Thank you Mr. President!

I am so happy that I live in the great US of A....because I get this whole week off! Aren't I lucky?!!
This is the week known as President's Week here in Ca. and instead of getting Lincoln's Bday and President's Day off (2 consecutive 3 day weekends) we instead get a whole week off of work!
I can't believe that the end of the school year is quickly approaching. After this week I only have to work 7 more weeks and then get the week off for Easter. Then after that I only have to work 6 weeks and then get the whole summer off. I usually work summer school but not this year! I decided at the beginning of the year to have a little extra taken out of my salary each month so that I could have the whole 10 weeks off! I am so excited especially since I just found out that summer school this year is starting 1 week later and goes 1 week longer...that gives those working only 2-3 weeks off before the beginning of the new school year. I just realized that I needed more of an extended break for my emotional health! It was a good call.
This has been one of the most demanding and stressful school years since I started teaching 4 years ago. I have learned so many lessons through it though about waiting on the Lord and about being patient in the struggles. Many lessons about my character too. Who am I when life is moving along smoothly and who am I when the flames of life tend to get a bit hot? God is good and He is always into my growth.
I am thankful for many things and one this week is getting to rest!

Thank you Staci!

Ok...just have to give a great "Thank You" to my girl Staci over at Staci's Heart for awarding me this, my first ever blog award!
Staci girl, I've loved reading your blog and getting to know you through this crazy computer addiction!
I am going to pass on this award to my faithful reader and commenter Katie over at katiegfromtennessee, because she has been a faithful reader and encouraging sister in the Lord. I am a little short on the friend list so for now Miss Katie is going to be my only recipient.

Ps...Happy Valentines Day Bloggy Friends!!!!

Having trouble pasting the image....working on it Katie!

Happy Sunday and My God's Delight Book

Hi all....

How was your Lord's Day? I had a fantastic day. I got up a little later than normal so was very thankful that I was able to sleep in. Then had a bit of a time deciding where to go to church. For those of you who don't know, I've been attending a church about 45miles away for the last year. I love the church but dislike the commute. There has been lots of thought and prayer surrounding my decision to attend and be a member of a church so far away but I trust the Lord and am waiting on Him to direct me in this adventure. So, this morning I was really tired and just was not in the mood to drive all that way....even considered having "church" at home with some worship music and bible reading but decided that I needed the corporate worship experience! I went to BVG and was so very blessed to be there! Rick is preaching a series on grace and this mornings topic was sustaining grace. He covered how God sustains us by His grace and offers us the same power that raised Jesus from the dead! How awesome is that!

It was a beautiful time spent in the Word, in worship, and in fellowship. THANK YOU LORD FOR HOW YOU CONTINUALLY BLESS ME!!!

Now on to the second topic of my post. I have recently been encouraged to put together a God's Delight book by my friend and bible study table leader, Robin. I've been struggling a bit with my attitude and outlook on my life. It has been rather depressing and I've not been all that fun to be around. I've been entertaining the "glass is half empty" viewpoint about my life. Over the last few months I've talked with many a girlfriend about the unfair things in my life (a bit of a pity party!) and they've all been so sweet in listening...but one in particular has helped me look at a way to change the landscape of my thoughts (thanks Robin!). She has been talking to me about putting together this little book called a God's Delight book in which I chronicle the ways that God brings me delight in picture and in word...it will help my disposition she says....I'd agreed all along that it sounded like a great thing to do but had not commited. Well, 2 Monday's ago I was staying with Robin after bible study and we talked about it again...it was too late for me to see an example of what a God's Delight book looks like so we agreed that the next time I was over I would take a look at one of her books. The following week I remembered and asked Robin if I could see one and when I saw it I KNEW that I needed to do this! I went ahead and bought the photo album from her right then and there and commited to beginning it the very next day.

I must say girls (and Matt...thanks for reading!) that doing this little task has began to change my life! I am looking at the world around me through different eyes....eyes of wonder at the world that God has created and with a heart of thankfulness that He has chosen to bless me in such a sweet and wonderful way! I still struggle with my attitude and disposition but it is changing....Praise God, I am changing! I don't need to be burdened by a spirit of opression and an attitude that says, "God you are not big enough to change me, you are not ENOUGH for me!"....this position is so wrong girls! So wrong! God wants us to live a life of freedom and we too regularly settle for slavery and don't embrace the power He gives us!

Ok...enough of my preaching! Just had to fill you in on that!

Here are a few pics that will be going into my God's Delight book......

So for this one...I took it at sunset and love the contrast of the dark colors of the trees with the warm tones of the sky....Isn't God amazing to create somethings so beautiful....As a matter of fact, I have a cute little story with this pic....I was at Michaels with Cole and he noticed the sky getting dark. He said "lights, lights" and pointed to the sky. I said "yes, it is getting dark". After we came out of the store it was pitch black and Cole said "no lights". I told him that God had turned off the lights for today and he was so cute and said "lights on!". I told him that they would come back on tomorrow morning! Isn't that cute?!

I took this one tonight outside my local starbucks (where I am updating this blog....) because the 3 trees made me think of the trinity.

The rest of these pics are of the kids this weekend....Cole had climbed up onto the counter to getto a bag of marshmallows. The underwear pic was me trying to get him interested in underwear and when I gave him a pair this is where he thought he put them...he was serious! I had to show him what to do with them! So cute!

Kensley with her feet...she really likes her feet right now! She is a precious baby that I just adore!

Introducing: Baby Isabella!

Hello blog sisters,

I hope that you are having a wonderful Saturday afternoon! I am here in B&N updating the blog, reading your blogs, and checking emails...such a nice and relaxing way to spend the eve of Super Bowl Sunday.

So, my friend Yanet had a baby on Jan. 16 and I wanted to introduce you to this new little princess....

Allow me the privilige of introducing you to Isabella Raye Kensey!

Here she is sleeping...she is so tiny! Much tinier than Kensely.

I loved holding her! I was honored that Yanet felt comfortable enough leaving baby Bella with me, Julie, and Ginny while she ran to McD's for Happy Meals for all of us! This baby girl is so little, I just could not get over it!

This is a cute picture....she has so many expressions! She had just opened her eyes and probably realized that I was NOT mommy!

Another funny expression...she is going to be quite the little charmer!

Yanet and her little girl! What a neat thing to see her as a Mommy!

Can We Talk?

So...I've started my new bible study at BVG. This time around we are studying a book called "Can We Talk: Soul Stirring Conversations with God" by Priscilla Shrier.



It is not the typical type of bible study material that I usually do. I am a devoted pupil of my favorite bible teacher, Beth Moore. When I first saw that this season's bible study material was not going to be a Beth Moore study...I must admit that I was a bit disappointed but quickly got over that the first night of the study. This study is going to be so great! It is focused on teaching or more so, facilitating a way for us to have a meainingful conversation with the Lord. It follows five pretty simple steps when reading a passage of scripture.

Here they are:

1. Position yourself to hear from God
2. Pore of the passage and Paraphrase it in your own words
3. Pull out any scriptural lessons learned
4. Pose a life question based on the scriptural lessons pulled out
5. Plan and Pin down a date to act upon what lessons have been learned

Pretty cool huh?!

You should try this format sometime when you are spending time in the Word. They've been helpful to me so far to truly get into the Word and internalize lessons that God wants me to learn.
I am so excited to see where God will lead me over the next six weeks while I pour over His word and He teaches me. I can trust Him to teach me because his word says,

"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." John 14:26

How do I get more readers?!

Ok you all...how do I get more readers?! I love blogging so far because I love to write and I love to take lots of pictures so this avenue is perfect for me...however, it is hard to keep it up when there are not many people reading....so how do I get more readers. I've told family and friends but they rarely comment.

MANY THANKS TO STACI AND KATIE! You girls are so sweet to comment regularly! I love reading your blogs too!

Here are a few pics of our Christmas celebrations with my family. Fun times!

The Cortez women with our brown bags from Bloomindales! Thanks Ricardo!

Me and my brother Matt...I love my brothers very much!

This is a picture that I took from the side of the road coming back from my folks house...it was really pretty so I had to share this pic with you...beautiful Christmas morning!

Tiare and Melissa being silly girls!

Me and my cousins Melissa and Stephanie....it was good to see both of them especially Stephanie and she now lives in Reno, Nv so we don't get to see her too often!

Happy New Year's 2009!!!

Happy New Year to all my bloggy friends!
I pray God's blessings over you this new year. Praying that you come to know Him in new and fresh ways as you seek to do His will in your life.
Did you decide to take on any new years resolutions?
I did....(hope that I will be able to stick with it). I've decided that I will choose water before any other drink....I don't drink enough water and have actually become quite sick because of dehydration. This is a problem that I NEED to get a handle on. Figure that there is no better time than the present!
I also am going to work on memorizing scripture. If you are interested in joining me...you can do so by checking out the LPM Blog on this post here. Beth Moore has enlisted the accountability of about 1500 Siestas to join her in scripture memorization. It is a good thing to do and so fun to do so with so many sisters as accountability partners! Check it out.