Jessica Girado

Well, I am super excited about next weekend! We’re going to Disney World!!! The happiest place on earth…lol…

We will be taking this trip for three reasons:

One. We will be celebrating our two year marriage anniversary. Last year for our one year anniversary / babymoon, we went on a cruise to the Bahamas. And we promised we will try to do something special every year.

Two. We will be celebrating my first Mother’s Day! I think I deserve a little time away from my home.

And Three. We will be taking Emery on her first vacation. This means a lot to us because we will be spending this trip alone with her. Like most of you know, we will be trying this summer to get pregnant again and it’s really special and important to us to take Emmy somewhere alone. You know, before the three or four kids come along…We’re also really excited to take Emmy because she’s so visual. She loves looking at people. She’s so interested in things. And she’s learning so much. We are looking forward to seeing her smile while she rides “It’s a small world”….

So that’s what we are looking forward to. In a not so bright note, things have been ok here in Cape Coral. We received some sad news from our good friend here in Cape Coral on Wednesday. And then some more bad news for Michael on Friday. I am sure he’ll share it later on. So if you can, please remember to pray for us. God is really testing us.

Thank you. And I promise to post some pictures of Emery at Disney!!

Remembering our wedding…

Wow, today Michael and I celebrate our two year anniversary!

We are so blessed to be where we are right now. These past two years have been amazing and the most precious thing has been the birth of our daughter. We are truly blessed and excited for what’s to come.

Thank you all that have shared with us. We love you!

Yesterday was one of the toughest days I have been through in a while. Some personal things happened in the morning (don’t get crazy thinking it’s about me and michael, it’s not. Really.) But I can tell you that one thing had to do with us financially.

Having Emery has been the biggest blessing in Michael’s and my life. But it has been tough and one that has involved sacrifice. Don’t get me wrong. Even though we are in the situation we are in, I would not change it at all. Most of you know that I am a stay at home mom. So Michael is the only one working. I love being able to stay home with Emery. I cherish so much everything I experience with her. And I feel complete and satisfied in being a mom and a wife. Not many people can say that.

Anyway, I went to an interview on Thursday in a temp agency to see if I could work maybe 1 week out of the month. All we really need is one paycheck from me to be “OK” for the month. And I was ok with working, until last night. I guess it hit me. And it hit me hard that I will not spend that week with Emery. Most of you might think it’s silly. One week is nothing. Even Michael said, it’s ONE week. But you will never know what it is to leave your daughter in the care of someone else until you are a mother. If I work, I will feel like I’m being robbed. Someone else will look after Emery, play with her, feed her, soothe her, comfort her, stimulate her. And all that hurts me very much.

Hopefully I will be able to find something to do from home. God knows I want to stay home with my daughter. We don’t need much really. But what is needed, will help us a lot. I am also trying to focus on the favor business. I thank God he has given me a creative talent. And I do want to use it. But my focus has been Emery.

So my friends. Please pray for me. That God may provide something for me to do. And that I may finally start what I think I am good at.
I love you. And thank you!

I came across this article in Baby Center (one of my fav websites) called:
“Thirty things that change when you have a baby!”

What changes when you have a baby? A better question may be: What doesn’t change? Here, writer and mom Rebecca Woolf lists her most notable post-baby observations. And some from readers.

Here are my personal favorites:
(italics are my comments)

1. The sacrifices you thought you made to have a child no longer seem like sacrifices.

2. You respect your body … finally. (7 pounds heavier than pre-prego but loving it)

3. You respect your parents and love them in a new way.

4. You find that your baby’s pain feels much worse than your own.

5. You believe once again in the things you believed in as a child. (lol. it’s true)

6. Your heart breaks much more easily.

7. You think of someone else 234,836,178,976 times a day.

8. Every day is a surprise. (and a gift from God)

9. Bodily functions are no longer repulsive. In fact, they please you. Hooray for poop!

10. You look at your baby in the mirror instead of yourself. (soooo true!)

11. You become a morning person. (unfortunate, but true)

12. Your love becomes limitless, a superhuman power.

And from the readers…

13. You discover how much there is to say about one tooth.

14. You finally realize that true joy doesn’t come from material wealth.

15. You’d rather buy a plastic tricycle than those shoes that you’ve been dying to have. (Yup! Michael tells me to buy myself a shirt and I end up buying one for Emmy instead)

16. You don’t mind going to bed at 9 p.m. on Friday night. (this one’s for Michael!)

17. Silence? What’s that?

18. You discover an inner strength you never thought you had. (this one’s my favorite)

19. You no longer rely on a clock — your baby now sets your schedule. (Yup! Trying to go some where but Emmy wants to nap, so we have to wait)

20. You give parents with a screaming child an ‘I-know-the-feeling’ look instead of a ‘Can’t-they-shut-him-up?’ one.

21. You take the time for one more hug and kiss even if it means you’ll be late. (oh i could kiss her alllll day)

22. You learn that taking a shower is a luxury. (yeaa! for hot, quiet showers)

23. You don’t eat when you’re hungry, you eat when the baby allows you to. (pfff. yes. sometimes i’m having lunch at 3:00 pm, and been up for 6 hours)

…………
So once again, “What changes when you have a baby?”
Everything!!!
But I wouldn’t change a thing. I love my little Emery!

Hope you do something today to take care of our Earth.
And not only today, but everyday!

For ideas on what you could do visit Earth Day Network

Hey Lily! ….. LOL!

If you’re stocking us, this post is just for you!

I’m kidding.

We are very happy that you guys will be joining us in Cape Coral and really excited to see what God will do through all of us. We will be praying that you may find work (we know how stressful that is) and that God may provide a place for you guys to live (and finally set up all your Ikea stuff…lol)

And I have a “confession” to make. We had a great time this weekend. I’m 93% sure!

:O)

Ok. So stop stocking us. j.k

Press Statement
Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
March 21, 2008

U.S. Urges Signing of Final Peace Agreement for Northern Uganda

The U.S. fully supports and welcomes the recent rapid progress in the Juba Peace Process. We urge the parties to sign the Final Peace Agreement on or before March 28 to demonstrate their commitment to peace and to send a strong signal of that commitment to both the international community and northern Ugandans.

We appreciate the mediation efforts of the Government of Southern Sudan and the facilitation role played by African and other international observers during the Juba Peace Process. These efforts have created the best opportunity to date to end peacefully the 22-year conflict between the Government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army that has seriously harmed civilian populations and destabilized the region.

As an observing party, we intend to participate fully in the proposed Oversight Forum, which would be formed to assist with implementation of the agreements. We will continue collaboration with the Government of Uganda to provide development support for northern Uganda and demobilization, disarmament, and resettlement assistance for ex-combatants.

So last night we had our fourth bible study. We are still studying the book of Ephesians. Bible study has been good but a little hard on me. I did not think moving here was going to be that difficult on me. But it has. And the toughest part has been leaving Coral Park Church.

Summit Church is good. The leaders especially have been great to the guys which will soon start getting involved in some of their ministries. But my gosh, I miss CP’s Sunday service. I really miss the closeness of the congregation. I miss Pastor Jose. I miss the congregation sharing their praise and prayer requests. And I miss Michael leading worship. I tell Michael every Sunday after church that I miss him so much. He did such a great job at leading and helping us connect with God through worship. I am sure I am not the only one that misses him.

I was telling Michael last night that I now understand why it’s challenging to be a pastor’s wife. We follow because it is where God is leading us as a family. But we feel that God is calling the husbands mostly. And we, the wives don’t really know what God is calling us to do. And that is what I’m struggling with. Then Michael told me something scary. He said, “The writer from Multiplying Church said that there are two reasons why church planting fails. One. Because the leader doesn’t think he is good enough. And two. Because their marriage is in trouble.” Now I’m not saying that our marriage is in trouble. LOL. If anything this is bringing us closer. But I feel like I’m not doing anything. And I want to support Michael, encourage him and be a woman of prayer.

On a funny note. Every Monday, Michael types up the songs in power point so we can read the lyrics while he leads us into worship. So we start singing the chorus to the first song. And we read the lyrics. “Oh Christ, be the center of our livers.”
LOL. Of course Michael did a typo and instead of writing lives, wrote livers. So here I am, trying to sing but can’t because I’m laughing so hard and kept picturing God in the center of my liver…..Oh. That was soooo funny.

So that’s what’s going on with me my friends. Good night. See you next weekend in Miami. Can’t wait to have some sushi!

This will one day be our future home.

This is a modern prefab home from Rocio Romero. Rocio Romero is committed to simplicity in design. And the designs are environmentally friendly. Her design principles are Simple. Quality. Green. Space. And the best part is they are very affordable.

We love the minimalist look and simplicity of it which is something Michael and I have started to incorporate in our lives. This house will fit us perfectly!

For more on Rocio Romero’s prefab homes, click Rocio Romero