days

And I still have not started packing. My goal is to start packing today :). Time is going by very quickly now that my travel date is getting closer. Before I know it Friday will be here.

Alysia and I both got our hair cut yesterday. It still looks the same, it was more of a trim. Alysia is also getting very excited about traveling. She likes to fly in the Avion (plane).

The dinner theatre was great as always (the food not so good). I will say that I liked the last one I went to more. I found I enjoyed the other story better. Alysia had a great time with her babysitter.

I really have nothing else to say, and should get packing, so I will say TTYL and may God bless each one of you.

9 days left

It's amazing how fast time is flying as my travel date gets closer. We have been trying to make sure that we have all the things we need for when we travel. Like malaria pill (very bitter pills). Personal Water purification system (water bottles) and many more things.

I am being kept busy this week delivering books and products to my Avon customer. But it's good to be busy, makes the time go by faster.
I'm finally going to the Dinner Theatre. We are going tomorrow. There will be a group of 6 of us from the church.

Take care everyone and May God bless you.

My Blog is slowly getting popular

I now have 5 people reading :P. Welcome Zaak. I'm sure more people read my blog, but they just don't like to post comments (lurkers). Back in September I had promised a gift to the people who read and posted on my blog during the following weeks. The winners are Dee,Elena (my sis) and my mom. So you will each receive your gift when I see you. Zaak gives awards to the people who comment the most in his blog. I give gifts.

11 days left, I can't wait. I am so looking to seeing my family again.

Dee: I LOVE YOU. I was hoping you would say roti. Jeff said to tell you that it should be steak and potatoes :).

Zaak: I don't hate NB or Moncton. I just wanted to live in a more cosmopolitan place. Also I don't like the ocean. Salty water, sand, strange creatures and dangerous waves are not my idea of fun. I'm a pool, river and lake kind of girl (in that order). I don't mind a walk on the beach :).

Alysia can now read very simple words. Example: CAT, BAT, RED, GRAMPA, DOG. It would be nice if she could read her own books at night (just kidding).

Halloween is tomorrow. We will be at the church hanging out with the school kids.

Take care everyone and May God bless each and everyone of you.

An apology and explanation

Jeff read my blog (he never reads it). But he said I was very rude to the Moncton people and that if they are reading my blog that I was rude to them. I apologize to any Moncton people reading (if there are any). But I will state that I said I hated Moncton, not the people. It's like Jeff saying he hates TO, but only because it's a big city and all the things that come with a big city. He very much likes the people there. Same goes for me and Moncton. It's only the fact that I now have friends here that make living in Moncton OK. But if you are truly a friend, then you will have understood that my words were the words of a woman in shock and just needing comfort. Just look at my last two blogs :). I miss my family very much and I hope that maybe next year my aunt will be living with me for a year (no matter where I'm living).

Well now that that's out of the way, Dee I will eat anything not vegetarian :P. And if it taste like it comes from the Islands, even better. If by any chance you are now vegetarian, then yes I will also eat vegetarian ;) .

Take care people and may God bless all of you (all 4 of you reading: Dee, Elena, Felicita and Amber).

Doing X-mas shopping early

Jeff and I were doing some X-mas shopping today. Since we are leaving in two weeks, we have to get the shopping done early. It's always nice to shop for others, even better to shop for myself :).
I was telling Jeff that I am definitely more comfortable with the idea of staying in Moncton. It was just to big a shock for me when he told me. I did tell him that if this had happened my first year here It would have been even more harder to accept. But after 2 years I have made a quite a few friends in the Maritimes. I will still miss a place that has more of a mix of cultures. It's amazing how much I miss that. Now that I'm more calm, I can see all the good things in Moncton,the reasons why I said yes to coming here. We would never have moved here if I had said no way :).
I'm very social and it was not till this year that I finally feel comfortable in the Moncton Church. Everyone there is nice and welcoming, just not in the way I wish (this is where I say I miss other cultures). One good thing about staying here is that Alysia would start school in an SDA school. She would know most of the kids there, since she sees them at church.

I will quote what my friend Amber Robichaud said "We bloom were we are planted". I feel that it took me a while to bloom. I missed my friends and family in TO to much and found it hard to adapt to a very different culture (white :P). I guess I feel at peace with the idea, since I know that if we stay, it's because God wants it. When I first had to think about moving to Moncton I cried and called my mom for comfort. But I did take it to God in prayer and I knew it was the right decision. When Jeff told me that we might be staying here, I cried and wanted to call my mom again. But instead of calling I wrote in my blog (my mom reads my blog).

Jeff did promise me that if we are here for another 3 years, that I can visit my friends and family in TO once a year :). I also told him he should let me visit the friends who live in the maritimes, but not in Moncton :).

Feeling more calm

I'm resigned to the fact that I might be living in Moncton for another 3 years :(. I'm not mad at Jeff (it's not his fault). But it annoys me when he tries to tell me to look at all the good things. The way I'm feeling those good things are not good things. But I might as well get used to the awful idea now (this does not mean I'm not still upset). O well at least I will be escaping for more than 2 months.

For those of you wondering what my schedule is like when I arrive in Toronto. Here it is.
Friday Nov 10 - Arrive in the morning, maybe visit with Jeff's cousin in the evening (not confirmed yet). We will be staying in my aunt Elsa's home.
Saturday Nov 11 - Go to Kingsview church and hopefully spend the day with our friend there (so Dee we are open to lunch and supper invitation :) ).
Sunday Nov 12 - We hope to have breakfast with friends from Willowdale church. Jeff leaves for Dallas at 5pm.
Monday to Wednesday - Alysia and I are free to visit with friends.
Thursday Nov 16, morning- Leave for Nicaragua.

When I come back from Nicaragua on Wednesday January 17, I plan to stay with Sharmilla and learn how to make roti and curry goat from her mom :) (yummm). I will leave for Moncton on Sunday January 21 at night (around 8).

Bad Day and Bad news for me.

I was having a good day until Jeff called to tell me that we are pretty much staying in Moncton for who knows how long. I have been telling myself for this whole past year that I was moving in 2007. I only came to Moncton because Jeff said that it would be 3 years max. I did not want to move here and the only thing that made it bearable the first year was that my mom and sister where here. Now I have to contemplate living here for another 3 years or longer :(. Just hearing this news made me cry. I cried the first time he even suggested moving to Moncton.

Jeff is happy, he could live here for the rest of his life. His family will be happy. I will not. I know I should just accept it (and I will later, when I have no choice). But it's so hard to be happy in a place I was looking forward to leaving. I can't even call anyone here to cry about this, because they won't understand.

I did not really cared where they moved us, as long as they moved us. But I guess Jeff's bosses like him to much and want to keep him around, so they have found other positions here in Moncton that will help him grow in his career. It's even harder to accept when just a few months ago the chances of us moving were 90% or higher.

I now what people here will tell me. That this is God's will and that I should accept it. That he wants us here, etc., etc. I DON'T WANT TO ACCEPT IT. At this moment I hate moncton.

20 Days left

I'm finally better. I will recommend Abreva to anyone with a cold sore. It really helps, but it's really expensive. The tube is smaller than a chapstick container and it costs $22 (ouch!). But you only use a little bit, so it's good for more than one use.

Alysia is still sick, but getting better. Even when she is sick she has too much energy :).

Today we are having our worship in the Free Meeting House. The first place that the Moncton SDA church met back in the 1800. After church we will be going to a friends house for lunch and to spend the rest of the Sabbath together.

Take care and May God bless you.

A picture to share

I'm Sick :(

The youth rally went great. Aaron (Jeff's brother) came and played his digital (?) drums. Song service sounded great.
When I left last Friday I had started to get sick. I lost my voice (not all the way), so I spent all weekend without being able to sing. Now that I'm back home my voice is getting better, but now my cold is worse. And to top it all of I now have a cold sore :(. O well at least I don't feel awful :).
Alysia Had a great time with her grandparents. She did not want to come home at first :).

In less than a month I will be in Toronto :). Can't wait to see everyone.

Take care everyone, and may God bless you.

Thanksgiving is almost here

Jeff and I will be going to a Youth Rally this weekend in Pugwash. Alysia will be staying with her grandparents.

This past month I organized an Avon fundraiser for the church school. It did not go as well as I would have liked (not my fault). But the school will be getting some money. Not as much as I would have hoped (people just ordered for themselves and did not go out and collect orders to raise funds :( ).

Today I will be helping plant 1000 pink tulip bulbs in support of Breast Cancer research.

Take care everyone and May God Bless each one of you.

October is Here :)

Our friends Jerry and Olivia have come and gone. We had a great time while they were here.
This past Sunday I walked 5K for the CIBC Run/Walk for the Cure. I raised $70.
This coming weekend I'm going to a Youth Rally in Pugwash, NS. Alysia will be staying with her grandmother for the weekend.
Sorry this is so short, but I have to run :). We are watching the Shawn Boonstra presentation. We have to go to church to see it.

Take care and May God bless you.

Another week coming to an end.

Hillary, Jonathan and Adrial left on Wednesday for St. John. Such a cute baby :). On the day they left I got an email from a friend in Nova Scotia saying they were coming to Moncton this Sunday and asking if they could stay here :). I told my friend Olivia I would be very happy to have them here (we get along really, really well). Her husband (Pastor Jerry) also get along very well with Jeff and I :).

Alysia and I decided to go for a walk on Wednesday to the park. We took our umbrellas but we still got caught in a really bad shower. Poor Alysia started to cry. Luckily for us we were close to the house of a friend. So we spent the next few hours visiting her and her 2 kids.

The Dough Batchelor series has been very interesting. We have been faithfully following it .

Jeff was telling me yesterday that there was a chance we might still be here in Moncton for another year and a half. But he reassured me that the chances are very low. We will most likely have moved before next June, and no we don't know where yet.

Take care everyone, have a great day and May God bless you.

Happy Monday everyone

This past Friday we started watching the seminar by Dough Batchelor titled "The Most Amazing prophesies". It's a good series. We have been having church members joining us in our home to watch it (they are not showing it at the church).

Jeff has been very, very, very busy with work. He keeps coming home with his laptop and keeps working all night long. And he does not like to be interrupted. Poor Alysia won't even go near daddy when he is working on his computer. She says, "no, daddy is busy". I will be very glad when he finishes this project (maybe I will be able to talk to my husband at nights).

Hilary had her baby on Saturday night at 11:50 by C-section. I visited today and got to see both mom and baby are doing well. Very cute boy :). I would post his pic, but I have not asked permission, so it will have to wait.

Alysia is doing great and growing big. She really likes Dora the Explorer.

October 1st is the CIBC run for the cure. If you are not supporting anyone, I won't mind if you support me :) (with a $1 or more)

Only 53 more days till I leave for Toronto. I can't wait to see all of you.

I will start posting more (at least once a week). I'm going to see how many people actually read this blog. Some time near the end of this month, I'm going to see how many people respond, and to everyone who responds, expect a surprise.

Take care and May God Bless YOU.

Another Month later :)

Life has been going pretty good. I now only have to wait 2 months before I leave for Toronto, and then for Nicaragua :).

Today is Jeff's birthday. He is turning 31 years old. If you want to call him and wish him happy birthday he will be home by 5pm (NB time).

We have a young couple staying with us. Jonathan and Hillary. She is preggo and due for this Thursday. Her family lives in St. John, NB, but they are staying with us because her doctor is here. Jonathan is the bible worker the church hired for the summer.

Zaak and Amber (www.zaakistan.com ) are here in Canada for a few weeks. They came over for supper last night. They little boy is so cute. I'm actually hanging out with them this afternoon.

I will be running/walking for the CIBC run for the cure (for Breast Cancer) on October 1. If you would like to support me, just email me and let me know how much :). I'm hoping that all my friends will donate $5 each ;).

Alysia is doing great. She had a mild cold right now, but otherwise healthy. I just did her winter shopping online. It's so fun shopping for her.

Starting this Friday our home will be a host location for the Amazing prophesies seminar hosted my Dough Batchelor and Dwight Nelson. Please pray that we get people who are interested in coming :).

Take care and May God bless you.

Almost a month later

Campmeeting came and went. It was a great 10 days. Vacation Bible School also came and went (very glad to be done). I had to cancel VBS for the last day (today). The kids were behaving really bad and not paying attention. I was getting more and more frustrated, and even gave them a lecture and warning. Well near the end I just could not take it anymore. I told them VBS was canceled for today (the last day). I really did not want to do this. I and other people put in to much work just to cancel it the last day. But the kids were not appreciating what we were doing and being disrespectful. Everyone on my team stood by my decision to cancel it. I'm just afraid of what the church members will say. But I will not worry about it. I did my part, the kids did not.

I now have to focus on a baby shower I'm hosting this Sunday. I was looking at some games. There are lots of good ones, but I have to keep in mind the group of people coming (older ladies). So some games I like, they may not.

I can't wait for November 10 :). I will be leaving for Toronto on November 10. And on November 16 I will be leaving for Nicaragua :).

I have over 100 pics to post. I now have to find the time to put captions on them and put them on my website.

Well take care everyone and May God bless each and everyone of you. Also keep my family in your prayers (meaning Jeff, Alysia and I). The busier I get the less time I give God (or no time at all). It's funny how in doing things for the church I ignore the one who really counts :(.

Campmeeting here we come

We are leaving this Friday for Pugwash. We will be spending 10 days there. I hope we have some good weather. Our cabin leaks if it rains to hard with a lot of wind.
I enjoy going to campmeeting and seeing all our friends that we have not seen in a while. I'm hoping to actually be able to attend some meetings this year. Last year I was in charge of the kindergarden program. I had to give a class in the morning and the evening. I also helped out with crafts in the afternoon. I had no chance to go any meetings :(. This year will hopefully be better. I'm only a helper for Alysia's class, and they do her class before the main meetings.

Take care everyone and may God bless you all.

Hot, Hot weather

We have been having some very hot, humid weather lately. Luckily today is much cooler.
I went and watched Superman again (I really like it). Alysia stayed home with a babysitter. Went I told her that Amy was coming to take care of her, she started smiling and saying bye, bye mommy.
I have a lot of thing I have to do, but keep putting them of. I have so much to worry about for VBS. I just hoping that we have a good turnout.
Last weekend we went up to Camp Pugwash to put a new floor on our cabin. You can see the pictures in my website. Remy did a lot of work and did a great Job ( Jeff helped also :) ).
I have updated the Robichaud Family album (if you want to see some new pics).
I got a cute email and though I should share it here.

MOM'S DICTIONARY

AIRPLANE:What Mom impersonates to get a one-year-old to eat strained beets.

BABY:1) Dad, when he gets a cold.2) Mom's youngest child, even if he's 42.

BATHROOM:a room used by the entire family, believed by all (except Mom) to be self-cleaning."

BECAUSE":Mom's reason for having kids do things which can't be explained logically.

BED AND BREAKFAST:Two things the kids will never make for themselves.

CARPET:Expensive floor covering used to catch spills and clean mud off shoes.

CHINA:Legendary nation reportedly populated by children who love leftover vegetables.

DATE:Infrequent outings with Dad where Mom can enjoy worrying about the kids in a different setting.

EAR:A place where kids store dirt.

EAT:What kids do between meals, but not at them.

ENERGY:Element of vitality kids always have an oversupply of until asked to do something.

"EXCUSE ME":One of Mom's favorite phrases, reportedly used in past times by children.

EYE:The highly susceptible optic nerve which, according to Mom, can be "put out" by anything from a suction-arrow to a carelessly handled butter knife.

FOOD:The response Mom usually gives in answer to the question "What's for dinner tonight?"

GENIUSES:Amazingly, all of Mom's kids.

GUM:Adhesive for the hair.

HAMPER:A wicker container with a lid, usually surrounded by, but not containing, dirty clothing.

HINDSIGHT:What Mom experiences from changing too many diapers.

INSIDE:That place that will suddenly look attractive to kids once Mom has spent a minimum of half an hour getting them ready to go outside.

"I SAID SO":Reason enough, according to Mom.

JACKPOT:When all the kids stay at friends' homes for the night.

JOY RIDE:Going somewhere without the kids.

JUNK:Dad's stuff.

KETCHUP:The sea of tomato-based goop kids use to drown the dish that Mom spent hours cooking and years perfecting to get the seasoning just right.

KISS:Mom medicine.

LAKE:Large body of water into which a kid will jump should his friends do so.

MAYBE:No.

"MOMMMMMMM!":The cry of a child on another floor who wants something.

NAILS:A hard covering on the end of the finger, which Mom can never have a full set of due to pitching for batting practice, opening stubborn modeling clay lids and removing heat ducts to retrieve army men and/or doll clothing.

OCEAN:What the bathroom floor looks like after bath night for kids, assorted pets, two or three full-sized towels and several dozen toy boats, cars and animals.

PETS:Small, furry creatures which follow kids home so Mom will have someone else to clean up after.

PURSE:A handbag in which Mom carries the checkbook and keys she can never find because they're buried under tissues, gum wrappers, a plastic container full of cereal, toys from a fast-food restaurant, a teddy bear, a football, wallpaper samples, a grocery list and several outdated coupons.

QUIET:A state of household serenity which occurs before the birth of the first child and occurs again after the last child has left for college.

RAINCOAT:Article of clothing Mom bought to keep a child dry and warm, rendered ineffective because it's in the bottom of a locker stuffed in a book bag or because the child refuses to wear "the geeky thing."

REFRIGERATOR:Combination art gallery and air-conditioner for the kitchen.

SCREAMING:Home P.A. system.

SNOWSUITS:Warm, padded outer garments that, when completely zipped and snapped performs two important functions: Protecting children from the cold and reminding them that they have to go to the bathroom.

SOAP:A cleaning agent Mom puts on the sink on the off-chance one of her kids will accidentally grab it while reaching for the towel.

SPOILED ROTTEN:What the kids become after as little as 15 minutes with Grandma.

TERRIBLE TWO'S:Having both kids at home all summer.

"THAT WAY":How kids shouldn't look at moms if they know what's good for them. Also applies to how they talk.

TROUBLE:Area of nonspecific space a child can always be sure to be in.

UMPTEENTH:Highly conservative estimate of the number of times Mom must instruct her offspring to do something before it actually gets done.

VACATION:Where you take the family to get away from it all, only to find it there, too.

VITAMINS:Tiny facsimiles of cave people Mom forces you to swallow each morning as part of her sinister plot to have you grow up to be "Just like Daddy."

WALLS:Complete set of drawing paper for kids that comes with every room.

XOXOXOXO:Mom salutation guaranteed to make the already embarrassing note in a kid's lunch box even more mortifying.

YARD SALE:Heart-wrenching emotional process wherein Mom plans to sell kid's outdated toys and clothing that she decides at the last minute are treasured mementos she can't bear to part with.

ZILLION:Amount of times Mom must have gone to the supermarket already this week.

ZUCCHINI:Vegetable which can be baked, boiled, fried or steamed before kids refuse to eat it.--Author unknown

Tired, Tired and I don't want to live here anymore

I am wishing to be very far away from Moncton right now. Not because it's a bad place, I just don't want to be here :(. I would really love to a find a place where I will feel that I fit in. Toronto was pretty close :). But once I married a white guy, well what can I say, it will be difficult to find a place where we will both be happy and both fit in perfectly :P. I thought the only place we will all fit in will be heaven (or hell, but we would not be happy there).

Life has been busy and boring as usual. Vacation Bible school is quickly coming up on my radar (I'm in charge). Maritime campmeeting is also coming up. My duties at church also keep me busy (all this with Avon and day to day stuff). I feel like just saying I quit to everything. NO head deaconess stuff, NO to teaching the beginners class, NO to doing children's church, NO VBS, NO Avon stuff, NO helping out at the beginners class at campmeeting, NO to anything that resembles responsibilities. Being a mommy and wife is fine though :). My summer is just to full of thing I don't want to do. It will all slow down once fall comes.

I saw Pirates of the Caribbean last Friday (by myself). I liked it. I don't think there are any other movies left for this year that interest me enough to go to the theatre again (but who know).

I just thought of something. I'm trying to remember how many birthday parties I have been invited to here in Moncton (family does not count). I don't remember one :(. This is sad. Can you tell I'm slowly getting my self depressed :). Like I said Moncton is not a bad place, I just really feel that I don't fit in. No really good friends at church (but very active in it), one good friend outside of church, but not the same as in church :). I will be happy to leave Moncton for a few months for Nicaragua. In Nicaragua I don't have friends either, but I have FAMILY :), and that's all that counts.

I will be updating my website in the next few day, so check the photo gallery. Alysia is doing great. She has a really cute haircut and is quickly learning that what mommy says is law when it comes to her ;). She really likes to sing. You will usually hear her humming or singing a song throughout the day.

Jeff is doing fine also. The usual stresses and worries. We are back to attempting to do couple devotion in the morning. Please keep me and my family in your prayers.

Take care and May God bless you.

P.S. The birthday party paragraph is Elena's fault. I was seeing pics on her blog.

Praying and Superman

Last week I began and finished reading the book titled "The incredible power of Prayer". This really motivated me and I had began having longer conversations with God in my morning devotions. But as always when the devil sees you striving to have a better relationship with God, he works harder to make sure it does not happen.

I used to go to the movie theatres quite often in the past, but in the last 2 years I had gone less than 5 times. Well this past week I have gone twice. I'm not saying movies theatres are bad, just that I was trying to avoid them (just like Jeff only like to watch PG or G movies). When I sit and reflect I see how the devil has been working with me and how I have been falling to his temptations :(. But I will keep my morning devotions and my prayers going.

I went to see Superman yesterday. I was unsure about watching it after seeing the previews (way to much of comparing Superman to being a savior like Jesus and to being the light of the world). But the movie was really, really good (compared to movies in General). I wish it was already in video so that I could watch it again and again (like I did with Pride and Prejudice :) ).. I will not say mention to much about the plot (in case you have not seen it), just that it was good. I came away thinking that Superman says the world needs a savior, but he can only save them from physical dangers. The world needs a Savior who will save them from themselves. Some one who works from the inside :). We already have a Savior, Jesus. But people find it so hard to accept him :(. It's hard to let someone in and see all the good and bad inside (even thought he already knows everything). I'm working on making sure that Jesus is inside making me a better person outside.

Take care and may God bless each one of you.

Hello Everyone

I have had a busy weekend. I some German visitors :). A very nice German couple with their 2 little girls (1 and 2 years old) stayed with us for the weekend. The moved from Germany to New Brunswick. They felt that they were called to leave the city and live in the country. The will be building their own log cabin, from wood on their land (they are in the process of purchasing land here in NB). I wish them all the best. I am nowhere near living in the deep woods like they plan to. They will camping on their land till they build their cabin (they are Seventh Day Adventist). I was able to make sure that they found a place to stay till they buy their land. They are staying with another church member closer to the place where they plan to buy their land.

We finally got a new camera. After 2 years of sending it away to have it fixed, Future shop finally gave us a new one :). Same model, just a new version.

I have started a prayer list. I have been reading the Incredible power of Prayer. I feel the need to pray for others :). I have quite a few people on my list already. If you would like to be included on my prayer list (if you are not there already) let me know. Please keep my parents in your prayers.

Jeff will be on vacation for one week, starting Monday.

Take care everyone and may God bless each and everyone of you.

The Pink Dress

Don't let your day go on without reading this first, no matter how busy you may be!!!

The Pink Dress

There was this little girl sitting by herself in the park. Everyone passed by her and never stopped to see why she looked so sad. Dressed in a worn pink dress, barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by. She never tried to speak. She never said a word. Many people passed by her, but no one would stop. The next day I decided to go back to the park in curiosity to see if the little girl would still be there. Yes, she was there, right in the very spot where she was yesterday, and still with the same sad look in her eyes. Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl For as we all know, a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play alone. As I got closer I could see the back of the little girl's dress. It was grotesquely shaped. I figured that was the reason people just passed by and made no effort to speak to her. Deformities are a low blow to our society and, heaven forbid if you make a step toward assisting someone who is different. As I got closer, the little girl lowered her eyes slightly to avoid my intent stare. As I approached her, I could see the shape of her back more clearly. She was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form. I smiled to let her know it was OK; I was there to help, to talk. I sat down beside her and opened with a simple, "Hello." The little girl acted shocked and stammered a "hi" after a long stare into my eyes. I smiled and she shyly smiled back. We talked until darkness fell and the park was completely empty. I asked the girl why she was so sad. The little girl looked at me with a sad face said, "Because, I'm different." I immediately said, "That you are!"; and smiled. The little girl acted even sadder and said, "I know." "Little girl," I said, "you remind me of an angel, sweet and innocent." She looked at me and smiled, then slowly she got to her feet and said, "Really?"

"Yes, you're like a little Guardian Angel sent to watch over all people walking by." She nodded her head yes, and smiled. With that she opened the back of her pink dress and allowed her wings to spread, then she said "I am." "I'm your Guardian Angel," with a twinkle in her eye. I was speechless -- sure I was seeing things. She said, "For once you thought! of someone other than yourself.
My job here is done". I got to my feet and said, "Wait, why did no one stop to help an angel?" She looked at me, smiled, and said, "You're the only one that could see me," and then she was gone. And with that, my life was changed dramatically. So, when you think you're all you have, remember, your angel is always watching over you. Pass this to everyone that means anything at all to you. Make sure you send it back to the person who sent it to you, to let them know you're glad they care about you. Like the story says, we all need someone.. And, every one of your friends is an Angel in their own way. The value of a friend is measured in the heart. I hope your Guardian Angel watches over you always.

My Flights are booked

I paid for my airline tickets to Nicaragua today. I will be traveling from Toronto on November 16. I plan to be in Toronto for a few days before I leave for Nicaragua.

It's late right now (10:40 pm) and Alysia is playing with her toy cars by pretending she is putting them to sleep :). She lined them all up on a pillow and was rocking them to sleep on the rocking chair. The she picked them all up and said it was time for bed. It was so cute, because she was talking to them and acting like a mommy.

Good night and God bless you all.

Two Husband free weeks

Jeff left today for the US. He will be gone for about 2 weeks. It will be nice to have the car all to my self, but I will miss my hubby. To make up for his warmth in bed I let Alysia sleep with me :).

I will be kept busy this week, since I have quite a few errands to do. I have to start planning for my trip to Nicaragua. My sis Elena already bought her flight tickets. I also have to start ordering supplies for Vacation bible school (to be held in Aug 14-18).

I will be having another lady join my Avon team today.

I hope you are all doing well, take care and May God bless you.

I am from Africa :)

Yesterday a new Avon customer of mine came to pick up her order. She bought something for her granddaughter (a child) who lives in Ottawa. She told me she was going to Ottawa for a week to visit with her granddaughter and her family. She then asked if maybe I knew the child's father. I was wondering how that could be possible. I have never mentioned to her that I lived in Kanata (near Ottawa), so I could see no reason why she would assume I know the father of her grandchild. She mentioned his name and I said I had no idea who he was. She then said, "oh, are you not from Africa?". I said no, I'm from Nicaragua :).

It's funny how she assumed that I'm from Africa and to make it worse that I would automatically know another person from Africa (even though he lives in another province). It he had been SDA, there might have been a remote chance.

This whole thing brought to mind what Sharmilla had told me when she got of the plane. She said that when she got on the plane she was the only person who was not white, she said she was afraid of getting lynched (joke, just in case you thought she was serious). But as you can see Moncton is very much a white city.

Take care everyone and May God bless all of you (especially all of you from Africa, you know who you are :) ).

I had a great week with Sharmilla

From May 28 till June 4th I had the pleasure of Sharmilla's company. We went to PEI and to Hopewell Rocks and just hanged around town :). It was a great week. Alysia also enjoyed having Sharmilla here, she kept asking Sharmilla to read a book for her (a book Sharmilla had brought her as a gift).
On Sabbath Sharmilla helped me out with my beginners class and also with Children's church. All in all a great week.
On the day she arrived she helped me to prepare for a baby shower I was hosting that day.

I will be putting up the pictures we took in The Robichuad Family album, if you are interested in looking.

We have a bible worker at church for the summer time. His wife is preggo and due in September, so that means that I will be hosting another baby shower. If you are wondering why I'm hosting these baby showers it' because I'm the Head deaconess at church and these ladies don't have any close friends living in Moncton who could host a baby shower for them. Also I know that the ladies at church expect me to do it.

Take care everyone and May God bless you.

Alysia is more spanish than english :)

Alysia may speak more english than spanish, but her tastes are more spanish. She likes to eat rice, not potatoes (unless it's McDonald's french fries). She likes the flour tortillas I make and she likes soup. When it comes to food she has more of my preferences than Jeff's. In other areas she is very much her own person :).

We have not been doing to much this past week, just hanging out at home reading, watching tv and playing in the backyard.

Have a nice day everyone and may God bless you.

Marta

It was good weekend

Friday: The Kingsway drama club was here and did a program for our church. As head deaconess I had to make sure that all of them had a place to sleep for Friday. I also had to make sure that we provided lunch for the on Sabbath. The play was very good.
My big toe on my left foot got hurt. I stubbed my toe and since my nail was longer it got pushed back (very painful). I was not able to wear any shoes, only flipflops.

Saturday: We had 4 girls stay with us and they had a great time. The drama club also did the worship service and did another great program. We have moved our bible study from Friday to Saturday night. So at 7pm we had bible study.

Sunday: Jeff went golfing. I signed up another rep for my Avon team. We watched movies and did not do much. My toe was feeling a lot better. I bought two movies: In Her Shoes and Pride and Prejudice. They were on sale 2 for 20 (used). Jeff watched In her shoe and liked it.

Monday: It's raining. Jeff has this Monday free (long weekend). He is in the process of cleaning his workshop. The sister of the boy I babysit brought over some computer games for Alysia. Jeff has decided to put our old computer in Alysia's room so that she may play her games there (no internet, just the computer, we will never allow her to have internet in her room). He is still working on them.

So that has been our weekend. I am looking forward to next weekend since Sharmilla will arrive on Sunday. The only problem is I'm also hosting a baby shower for a lady at church on that day in the afternoon. It was the only day I could do it on :(.

Take care and may God bless you.

A caring Alysia

Whenever the garbage truck goes by, it wakes up Alysia and frightens her. This morning when it went by I was still in bed and Jeff was in the living room. He saw Alysia run out of her room, stop and then run back into her room to rescue her stuffed dog and her doll :).

Yesterday I took my Mother in law out for dinner. Today is her birthday and she had asked that we take her out to dinner. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JO ANNE.

Yesterday Jeff decided that he wanted to go golfing, so we got a babysitter for Alysia. When I came home she told me that Alysia had fallen of her bike. She has a scrape on her elbow and one on her cheek (looks like a bug bite, a big one).

Life is going good. Avon put out a challenge to their leader. During campaign 14-17 (May to August) if I sign up 5 people I get a free portable DVD player worth $219. I also get $150 in bonuses (on top of the commissions I make from their sales and and my sales). So again if anyone is interested in Selling Avon, please contact me. There are many benefits to it. I have not paid for any of my products so far and I also get money (depends on how much stuff I get for myself :) ).

Take care everyone and May God bless you.

Marta

Happy Mother's Day

A little late in the day I know, but better late than never :). I had a good mother's day. I slept in and so did Alysia.
Sabbath was a great. We went to Hampton and saw Roger (my father in law) get baptized. We spent the afternoon visiting with friends in Hampton. We went for a nice long, long walk.
I went down a metal slide that was to low for me and I ended up landing on my but :(. My poor tailbone has been in pain since yesterday.

Today Jeff took me and Alysia out for supper to celebrate Mother's day. Tomorrow I will be taking my mother-in-law out for supper. Her birthday is on Tuesday. We are going to the only Indian restaurant in town. They have pretty good food (from what I have heard).

Take care everyone and May God bless you.

I am a Unit Leader with Avon :)

Hello Everyone

I have been busy this past week. I now have 4 ladies on my team. I had 5 but one of them was just trying to scam Avon. This means that Ruth Anne (my leader) is now an Advanced Unit Leader and she will be able to go to Arizona in July for an all expense paid trip to a resort
there (yes it will be hot, but they do have air conditioning). This also means that I get a $450 bonus (all going to bills).

Jeff is still working on painting our Family room I will put up pictures once he is finished.

Jeff's Father is getting rebaptized this Saturday :). We are all going to the Hampton church (1 hours away from Moncton) this Sabbath to be there with him.

Alysia is doing great, she is enjoying the warm weather and loves riding her bike (with training wheels). She is also getting bigger. I'm having to buy her a whole new wardrobe (one outfit at a time).

I can't wait for Sharmilla to get here. Anyone else want to join us :).

Take care and may God bless you.

New pictures

I have updated my website and have put up new pictures in the Robichaud Family album. You can now see all the work that Jeff did in paintin Alysia's bedroom. It looks very nice.

I am very busy this week, mostly with Avon (I'm only this busy since I decided to join leadership and I'm starting my own team).

My brother-in-law Aaron is arriving today from Cuba.

SHARMILLA IS COMING TO VISIT ME :). She called me last night to let me know what date she was arriving. I can't wait :).

Someone please pass my congratulations to Jay and Melyssa on their beautiful daughter Julissa (hope I spelled that right).

Take care and may God bless each and every one of you.

Hello Everyone

OOps sorry, I just noticed that I was able to post my blog from Monday. Sorry if this repeats the same info .

I noticed on Monday that I had not posted in a while. I wrote a nice long post that included things like bomb threats, me on TV, Alysia with a big bruise in her chin and more. But when I tried to post it, I was unable to. Jeff had installed a program that was giving me trouble so I lost my post :(.

I was supposed to be at the Moncton coliseum on Sunday from 10-1pm, but a bomb threat was called in and we had to stay outside. It was the lifestyle show and Avon had a booth there. Since we could not go in, my manager and I decided to decorate the car and do some advertising in the parking lot. There were lots of news people with their cameras and one of them came over to interview us. I got to be on the evening news.

Alysia tripped and fell on her chin. She has a lovely bruise on her chin that she keep showing to everyone :). She also bit her lip and for a moment I thought she might have lost a tooth, but it was just blood from her lip. She is doing great now.

Jeff and I have started our projects for the year. We are painting Alysia's bedroom and buying her matching furniture. We are also painting the family room a different color. I have bought curtains to make my living room look nicer. Jeff has a new bike and Alysia is now riding a bicycle (with training wheel). We had to buy a helmet for her. We have a few other project, like painting the playcenter, but they have to wait till the weather is warmer.

I am being kept busy with church stuff too. Children's church, Sabbath school teacher, head deaconess, and now I'm part of a subcommittee (can't tell you what it's about, board only stuff :) ). This Sabbath I'm doing children's church, trying to recruit for Vacation Bible school and participating in a food drive. Next Sabbath is potluck and we have a group of students doing some music. I have to make sure we provide snacks for them when they finish. The Sabbath after that my Father-in-law is getting baptized :). Two weeks after that we have a group from Kinsway college coming. I have to find families to host them and provide lunch for them.

I am keeping busy with my Avon also. I have people I'm meeting with this week to see if they are interested in signing up. If you can recommend a person who is interested in joining and they join, I will give you $25 worth of Avon products (you choose the products). This is also for any of you people in Toronto :) or where ever you are.

Well take care everyone and May God bless each and everyone of you :).

Marta

Hello Everyone

Well a full week has passed since I last posted, sorry. I was kept busy with lots of things :).

I wanted to share what happened to me yesterday. I was scheduled to be at the Moncton coliseum from 10 -1pm yesterday. There was a lifestyle show going on. I was with the Avon booth. Well my turn came up yesterday, but when we got there we noticed everyone leaving the building. We also noticed fire trucks at the front of the building. We found out that there had been a bomb threat called in that morning. We were not allowed to go in (obviously). We were told that a bomb sniffing dog was being brought in from Fredericton ( 2 hours away). Since Ruth Anne (my manager and neighbor) and I could not go in. We decided to do some tailgating. Tailgating (I hope I'm spelling it right) is when we decorate the car with balloons and signs and advertise about Avon. We also do a free draw. People approach the car and you get to speak to them about Avon :). We do tailgating were there are big events going on (ex. Hockey games). Well there were not a lot of people, since the radio was telling everyone about the bomb threat and that the show was postponed till 1:30pm. But we got to be in the news. Global TV came over and took a shot of the car, and he also interviewed me . Jeff got to see me on the evening news :). So that was my 1 minute of fame :P .

The bomb threat was a hoax. There was a robbery at one of the Canadian tires around the same time so we figure they were related. Nobody was hurt and the show started again at 1:30pm. I had to return home since Alysia was with a babysitter (Jeff was golfing).

Alysia slipped and fell on her chin last Friday. She has a lovely black bruise on her chin she likes to show of :). She also bit her lip, but that got better a lot faster than her chin. We set up her slides and swings again, she is loving it. She is now riding a bicycle with training wheels and doing great.

Take care everyone and May God bless each and everyone of you.

It's nice to have friends visiting

On Thursday evening our friend Jerry and Olivia Smith arrived at our home. They were on their way to a wedding, but were staying overnight in our home. It was a pleasure to have them. I tried out a new recipe on them (tofu) and it was delicious ( meaning I liked what I cooked :) ).

Jeff got to go golfing again on Friday and we were kept busy the rest of the day doing errands and getting ready for the Sabbath.

Sabbath we had about 20 people in our home. We had a potluck here after church. I got a great soup recipe from the Pastor's wife (Melanie). Jeff and I have been trying to eat less meat and so far we are doing ok. We don't buy it to cook at home, but we don't mind ordering it for takeout.

I have my first recruit with Avon. I had an appointment on Thursday with her and she like what she heard and decided to join :).

Life had been going great lately (for me at least), but I worry that the devil is just out to trip me up :(. I have been doing my Sabbath school lessons, reading my bible and doing Alysia's Sabbath school lesson with her every day. It's so nice to see that the lesson I'm reading to her is actually making some sense to her :). She has been sick this past weekend. She had a fever on Friday and Saturday. She does not have the fever anymore but it sounds like it's going to her lungs :(. I will be taking her to the doctor tomorrow. But even sick she has a lot of energy :).

I watched an interesting movie yesterday night. It's called Water (it was an Indian movie, not bollywood). It was very eye opening.

I will be busy this week. I have errand to run tomorrow, I'm taking my brother-in-law to Fredericton on Tuesday, I have an Avon meeting on Wednesday, My Avon order is due on Thursday and I have to have to clean my home on Friday for the Sabbath. Our friends Jerry and Olivia will be staying overnight on their way back home from the wedding :).

Life is certainly busy for me lately. Jeff and I will also be doing some home projects in the next few weeks. We are painting Alysia's bedroom and the family room. We finally buying some curtains for the living room and will buy some matching accessories to make our bathroom look nice.

Alysia is now riding a bicycle with training wheels. Jeff bought himself a cheap bike so that we can ride together as a family.

Last but not least, the fish is alive and doing well. It's back to looking a lovely blue color and hopefully will be alive for many more years :).

Take care and may God bless you.

Busy, Busy, Busy

I just realised today that it has been almost a week since I last wrote in my blog. But I have been busy with Avon.
I'm trying to remeber what has been keeping me so busy :). But It's not coming to me.

This has been a busy week. I will not mention what with, just that it has been busy. Tomorrow I will be having company over for the night (can't wait ).
Jeff has gone golfing for the first time this year (like a kid with a new toy). He is looking forward to golfing this year (he has a membership).

Please keep my parents in your prayes as they are going through tough times.

Take care and May God bless you.

Happy Belated Birthday

To Analise. Dee London's daughter. She turned 1 year old yesterday :). May God bless you with many, many more birthdays.

I have been keeping busy. My Avon order came on Tuesday, so I was busy sorting and delivering them. I have my sis Elena almost convinced to join Avon :). So if she does join, all you Toronto people will hopefully support her (it is so much easier to shop from the brochure than from the web).

I have to give a big thanks to Dee London. Because of your msn space I now read my sabbath school lesson everyday and I have started the "Read your bible in one year". You had the link to the site and I discovered how easy it is to do it all on my computer. I'm always on the computer, so this is great for me. I never seem to pick up my bible. But this way I don't have to pick it up, I just read it online :).

Alysia and her friend Nicole at the YMCA playgroup

Take care everyone and May God bless you.

I had a fun weekend

But I am tired. We went to Halifax this past weekend for a youth rally. We had a lot of fun and the speaker was great. I got to see a lot of people I have not seen in some time and also missed seeing some people I would have liked to see.

I forgot to take my camera :(. So I have no pictures to post :(. A friend did take a few pics for us, but who knows when we will get them.

Alysia had lots of fun, but the poor child is exhausted. She needs 12 hours of sleep each night and she was getting only 8 each night (and no naps). She should be sleeping in till late today :).
She had a doctors appointment today but I have decided to cancel, she needs her sleep more.

Today Alysia and I plan to just hang out at home. I do have an Avon meeting tonight (to find new recruits) but nothing else planned.

I have added some new links in the links section if you care to check them out (I got the idea from Dee London).

Have a nice day everyone and may God bless you.

Busy, Busy, Busy

I have been busy this week. I decided to join the Avon Leardership. This means that I try to recruit other people to sell Avon to (and I have to train them and help them and give them any support they need). So if any of you Ladies want to sign up and sell Avon, just let me know :).

I have a leadership meeting on Monday, a team meeting on Tuesday and also have been calling my clients to remind them my order goes in today. So far I have a good order. I also have a lot of event to attend this month to help recruit more people and get new customers. I don't have to do all this, but I'm trying to recruit 4 people just this month.

Opening an Avon account is fun, exciting and tailored just for you!

There is an Avon account that will suit your needs!
Listed below are some of
the different ways our representatives use
their Avon accounts.

· We have representatives that are “Home Shoppers”; they buy for themselves and enjoy the discount that Avon gives them for having their own account.
· We have representatives who are “Casual Representatives”; they share their brochures with friends, family, neighbors and co-workers. This enables them to receive their own product free and make some extra money as well.
· We have representatives who go door-to-door, business-to-business and build strong, profitable Avon businesses with commissions as high as 50%!!
· We have representatives who are “LEADERS”. These women love Avon and share the opportunity with others and build their own teams. These women coach, support and mentor new and established representatives on their teams. This can lead to a successful career with unlimited earning possibilities!!

Which account is for you??

Do you know someone who might be interested??



We are going to Halifax tomorrow evening for a Youth Rally, so we are going to be busy this weekend too.

Take care everyone and May God bless you abundantly.

Long Day

I woke up feeling very tired this Sabbath. I was already tired yesterday night at 7pm and I did not get to bed till 11pm. But Alysia and I got a nap in this afternoon :). Now I'm awake at 11:30pm again, but I get to sleep in tomorrow :P.
Alysia is doing great, her fish not so great. I'm hoping that I can save it. I'm giving it medication and hopefully it will kill the fungus. The medication cost the same to get another fish (about $6), but the fish is family now, so we have to try to save it :).
I have updated my website. I have not really put up any new pics. I plan to update the Robichaud Album in mid-April, once I have more pics.

Take care everyone and May God bless you.

I received some good news

This morning. I called my friend Sharmilla in Toronto to wish her a Happy Belated Birthday (it was yesterday). She told me she is planning to come and visit me in June :). I will be looking forward to that.

I keep trying to post some pics in my blog, but it's not letting me :(. I guess I will have to wait till I update my website.

I hope you are all having a good day and at least enjoy reading my blog a little. I have a very mean husband who insulted my blog. But since it's not for him I will ignore him. He finds it boring, but that's because it's all stuff that he already knows :). I did notice that when he was in Europe for 2 weeks he read my blog (since we only talked for a few minutes each day).

I bought no meat this week. I have been trying to cook only vegetarian meals this week. Like I said before I need a good vegetarian cook :).

Take care and May God bless you all.

Nice Monday

Well it was a good Monday :). This past weekend was good too. Sabbath I spent at church. We invited a few people over for lunch. I had takout for supper (but we usually do on Saturday nights) from a good vegetarian restaurant (hmmm...). Sunday Jeff was kept busy doing errand. Alysia and I did nothing but hang around the house. I did go to the gym in the afternoon.

I am waiting to chat with a friend who lives in Costa Rica. We have spoken less than 5 times since I moved from there (and she was one of my best friends). But it's her fault. She is so hard to get a hold of. This is why I have been sitting her for over and hour waiting for her. She said she was going to switch computers (had to leave the office) and to please not leave, that she wanted to talk. How much longer should I wait?

Two good friend whom I met in Costa Rica also had their B-days last week (and one from Toronto).
Tuesday: Dee, my friend in Toronto, who is easy to get a hold of.
Thursday: Kiry (who is also difficult to get a hold of)
Sunday: Anthony ( who I can reach anytime) and lives in California :).
I wish all these people many more years :). And may God bless them abundantly.

Take care everyone.

Nice day today

Jeff had the day off today. I took care of a little boy for a friend for a few hours. Afterwards we went to pick up our camera. This is the 4th and last time we send it away. Jeff spoke to the manager and according to our warranty we should get a new one (or the equivalent of what we paid). They said if we have to send it to get fixed again that they will replace it.

I need a good vegetarian cook. I like vegetarian food, I just don't like making it (or normal food for that matter). Everytime I try vegetarian recipes I end up not liking them.
We are having the Friday night meeting in our home today (good thing Jeff is back and can play the guitar, so we don't have to sing acapella).

Today is the fourth time I had Jehova's Witnesses come to my door. They just leave me some magazines, but you can tell they are building up to the whole "would you like some bible studies" talk. I have spoken to my pastor to give me a small bible study to find the appropriate verses to show that Jesus is also God, and that there is a Trinity (these verses I have already found). I had told my pastor that is they ever asked if I wanted bible studies I would first ask them if they kept all 10 commandments (including the 4th). If they don't keep the Sabbath, well then I prefer not to study with them. The pastor said I can use their own bible (they have their own version) to show them that Jesus is God :).

I was also going to mention here about Zaak and Amber Robichaud and the work they are doing in Guatemala http://www.impactministries.ca/cgi-bin/site.cgi?tmpl=default. If you ever feel like you want to sponsor a child, this is a great place to help. They are working as missionaries in Guatemala for the next 5 years.

Take care and have a great Sabbath and may God bless you.

I Wish you enough

My friend Ria sent this to me, so I'm sending it out to everyone and back to Ria (Elena tell her it's here).

I WISH YOU ENOUGH.

At an airport, I overheard a father and his daughter in their last moments together. They had announced her plane's departure and standing near the door she said, "Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough too, Daddy." They kissed good-bye and she left. He walked over towards the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, "Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?" "Yes, I have," I replied. Saying that brought back memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my Dad had done for me. Recognizing that his days were limited, I took the time to tell him face to face how much he meant to me. So I knew what this man was experiencing. "Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?" I asked. "I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is, her next trip back will be for my funeral," he said. "When you were saying good-bye I heard you say, 'I wish you enough, may I ask what that means?" He began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." He paused for a moment and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled even more. "When we said, 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with enough good things to sustain them." He continued and then, turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory:
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough "Hellos" to get you through the final "Good-bye"

He then began to sob and walked away. My friends and loved ones, I wish you enough. They say, "It takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but an entire lifetime to forget them" Send this phrase to the people you'll never forget and also remember to send it to the person who sent it to you. It's a short message to let them know that you'll never forget them. If you don't send it to anyone, it means that you're in a hurry and you need to slow down to enjoy what is around you, the people around you. I wish you enough

Hello people

I was thinking that I should change the title of my blog to A glimpse in to my life, not my soul :). I don't think I want to share what's really inside me. Not saying it's bad, just that I like the fact that only God can read them.
Life has been going good. Spiritual life not so good. But I guess the fact that I can acknowledge that means that I (and God) still care. Why is it so hard to have a real close relationship with God. Some would say it's not. A person who has all the outwardly actions may seem to have a close relationship and not really have it. I want to have a real close relationship, but I must work at it. I guess a good relationship does not come from doing nothing, you have to work at it (just like marriage).

Anyways I will be focusing on my relationship with God more (and that's when the Devil finds lots of other things to sway me from my focus :( ).

Well take care everyone and may God bless you as he does me (even when we don't deserve it).

The Rest of my week :)

Thursday: I sent in my Avon order and I invited a friend over for supper. We watched Pride and Prejudice (this is my 4th time this week).
Friday: I took Alysia to playgroup at the Y. Then we went to the library (got lots of books). I came home and rented the movie Yours, mine and ours. I invited a friend from church (guy friend) to come over and watch the movie with me and to also go to the Friday night meeting. He lives far out of town and needs rides to get in. So I picked him up early so that I would not get lost trying to find his home. We watched the movie (it was ok, but funny). That evening we went to the Friday night meeting. We all missed Jeff and his guitar. We discovered all the songs that can be sang acapella :). After the meeting I dropped off Josh.
Saturday: Went to church (to many thing happened to write, and none of them to important :) ). I had invited 2 families over for lunch. We all come back and had lunch (spaghetti). My friend Josh came over also (I told him he can come for lunch if nobody else invites him. I said this because I was going to have a lot of little kids in my home for lunch and he might prefer not to come). That evening I dropped off Josh at his home. My mother-in-law (Jo-Anne), and sisters-in-law (Melanie and Jessica) came over. One of the kids stayed over for the night (Victoria) and so did Jessica. We all watched Pride and Prejudice together (my 5th time, and yes I watched it all over) and also the end of one of my Bollywood movies. We went to bed around 2:30 am.
Sunday: cleaned my home, did grocery shopping and went to pick up Jeff. Thank you Elena and Ria for all the Indian movies. I watched the start of a movie and then I went to the Y to play badminton with a friend. I had lots of fun. Came home and watched the rest of the movie.

Thank you Dee for your Avon order :). I got a credit for your order :). I looked at my invoice online and I'm happy to say that I did good on this order. I got my products for free and the brochures I have to give to people (I have to pay for them). I also got $16 extra (which goes to Jeff, since I got all my products for free). Today I'm not doing to much. Just doing my laundry, and watching movies. This evening I going to the Y for some exercise.
And if you are all wondering how Alysia is doing, she is doing great. Throught out my week she is always kept busy, and I try to make sure that we do things that she will enjoy also :). She also liked the gifts that Elena sent and was happy to see daddy home.

Take care everyone and May God bless you richly.

How my week is going

Sunday: I invited a friend (single, no kids) over to watch Pride and prejudice with me.
Monday: Went to the mall with a friend (2 kids) from church. I bought myself a cute outfit at Fairwheathers. My friend came back with me and we watched pride and prejudice together.
Tuesday: I took the car to Saturn to have some warranty work done on it. We then came home and I watched Harry Potter (I have to say I did not really like it). I went to my first Avon meeting (my manager holds meetings once every 3 weeks). Alysia had fun with her babysitter.
Wednesday: We went to visit another friend (2 kids) who lives close by and spent the afternoon with them. I invited another friend (3 kids) from church to come over that evening and watch pride and prejudice with me :). They came over that evening and we all had fun :).
Today: I have to go out and give a brochure to a new customer. I plan to rent another movie to see this afternoon. I might also invite my friend from Sunday to come back and watch a bollywood movie with me (she is Spanish and likes them to). I also have to send in my order for Avon tonight.

Here is the address is you want to shop for Avon online.
http://shop.avon.ca/avonshop_en/default.asp
If you do buy anything, when you are in the checkout there is a section that asks you if you have an avon sales lady, and that if you do you can put her phone # in and she will get credit for your purchase. My phone # is 506-382-6521.

I have to say that all my friends enjoyed watching Pride and Prejudice. So if you have not seen it I recommend it.

Take care and May God bless each and everyone of you.

Long time no post

Well not that it's been that long. I have been busy reading a fiction series called the Wheel of Time, Don't start reading this series, they are thick books, about 10 of them and the writer has not even finished writing the series. I did not find this out till I read book 10 :(.

If you have not seen or read Pride and Prejudice I highly recommend it.

Jeff has now left for Houston, he will be in Toronto this weekend. I, as always, will envy him the experience :). I was longing for some Roti this weekend mmmm...... :).

Alysia is doing great, she is now fully potty trained. NO more diapers. I will not go into the story of how she got there, since it would take a few paragraphs, just be glad with Jeff and I that she is :). I will say that it was largely thanks to Jeff that Alysia is now potty trained. He was very patient with her.

I spent 2 hours this afternoon going door to door asking people if they would be interested in receiving the Avon brochure, I have about 8 new clients who are interested. At least it was a warmer day today compared to last Sunday when I went out (It was freezing).

I forgot to mention that the hockey game was great, I enjoyed watching the people more than the game. But I told Jeff that it's something we can do together :). Our team lost by the way.

Take care everyone and may God bless you richly.

You can never outgive God

Starting June we are going to be receiving some extra money each month. But Jeff and I decided that we should start giving 20% instead of 15% to the church. This meant that all the extra money would be going to the church. Well Jeff called me from work today to tell me he got another promosion and a 5% increase in pay :). So starting next month we will be giving 20% to the church and come June we will use the extra money to pay bills and for our trip to Nicaragua.

So remember to always give back to God what belongs to God and the Lord will bless you abundantly. I guess this is one of the reasons I am not to worried about my parents situation. I trust God will care for them. In case I forgot to mention it, my dad will have to find a new job by the end of March. But this does not mean that I should not pray for them, I still pray.

I say the movie the Last samurai today. It was a good movie, but just makes you reflect on this world full of war. It will be nice to live in a world where I know that nobody will be suffering from the ravages of war.

Take care and May God bless you.

Lovely Weekend

I had a great weekend. Went to church on Saturday (like always). One of the ladies at the church invited herself over for lunch ( I had told her this is something we did in Toronto) :). She know that when you invite yourself you don't expect a feast, just food :). We had spaguetti by the way. I have decided to always have something ready so that I may invite people over each Sabbath (or if they invite themselves).

Our friends Zaak and Amber (www.zaakistan.com), who live in Guatemala, got robbed on the weekend. They lost about $7500 worth of stuff (luckely the thiefs left their computers). So please keep them in your prayers.

I went out on Sunday, going door to door, asking people if they wanted to recieve Avon catalogues. I got a few people who are interested and a lot of people who already have a sales rep at work.

Tomorrow Jeff and I will be going to see the local hockey team play a game. This will be my first hockey game. Jeff is hoping that I will enjoy it and that it's something we can do together :).

Well take care everyone and May God Bless You.

I'm All Excited

Like I said in my last post, I joined Avon. I now have to start building a customer base :). I plan to go door to door in my neighborhood asking people if they would like to recieve the Avon brochure. Since I'm new I get a special deal on my first two orders. Depending on how much I sell, I get a percentage. If you sell over 400, I get 40%. But in my first 2 orders as long as I get $125 in each order, I will get 40% instead of 10% :). So I have to get busy, since my first order goes in March 9. My manager (also my neighbour) said it should not be to hard. Most of her orders range from 400-600.

I saw the movie Zathura (like Jumangi, but in space). It was ok. I rented it for one of the boys I babysit. I will be babysitting my neighbour's son tomorrow also, this means I get to have the car, so that I can take them to the Y.

I decided to not do the diet. Instead I decided to make changes to my diet :). I get very bad cravings when I go on diets. So now I have made 3 changes in my diet. Drink 3 L of water a day, eat veggies with every meal and have fruits for snacks. I also plan to keep going to the Y 3 times a week.

Well take care everyone and May God bless you.

Marta

Avon Here I come

Can you tell I never seem to give up :). I'm always trying something to make more money :). Not that I'm making that much :).

I just wanted to let you all know that I now sell Avon. For those of you in Toronto if you order Avon online (www.Avon.ca) and fill in my phone # in the Representative area (when you are in the check out) I get a percentage. So if you like Avon products and don't mind ordering online, and you also like me :), you will put my phone # in :).

My manager (my neighbor) says that to save on shipping it might make it easier if a bunch of people put in one order.

But I just signed up today. I will have to start building a customer base here in Moncton. But I have a great manager and neighbor, so it will be pretty easy to do.

Also, just wanted to mention to keep my family in Nicaragua in your prayers. The Lord is changing some things in their lives and I would appreciate it if you would keep them in your prayers :).

I also started my diet today. For the next two weeks I will be avoiding all starches, fruits and sweets. This means I will be eating a lot of veggies. But after two weeks I get to introduce the other stuff again, but only the good stuff. I hope I can stick to it. I start to get such bad cravings when I do this. I especially start longing for Dairy Queen's brownie sundae.

Take care everyone and May God Bless you.

Nice Weekend So Far

We left for St. John on Thursday. We went to see "Bowser and Blue, Humor for Boomers". But even though we were not boomers, we still enjoyed them. The Bed & Breakfast was great (especially they corner tub jacuzzi). Alysia did great without us.

On Friday I had a few errands to run and apart from that I was not to busy. Yesterday we had my mother in law and brother in law over for lunch. We also invited a friend from church. We had more people come over later and had an enjoyable afternoon and evening.

Today we are meeting up with some friends from Halifax. We are going out for lunch with them. Jeff will be busy attending a hockey game for the rest of the afternoon. Alysia and I will just come home and watch movies :).

I hope you are all having a great weekend. Take care and God bless you.

Traveling Husband

Jeff will be traveling to Houston in March and he will be staying in Toronto for Friday and Sabbath on his way back. He will also be traveling to to other places in the next few months, but I forgot where.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow night. We are leaving for St. John around 4. I hope Alysia does well. This is the second time she is spending the night without one of her parents.

Take care everyone and God bless you.

A Card for all of you

Click here to see the card

MAY YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL VALENTINE'S DAY.

I'm Back

Elena reprimanded me and told me to update my blog :). Jeff arrived on Friday night (very nice to have him home). I still have to post all the pics he took in Europe. They are to many to put titles to and I doubt Jeff would do it. So if you see the pics they will probably just be numbered.

We had a snowstorm last night. Luckily Jeff is home now and he cleaned our driveway :).

Happy Valentines Day (a few hours early) to all of you. Jeff and I will be celebrating it this Thursday night :).

I have been reading a fiction series, but they are thick books and there are 10 books :(. I'm only on book 3). I find myself skipping whole chapters to get to the part of the story that has the characters I'm interested in.

I'm getting better at making tortillas (not the Mexican type, this one is more like bread). I made some tonight to have as a snack, yummmm...

I did children's church this week, and I'm glad to say the kids are getting more into the program. I have also started to work on the Vacation Bible School program.

I have been talking with a friend about Christ's second coming and I will be lending her my "The Appearing" DVD. It was amazing how little she knew of her bible, but she is more than willing to learn :).

Well that is all for now folk, take care and May God bless you.

P.S. I added the pic of Alysia because she looked so cute in that pic.

Long time and no post

From me :). It's been a while since I have really sat in front of my computer.

Last week and this week have been going well. I have gone to 3 church meeting (just in the last week), taken care of a kid in my home, gone to the YMCA with Alysia, visited my friends and just hanged around my house reading books and watching movies.

I got to use my snowblower last week. It was not to hard, but I'll be glad when Jeff takes over the job.

This past week I have also been reflecting on a comment left about my last post :). My friend was asking if I did not have enough romance in my life that I needed to read it. I told him that I could have tons of romance and would still probably read them :). I also told him that he is a single guy and that once he marries he will probably be less romantic. There are exceptions to the rule but overall most men become less romantic once they marry (they already have us, so they don't try as hard to be romantic). But while they become less romantic or do less of the small things we liked (like bringing us flowers) they make up in other ways. Jeff for example will be taking me to visit my family in Nicaragua for Christmas ( I will probably be gone for 2 months). He is taking me to a show in St. John and to spend the night at a bed and breakfast there (for Valentines). He sent me to Toronto for 2 weeks to enjoy myself before x-mas. As you can see Jeff likes to do bigger things, which I think leaves him less focused on the small things (like flower :) ). But he always picks out great cards for me :). So while my hubby is not the most romantic man in the world, I think I will keep him :). He know what I like and tries to keep me happy.
For those of you who are wondering what I do, well you will have to ask him (I think it's all subjective, like beauty being in the eye of the beholder).

This past week a also saw the movie "In her Shoes". I loved it and it made me want to call and talk to my sis :) (which I did). If you are a woman and have a sister I recommend you watch it.

Jeff is coming back this Friday and I am glad. I will be sad that I lose the car again, but it will be nice to have him home ( I need someone to argue with :) ). Alysia will be officially booted out of my bed on Friday morning.

Alysia is doing great. Enjoys reading and watching her dvds. Looking as cute as ever.
I find that a lot of people comment on how cute or sweet she is and I find myself wondering if she really is that cute ( I think so, but I'm biased) or are people just trying to be nice :).
Yesterday a lady who was asking about my babysitting services asked if I took care of her everyday :). I told her that Alysia was mine, so yes I do take care of her everyday :). My child is not that different from me, right? Tell me what you think, look at this pic. http://www.jeffandmarta.com/photogallery/Alysia1/slides/11.%20Related%20or%20not%20related.html


Well I think this blog has gotten long enough. So I will say goodnight and may you have a great week and may God bless you abundantly.

Happy Tuesday

Well I hope you had a happy Tuesday :). I visited the library and two friends today. I also had a board meeting.

But I have to say the best part was the library (being able to get some books to read). I found a new author of romance books that I like. Her name is Grace Livingston Hill, I believe she is dead now. But the book I read was great because the characters were people who were after God's heart (Christian romance :) ). And since she is a writer who was born in the late 1800 her books are more clean (sexually) than more modern romance books :). I love reading romance books set in the 1800 or early 1900 and even better one who is Christian in her writing (meaning she includes God in the characters life). If you can read "Crimson Roses" I recommend it (I'm talking to women here).

Here is a link to find out more about the author : Grace Livingston Hill

Have a great day everyone and May God bless you each and every day as he does to me :).

Week One

Jeff is now in Breda, Netherlands :). He called me from Montreal, from London and from Breda. He was very proud of himself because he was able to keep a conversation going for 2 hours with a lady in french. She helped him find the right train (God was keeping him safe). The train he was supposed to take, broke down, so he had to take a whole bunch of different trains to get to Breda.

For my part I have been enjoying the use of the car but also missing Jeff.
Today I went to the YMCA to exercise and then I took Alysia to her Playgroup (also at the Y). We went to the church to check on something, then I went to a school near my home to post my add about babysitting.

Now I'm at home drying some clothes for a friend. She cares for Alysia while I exercise and will do her laundry for the next two weeks (she hangs her clothes out to dry, but it's cold and has not been to sunny).

I am also babysitting this afternoon for 1 hours (afterschool care) and in the evening Alysia and I will be going to the Y again for her swim class.

Take care everyone and have a great day.

I Love Technology :)

I stole my title from Amber Robichaud's blog :). She was mentioning that it's great to be able to visit friends websites and find out how they are all doing (even though we are all far away from each other). I agree with her it's great. But I mentioned to her that only a few of my friends have websites or msn spaces, and even then they don't post a blog like we do :(.
So if you don't have a blog yet, start one :).

I have spent these last few days updating my website again. People who don't check more often are missing out :). I just put up new pics in Alysia's album. I also took down some videos and replaced them with other ones.

Take care everyone and May God bless you today and everyday.

Busy few months ahead for me

I forgot to mention that I'm in charge of Vacation Bible School (VBS) this year. For those of you who don't know what VBS is, it's a kids program that runs for a week for about 3 hours each . I was just thinking of the different positions I have at church this year and I have to say I will be kept very busy.

-I'm the only teacher for the Beginners class
-I'm the head deaconess
-I do a children's church one a month (I'm the only adult doing it)
-I will also be doing the VBS this year (which requires a lot of planning)

It's a good thing I'm a stay-at-home-mom. I definitely would not be able to do all this if I also had a job and child to care for.

on top of all this I have to participate in a lots of meeting since my position as head deaconess is also a board position. This means 1-2 meetings a month and any other meeting relating to my other positions.

Hello Everyone

I have been having a nice week so far. Nothing much to report. Jeff will be leaving for Europe this Saturday night. He checked the weather forecast and it looks like it will be snowing here most of the time he is gone. This means that I will have to shovel the driveway, or use the snowblower. I don't like using it because it causes my fingers and wrists to hurt (big handles). I hope that most of the snow will be very light snow :).

To Mom: Ayer llego el paquete que me mando.

To Dee : Hi, thought I should send out a hello just for you :). Hope you and your family are doing great.


May God bless you and have a great day.

MP3

I am now the proud owner of my first MP3 player :). It's not an expensive one (since I had to pay for it with my spending money), but it holds enough songs for what I'm going to use it for (exercise). I give thanks to Jeff for all his help in helping me chose an mp3 player.

Have a nice day everyone.

Temptations

The devil really know each of us well and what our temptations are. I was reflecting on how months can go by and then I give in to temptation again. Mine is related to reading. While some might consider this not that bad (what I'm reading), I know it's bad for me. It becomes like an addiction that is so hard to give up. I have found the only way to give it up is with God's help, because trust me I would not be able to do it otherwise. A friend said that what we derive pleasure from is what is hardest to give up. And the only reason I want to give up this temptation is because I know in my heart that it's not right for me (Jesus speaking to me). If I was a person who was not a Christian and not trying to have a closer relationship with Christ, this temptation would not be a temptation, it would just be something that I enjoy and brings me pleasure. But Jesus is telling me it's not right for me :). So I will be praying hard the next few days for the Lord to help me "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (can't remember where it's found).

On another note, I'm planning to buy myself an MP3 player. I need some music to listen to while I'm exercising at the YMCA. Will be looking for some used ones first since I have to pay for it from my own spending money (I'm already using half of it for the Y membership).

We had some friends over for lunch today and they stayed all afternoon. It's always nice to have friends over. I think I might have found 2 more fans for Bollywood movies (the Indian movies I like so much). Elena (my sis) promised that she would send me a whole bunch by the end of this month. I will be putting a rule that if you want to borrow my movies, you will have to watch them with me first. I really enjoy watching Indian movies with friends (especially those who have seen it and can explain some things as the movie plays).

To Amber : if you are reading when do you think you will be able to see The Chronicles of Narnia? (and yes I have to say that A horse and his boy is one of my favorites too).

To Ed: If you are reading, HELLO :).

To Elena: Sorry :(, but Alysia can not talk on the phone while I'm driving.

To Mom (and Sammy): Hello, Besos, abrazos y saludos a todos.