Our Apartment in Canyon Hills

We're moving out of this tomorrow! It's been a great year living here! We will miss the view and nearby trails. We're excited for our own condo...pictures coming soon.

HAPPY FIRST ANNIVERSARY to us!!

Two days ago Jose and I celebrated our first anniversary together! We ask God for many more years to celebrate our union together. The Lord has blessed us with a wonderful first year of marriage. Jose and I were recounting God's grace to us this past year and all the fun memories we've made with each other. We have seen His grace in our lives as we work out conflicts with each other - they have become fewer and don't take as long to resolve. I'm so grateful that the Lord brought us together and that I am privileged to experience life with Jose everyday! Jose has been the biggest means of encouragement to me and he seeks to lead me in godliness. He consistenlty serves me and looks out for my interests. I have seen growth in my husband as he is learning to trust in God for the future in regards to his career. He desires to follow what God has planned for us. It's hard to imagine what life would be like without my hubby...it hurts to think about it. I love being able to fall asleep and wake up next to the one I love (although now that I'm working nights it's not every night and we miss that). Thanks honey for asking me to marry you and being the bestest husband everest! I love you!! Marriage is a beautiful thing when lived out as God intended.

Matthew 19: 4 - 6

4 He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh'? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."

So, we had to celebrate this joyous occassion and made it a goal to have gelato together. At this time a year ago we were in Aruba on our honeymoon. We're still in the honeymoon phase of marriage for the most part :) After church we went out to eat at the Olive Garden, where we went down memory lane together. Later we went to La Jolla where we enjoyed delicious gelato and the beautiful ocean.

We rejoice in all that God has provided for us! We are buying a condo here in San Diego just a few miles away from the apartment we're renting. This has been a busy time for us. Over the past month we've been renovating the Carlsbad condo, where Dad Jimenez lives. Over the weekend a family rented the Carlsbad condo for vacation - this is the first time we've done that and hope for more opportunities. So if any of you want to stay there, let us know. Right now we're in the process of packing the apartment and have a good headway on that thanks to our dear friends Keith and Kristin! We're moving into our new home this Friday. How exciting that we bought our first place together and we will be alble to walk to Fowler's home!! Please pray for God's grace in the business of life between work and moving. I work tonight and then will have off for about a week. Jose and I are leaving Saturday for New Attitude in Louisville, KY. When we get some more time I will post before/after pictures of the Carlsbad condo, our apartment that we're moving out of, and our condo we're moving into - that way those of you far away can get a taste of us here. Hasn't God been so good?

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

We just want to say that we love and appreciate our mothers, stepmoms, and grandmothers! Thanks for all the ways you have served us. The Lord esteems motherhood and compares the comfort He gives His people to the comfort a mother brings to her children in Isaiah 66:12-13 "For thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip, and bounced upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.'" Thanks Momma Hamelink for the ways you model Proverbs 31:26 - "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue." and verse 30 -"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." Mom I have received many words of wisdom from you and patience as you have taught me. Thanks for fearing God and serving others daily!

Yesterday, we were able to spend time with Jose's dad's side of the family at Uncle Bernie's house. It was great to get to know them all better. We enjoyed a cookout with almost all of the Jimenez uncles, aunts, cousins and kids running around. Our friend Johnny March joined the family - it was great, the family loved him (a white boy dressed preppy with a bunch of Mexicans). Unfortunately, I didn't bring the camera to capture the family event.