Snow and Stuff

So today we didn't have school, again. We were out on Monday and Tuesday because of snow and today was due to a massive power outage on our side of town. An estimated 8,000-9,000 customers were without power for about 6 hours total.

For the Serrano family this was okay because we went to breakfast at Cracker Barrel to eat something hearty and get warm. We also scored the two Batman movies missing from our collection and a drum-set for Rockband. We should definitely have a fun Friday.

Now, for the rest of our school, they may not have as fun a day as us. For that I am sorry. I'm also sorry about the fact that the elementary school students will have to postpone their Valentine's Day festivities until Tuesday. The even more tragic thing is the fact that this puts us 2 days over the days set aside for inclement weather and we're scheduled for more snow and winter weather this weekend.. What does this mean? There is a possibility of losing one day out of our Spring Break, but I foresee going to school into our Summer Break. I hope this does not happen, and I hope that we are able to come to a better solution. We'll see...

It's Been Nice

It's been a nice weekend. Thursday we celebrated David's 5th birthday, and had all of yesterday off. School was officially canceled because of the winter storm headed our way, but Carlo made the executive decision that the boys weren't going long before the announcement was made they didn't have school. This made for a great Friday. The boys were able to sleep late, and then enjoy a lazy morning playing together.

The snow didn't get started until late morning, but once it started there was a constant stream of white stuff falling from the sky. I spent the day doing nothing! I did get dressed and stuff, but beyond that I did nothing. It has been a long 2 two weeks with extremely early mornings and not enough sleep, so I took the day to enjoy not being responsible to do anything. Today, I will take up the mantle of responsibility and do laundry and stuff, but it was nice to do nothing yesterday.

Here's to snow days and being able to enjoy them as an adult!! :0)

My Baby Boy

Today is our David Elijah's 5th birthday. I never thought I'd see today come, and yet it has come too soon. David is our precious promise from God, and it is wondrous to see him grow up.

We say he is our promise, because he is just that. In March of 2003 we lost twin girls. The doctor told us that it would probably be best that we not try to have anymore kids because we could experience a similar loss with more devastating effects to my body. One month later we were told that we could possibly try again, but we would have to be monitored very closely to ensure that my liver was doing fine. Knowing my husband, I figured the risk would be too great in his mind and started preparing myself to have only one child, our miracle, Tony.

Well, God had different plans. About 3 months after Carlo got home from Iraq I received a word from the Lord. He told me that He was going to give me the desire of my heart and that there would be no pain or heartache, only joy and peace. This was a big deal for me because I knew what the desire of my heart was. About a week later I found out I was pregnant. When I shared this with the woman at our church who had given me the Word, she said to me, "His name is David." How do you argue with that?

After nine months of a hassle-free pregnancy, but nearly 21 hour labor, David Elijah Serrano was born at 6:59am on January 28, 2005. He was beautiful and perfect and dearly loved by so many people. I'll never forget my first words after he was laid on my chest, "Carlo he doesn't look like Tony!" And he doesn't resemble his brother in any other way. He is mischievous, flippant, tender, arrogant, witty, creative, stubborn, and so many other things. The best thing? He's mine!! 'Nuff said.

The New Normal

I can't believe it's 2010. Where did like the last 6 months go? So much has gone on in our lives it's crazy. We'll skip the usual stuff like the holidays. I think I'd rather not relive them anyway.

I think the biggest changes for us are 1)I started working full-time outside the home & the Master's Commission world, 2)Carlo has had a set-back of sorts medically, and 3)I now have two jobs.

So, how does this come about? Easy. 2 years ago I was the Supervisor in the Middle/High School class of our church's school. Towards the end of the year, I felt the Lord calling me to work full-time with Carlo and Master's Commission. So I spent last year having a blast pouring into the lives of 4 young adults. I mean I woke up every morning excited about what might come that day. It was great. Well, we've put our program on hold until this fall, so I haven't been doing a lot dealing with Master's. Around Thanksgiving, the new teacher for my old class left the school and there really wasn't anyone to fill the position. So me being me, I volunteered to fill in for the rest of the year. So there you have it, Job #1.

People who know us know that Carlo spent 5 years serving our country in the United States Army. He spent a year in Iraq. When he came home he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. This lead to his being medically discharged from the Army and cleared him from any further military service meaning he could never be reactivated and called to duty. Big plus for us knowing he couldn't get deployed again. Well, about 3 months after he was discharged, we got some great news from the doctors and Carlo went about 5 years with no meds and no issues. Well, right around the start of the holiday season Carlo had to go back on his meds plus some additional ones. I am believing and many other are as well, that God is going to completely heal my husband, and we won't have to deal with these medical issues anymore. Please continue to pray for a total and complete healing in Carlo's body!

So you probably just want to know how and why I'm working 2 jobs right? Yeah, I know you aren't but hey, it was worth a try. It's simple. At Christmas I had someone say to me, "We could have used you at work today!" I thought that was cool and was then "pitched' a job for about 30 min. The cool thing about the job? I would have to do stuff I love to do (paperwork, organizing, coordinating, all that kind of "officey" type stuff). Not only that, but once I learned the systems and got used to the job I would be able to do like 75% of my stuff from a mobile office type setting! This is a major score because I wouldn't have to cut back on Master's Commission when it starts in the fall! Why don't I just do the job doing stuff I love and not do the school thing? Again, if yo know me, you know I can't just turn my back on a commitment and leave 6 teenagers hanging, so I've had to make some modifications in my schedule.

So, on Tuesday, the Serrano Family will start adjusting to the new "normal" in our life. I'll work 3 days a week at school and 2 days I'll be a KOP (Key Office Personnel) for some really cool people doing some things I really love to do.

This was long, but you're caught up for now. I'm definitely going to try to do better this year with blogging more frequently. I always have a lot to say, I just don't always get around to getting the thoughts out of my head. I probably wouldn't talk to myself as much if I did blog more.

That's a thought...

Thanks

I love Thanksgiving. I love being with my family and all the stuff that comes with it (except the drama of course). I'm content to watch the parade, cook, and chill with the family. It's the best!

Today, as I did some prep for putting up my Christmas decorations, I turned on the Christmas music. It set the tone for the day. I cooked, my wonderful hubby cleaned, and then we had some awesome family time playing Star Wars Monopoly.

Everyone always start to think about what they are thankful for this time of year, and I am no different. Don't get me wrong, I recognize and thank God for His blessings year round, but it seems that we take a closer look at what we have to be thankful for come November. On Tuesday I did something different for my devotion with my Middle School/High School class. I asked each student to give 1 or 2 things they were thankful for. I started off and my two things were:

1. My family. They are wonderful people that I love dearly. With the passing of my grandfather in September, I'm even more thankful for the family I have. We are crazy and can be more than a little drama filled, but they are mine and I love them.
2. God's Gift of Salvation. Without it I know I wouldn't have anything I do now. I wouldn't have my husband or my children. I don't know where I would be in my life, but I know it probably wouldn't be anywhere good. I have to thank God for His hand of protection during all the crazy things I pulled in my teenage years. I also have to thank my mom for making me go to church twice a month, and "ratting" me out to my youth pastor. His matter of fact statement about the state of my life led me Jesus, and I haven't looked back. Thank you Randy!! Also thanks to God's gift I know where my grandfather is spending eternity and I can't wait to see him again to get his unique perspective on Heaven.

If you haven't thought about what you are thankful for, stop and do so. It doesn't matter what is going on in our lives, we are alive and live in the greatest country in the world. That's more than enough to be thankful for!

We Never Know

We found out yesterday that another Master's Commission Program was in an accident yesterday. This morning I found out that 2 of the team members have died and 6 more are in critical condition. Their van hit a patch of black ice and rolled several times. Most of the team was ejected from the van.

This is so hard to hear, because I think back to our team's accident back in February coming back from Texas (read the full account here.) While my heart is truly saddened by what has happened and the road of recovery and grieving this team and their families will have to go through, I can't help but marvel at God and His plans. What was to keep us from going off that bridge into freezing water? What was to keep us from rolling a couple of times as we careened up the bridge? Nothing but the hand of God. No one in the back of the van had on their seat belts, but we all had minor bumps and bruises. Carlo and another student had on theirs on and suffered minor injuries because of their airbags deploying.

Lord, thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for your hand of protection. I don't understand why You have chosen to act as You have, but I know that through this You will receive the glory and the praise. I know Your ways are higher than mine & trust You to shelter the 13 members of RMMC in Your hand.

I'm Just Plain Tired

of people and their passive/aggressive nonsense.

This last week I've really been evaluating my life and come to see there are some things about me I don't like. I've been praying about these issues and asked God to really help me to change these things and move forward in my relationship with Him.

Lord help me to love like you!