Seven Year Anniversary Celebration

This year marks 7 years of marriage for us, after having waited 7 years to get married! We struggled so much is those seven years prior to marriage and had so many ups and downs! I remember blowing a huge sigh of relief after we were married, because we were finally at a place of freedom to learn on our own. That doesn't mean everything has been easy! Each year has had its own set of struggles and challenges, but I truly believe each year has been sweeter and better. It's so nice to look back and see that what we struggled with 14 years ago is no longer an issue. Even things we struggled with a year ago are no longer issues! 

Luis and I come from very different backgrounds, and it really is a miracle to us tha we even ended up getting married. It's a miracle and a gift that God has blessed us with so much unity - something that was not natural but that we asked Him for over and over. I've really learned that our cultural differences have not been the biggest the thing to overcome. Having grown up a half mile down the road from him, I immersed myself completely in the culture and adopted it as my own. He also has embraced many good things of my culture having lived close to my family and now having lived in the U.S. for the past 4 years. We decided a long time ago to embrace the good in our cultures and reject the bad. And most importantly we've come to realize that our identity is rooted in Christ - not in our nationality. 

I think the biggest thing to overcome has been our pride and self-centeredness! It manifests itself differently in each of us, but that is what it comes down to. The more I humble myself and submit to him as the leader of our home, the more I give up my rights and desires and allow things to become US instead of ME - the better things are for us. It is the same with him. And I have really seen him laying down his life for me and putting me first over and over. 

I am so grateful for how far God has brought us! As we continue to learn how to walk in Christ-centeredness in our marriage, He will be faithful to show us the way. 

Below are a few pics from a little family vacation we took over our anniversary. we had a blast visiting Malabar Farm, Kingwood Botanical Center, a carousel downtown, Der Dutchman's restaurant, dining in a train car, Grandpa's Cheese Barn and staying at a hotel with its own splash harbor.

Celebrating 5 years together!

Luis & I are so thankful for these 5 years we've been married. We are so blessed! The Lord has done such a marvelous work in our lives, and He is still using our differences, trials and external circumstances to grow each other into His image. I am thankful for such a supportive, faithful and fun-loving husband. And I couldn't ask for a better man to spend the rest of my life with! This week we spent 5 days intentionally celebrating the love & unity that the Lord has given us. We each wrote 5 creative and unique ideas or ways to celebrate and put them in a little heart bowl. We weren't always good at following what it said though! lol Both of us tried to re-draw several times, haha! Finally Luis had the idea of categorizing them into things to do at home, things we spend money on and things outside of home that don't require money. 

On Friday our actual anniversary, we enjoyed coffee and apple pie at home and then we went out to a fancy restaurant with our sweet bella! Ellie did pretty good through the appetizers, but started getting fussy around our meal time so we ended up boxing it up and eating it at home! 

God's timing is PERFECT!

I'm so so thankful that God's timing is perfect! After bidding 6 times on our home (3 times our bids were rejected, and 3 separate times our bids were accepted), waiting 4 months, we finally moved in last week. From the bidding process, getting things fixed, all the way to finding very affordable bargains on furniture, we have an amazing story of how God has worked on our behalf!  It has been so wonderful to have a space of our own to make beautiful and call home. We have been praying that God's presence, His peace and joy would be felt in our home, and that it would be used for His glory. We are so humbled and undeserving of this precious gift, but isn't He just like that? To shower abundant blessings on His children?
Oh and by the way. We love visitors and can't wait to host all our family and friends! Also we are praying that God would fill the place up with children! In His timing of course! We can't wait!

New Home Part 1

New Home Part 2