Disobedience

I am feeling a little rebellious, disobedient, whatever you want to call it! I am starting my diet up again to lose more weight for my sis's wedding. I am not feeling it, AT ALL! I am not sure what my deal is but I cant get into the diet groove! I know that no one is forcing me to do this, yet I still feel the pressure! Why? Maybe it is my own pressure, or the weight of the world making me feel like I need to be skinny. Whatever it is, I am wanting to be disobedient! All I can do to understand it at this point is look at my precious little children who disobey me on a daily basis. Tonight I had to put Lili back into the bathtub 3 times! Every time I turned my back this little naked baby was climbing out of the tub and running down the hall! I would put her back in and sure enough, there she goes again!

I often times wonder what is going through their heads when I say "don't touch", and they touch it any way! We always want to do the opposite of what we are told! Rebellion is in all of us, ever since the fall of man. We are born into a world that hates rules and authority. Each of us has our own rebellion. Our own way of disobeying. I feel as though my specific disobedience is towards past issues of mine, but also directly towards God. We are told to treat our bodies as temples because He made them for us.

So here goes another day at attempting to do what I need to do. After celebrating 29 years of life on Monday I think I need to get my butt in gear. 30 is just around the corner! I am feeling old :(

To Whom Do You Belong?

I had the privilege of witnessing some 100 people get sworn in as United States citizens today. It was very cool, and life changing. Not only because one of those people was my husband Pablo, born in Argentina, but also because of the things that surrounded this whole experience. People were in tears during the ceremony. Some waiting over 20 years for this. People from all over the world, wanting desperately to become a part of this nation! I indeed take my citizenship for granted.

While studying for his test, Pablo had a hard time with the part that he must renounce his old country. His loyalties must now be with the United States of America. I have to admit I was a bit offended at first. Since I have known him, he has not put his hand on his heart during the National Anthem. It prompted me to think. What would I do in another country? Would it be hard for me? I then began to list some things I have given up in life. For example, when becoming a Christian there were things I renounced. It was my CHOICE to become a Christ follower, but it was still difficult to give up the old things that defined me. The behaviors I belonged to. Pablo has always explained to me that it wasn't a sign of disrespect, but that it simply wasn't his country...but today I saw him sing and pledge to his new country! I saw a new pride in him.

I have pride for our state. I think Colorado is the best state to live int. I love the sports, weather, mountains, sunsets...everything. I even still have loyalties to my high school! I like to see Cherry Creek H. S. succeed. Even my neighborhood growing up (Willow Creek, woo woo) triggers something in me. See? I felt the need to "woo woo"! We defend these things, fight for them. In a way belong to them, or them to us.

However exciting it is for my husband to now be naturalized, it also holds some sadness. He is changed. But he made this CHOICE because he knows the benefits this decision will have not only for him, but others. Plus at the end of the day he, and myself, know to Whom we really belong. We know that no matter where we live, what team we root for, what country our passport was issued from, that we belong to something bigger! We belong to Christ. So none of this matters really. It matters to our flesh maybe, and to the government, but not to God. We are His! I know for sure where I belong. I know for sure to Whom I belong! A choice I made, and happily make every day. I love you Jesus, thanks for making me Your own!

John 15:19 "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world..."

1Peter 2:9 "...for you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God's holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light."

"Daughter of the Most High King" From my mom, hangs by my bed :)

You are what you eat?

You know how the saying goes, you have heard it a million times...."You are what you eat". If this is true, then based on the things my family has eaten in the last 24 hours, I am a Mexican, Pablo is an Italian, Bella is nuts, Gabi is a cutie, and Lili is a green crayon. Yes, Lili ate 1/3 of a green crayon. She also ate half a cutie orange, including the peel. Her poop is rainbow colored these days! Ewww, sorry.

My explorer.

I also had a friend on his Facebook post some quote about, "you are who you hang out with". Or "you are who your friends are", something like that. Now, this person is not in high school. Not even college for that matter. Perhaps in middle school one can follow and be part of a crowd that is all the same person essentially. But at my age? If this were true then I would be in a diaper, wearing a bib, and drinking large quantities of 2% milk. My "crew" is 3 and under. Also is this were true, Jesus would be a sinner. He hung out with people who were thieves. Silly statement if you ask me.

Bella spilled her milk in Gabi's hair...hence the crusty slicked back look!

I had to blog about those random sayings. I just think that who we are is SO much more than what we eat, and who we hang out with! Something I thought was obvious to most!

This last week was bittersweet in that my babies turned 18 months old. They are healthy, beautiful, and smart, but I am sad how big they are! They started playgroup class with Bella. They made these very cute snowmen in playgroup with their teacher. They kept moving around the face she said! I must share...

From left to right...Bella's, Lili's & Gabi's! My future crafters!

I wonder who will be artsy fartsy? Haha!

Change in 2010.

This past year has been a year of change. As is every year I suppose. In 2010, we lived in 3 different places. Celebrated the twins first birthdays, Bella's third. The babies learned to crawl, walk, talk, kiss, hug. Bella learned letters, how to write her name, took a dance class, swam, biked, and sled for the first time. Pablo got a promotion and won a huge contest for his band. We went to the Royal Gorge for the first time, and celebrated 4 years of marriage! We changed cars, houses, and diapers (about 5,500 just in 2010).

Our friends have changed, or we have changed. However you want to look at it. My faith has most definitely changed, for the better.

This isn't only the end of the year, but also the end of a decade (as Liz pointed out :). 10 years ago I was a freshman in college, in a horrible relationship, not following God, and living in Greeley. Bleh, to all those! This decade has been 10 years of change and growth I am so thankful for! Thank you God!

Here are some photo highlights from the past year! I hope you enjoy, meanwhile I will be bawling my eyes out!

Amazing what a year can do. What change it can bring. Here is to 2011! Praying you and your family have a prosperous and happy NEW YEAR!

Looking for the sparkle in Christmas...

I painted the girls nails yesterday. Red. Then added sparkles. Well, Bella calls them sprinkles! "Come get sprinkles on your nails Lili!" Our life has more sprinkles in it than sparkle, so I can understand her confusion! We bake way too much!

I almost dread Christmas these days. Although my girls do give it a whole new meaning. Yet I can do without so many things. I love seeing all my family, yet hate the run around. Love shopping, but hate the financial strain it puts on us. Really enjoy wrapping, dislike having to stay up late at night to do it. I like the food, hate the pounds!

We go non stop for 3 days, not including all the preparation before. It all stresses  me out. I want to sit back and relax. I want to watch my girls open gifts, but then have time for them to sit and play with them without us running out to the next place. I say this every year, but next year I want to stay home!

So I struggle to find the luster in the holiday season. I really don't mean to be all cliche, and say keep the Christ in Christmas, or Jesus is the reason for the season. BUT I also wonder how this holiday got so messed up. I just watched this clip on Nightline about archiologists, and Bethlehem and the birth of Christ. It was so cool. I just want to find the sparkle. When Bella sits and sings "Happy Birthday Jesus", I see the sparkle that makes me love Christmas! Now if I can bottle it up and bring it with me...
PLEASE WATCH.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8ouaWgUCNg

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Christmas baking, making, and no-baking!

Bella puts on her apron and says, "I am a maker!"

 I am not sure about you, or your family, but in mine we celebrate the holidays with lots of baking! Even if we don't eat it, which I am not...still dieting! (27 pounds down if you were curious :) I have a million more to go so you cant really even tell! Anyway, while baking I did not lick one bowl, taste one cookie... It may seem as though that is the important part. The eating. Well it is a close second. The MOST important part to me, is the baking. It is the day (or two) blocked out just for making all the Christmas recipes that taste good and feel good to you! The ones that trigger memories, emotions, or high blood sugar levels.

My Children and I are now doing this annually, just like I did with my mother. Although, I find myself not baking as much, but rather making, or non-baking! You know the easy recipes on the back of cereal boxes? Haha. My grandma Tesones sugar cookies recipe is AMAZING. That I did. As well as a few others. I thought I would share the journey of my baking, making, no-baking day (through pics, of course :)

Happy/Merry Christmas week Everyone!!!

When in doubt, bake!

I show my love with food. I love when people enjoy a good meal I cooked, or bread I baked. I believe I learned this from women on both sides of my family. My husbands family is the same. Now being a mommy, I try to give my girls their daily veggies and fruits. As well as yummy treats that make them happy! My favorite gift after the girls were born (besides diapers), were home cooked meals for my freezer. My sister in law Ashley did a food exchange with some women. They each made a dish 4 times, then exchanged. So everyone had meals for their freezer! Brilliant.

This post is all about food and how it kind of dictates so many things in my life. For example, the girls get hungry on a schedule so I have to accommodate them. My husband eats A LOT so therefore I keep him well fed. Though he gains nothing! This time of year is infamous for food at parties. I bake certain things in different seasons, my biggest obsession is when I get to bake pumpkin things in the fall and winter.

I have a dear friend, who is by far the best person I know. Beautiful in and out. I am not just saying this.
She is a doll. She is going through a very hard thing right now. I cry for her daily, as well as pray. She is just someone I cannot imagine anyone would try to hurt. Unfortunately, we live in a fallen world and this place just down right sucks. Although we are believing in a miracle, it is still so tough. Besides praying, and calling her, I feel so helpless. So I baked. And baked. And baked some more. A goodie basket will be in her hands tomorrow and nothing makes me feel better at the moment. Pablo said it was my gift. Ha ha, this gift of mine seems to not want to leave my thighs and tummy! Actually I am not huge on sweets myself. I ADORE giving baked goods away. Is there a love language of baking? If so, it is mine.

I am on a diet. A very strict one. It does not allow for any cheating or you might as well give it all up! I realized I need this in order to succeed. I was not going to announce this information for a few reasons. One being that I have tried so many that I am almost embarrassed to tell people because I know they are thinking "another diet Nina?" Another reason being that I am just embarrassed that I need to "diet" at all. blah. After the influx of babies in our home, I finally feel like I am in a good place to take the time to do this. Although I am actually succeeding this time it seems. So hopefully I will not fall off the wagon this Christmas season!

In the meantime I will bake for those I love. Cook amazing new recipes just to pass the food along to someone who could use a few "freezer meals". If you too need to show some love, bake! It is so refreshing to the soul.