Weekend Rewind - Father's Day

This past weekend was fantastic.  We spent Friday night having a good low key dinner, and packing our bags for vacation.  Saturday morning, we woke up early and I washed my car and cleaned it out and finished packing my luggage as well as Isabella's.  By 9 am , I woke the girls up and they got dressed for karate.

 They had both been approved to do early testing since we would be out of town the week or rank testing.  It was a battle all that week to ensure that they had the required number of classes and that they received their stripes in order to test!  It was hard, but they both met the qualifications and tested after Isabella's class on Saturday morning. They both did phenomenal.  Both Danny and I were in the stands watching them (which is a treat for me- usually we are all testing together - so getting to sit back and watch them this time was great).  They did the same form and were in sync with one another almost the entire time and they did such a great job.  I really almost started to cry from the pride that swelled my heart.  It was great.  Then of course they had to do their self defense, and sparring, and all that good stuff (I was a little over excited and started yelling tips from the side lines - but I was quickly told I cant do that...so I stopped! LOL).  Once they were done and received a high number of praises from other folks at the school , we headed out and decided to go run a  few errands.  We made a stop at Half Price books (I had promised Issy a trip there all week, then we all got pedicures (and I do mean ALL - if you get my point). That was a first for us...and while I don't think our new addition cared too much for the experience....it was one I will forever remember! My manly man was not a fan! LOL

We headed home and changed and then made it out to Grandma and Grandpa Limons to celebrate Father's Day with them.  We hung out and just laughed and chit chatted all afternoon.  It was really nice.  Danny and Sergio made a discado.  I was kinda leery about it (Mainly because I had never heard of it), but it was great.  It was basically all types of meats cooked together in this giant disc thing.  We made tacos and ate like piggies.  Sergio brought over fruit and we brought a pineapple upside down cake, and Jade made a great strawberry cake!! Again - we ate like piggies and loved every second of it!!

Once we were all done for the day, we cleaned up the kitchen and all the mess and then headed home to get some rest.

Sunday morning, I woke up early and made a butter braid for the kids to enjoy for breakfast....

I tried to straighten up the house a bit and then we all got ready for church.  When Danny woke up - we gave him his Father's Day Cards - which he read in bed and smiled about.  (He is no unemotional its funny - I think I got teary eyed as he read the cards - just because I love him so much and I want these days to be so special - where as he is like - oh cool thanks! LOL).  The girls put $20 each in their cards and I gave him a whopping $100, and alot of love and luck to use in the casinos later.
We headed out and met the Ramirez family at church before heading on our little vacation.

Church Notes:

This Sunday - we started a new two week series focused on THE AUDIENCE OF ONE
We talked about - who has the steering wheel of your life?  What moves you?  What motivates you?  Who are you living for?

We discussed several different personality traits:
The Intimidator  - whose control issues stem from insecurities
The Perfectionist - who is so controlling they make others miserable
The Worry Wart - who can find the wrong in just about anything
The Uber Planner - who wants to plan so much they forget about the fun
The Anti-Planner - so scatter brained they just cant get it together
The Master Manipulator - treat people like puppets
The Micromaniac - who stifles creativity
The Opinionator - who things they are an expert on everything

We all have people in our lives like these - or some of us are these people.  We need to learn to let go of the control and focus on living for an audience of one.  Stop trying to fit into some society driven mold or to please all those people around you who have nothing to do with you!

The consequences of control include:
FRUSTRATION  - being stressed out and angry in life
FATIGUE - both mentally and physically because your always trying to reach these unrealistic goals for people who don't really matter
FAILURE - feeling defeated, deflated, discouraged.....sometimes its inevitable to fail....but sometimes we set ourselves up for failure - WHY?

The process of Letting Go includes:
Giving up Control (Jesus comes into the pictures when you surrender control)
Giving Over Control (Remember that Jesus is an expert in everything!!! - even when it doesn't make sense - follow God's command)
Get under control (Follow him completely - don't miss out on the great catch he has in store for you)

Jesus cares about you and has the power to do something about every detail of your life!!!!!!!!!

Of course being father's Day - they pastor came out and talked abut Father's leading their families in faith and being unashamed to stand before their fellow church members and taking the oath to be spiritual leaders in their homes, and examples for their children, and rocks for their families.  Happy tears of joy and pride and excitement slipped down my cheeks when both Ray and Danny stood in our church to take that oath with other awesome daddies on this oh so special day and be the men that our daughters and sons need them to be!!!!  What an amazing thing to do for our girls. Not to mention a heck of a way to start of our trip!  I was over joyed!!!

After service we took a tour of the cars in the lot (our church put together a little car show for the daddies on their special day).  We ate burgers and hot dogs which were delicious, and then got on the road for vacation 2014!!!!!!!!

We made the drive over to Labuerge Casino's in Shreveport, checked in and made our way down to the lazy river.  We all got in and relaxed for a few hours and had a blast.  I had been to that place several times, but never enjoyed the pools...it was fun!

We made a pit stop at Target, and then had dinner at O'Charley's.  We walked around the hotel for awhile and played in the tree rocks for awhile.  Makaila wasn't feeling well, so we went and took a nap, while Daddy went to try his luck in the casino!  We had some excellent gelato, and sat by the fire place and talked for a good while.  Eventually all the kids headed upstairs and Ceci and I stayed downstairs talking and catching up...it was nice!!!

Danny came out to see us and then we all went into the casinos for about an hour.  I spent my hour giving them my money and laughing lot while doing it! LOL After about an hour..we had had enough so we went to our rooms to go to bed.  It was a nice good nights rest!!!!

Destin - here we come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We will be on vacation the entire week...so I will post when we get back and let you know how awesome it was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But before I go - let me just tell you that I have two of the best daddies in the world in my life and I am so very grateful for each of them.  My Dad is one of my best friends and i love that my life was lead by him, and that my kids gets to enjoy him as their grandpa....

My husband is the most wonderful father that our girls can have.  I am so grateful for the man he is and the examples he sets for them.  He is a hard worker and a great provider and an all around blessing for us - I love you!  Happy Father's Day!!!

George Strait Weekend Rewind

OHHHH MY GOOODNESSSSS!!!!!!!!

WHAT A WEEKEND!!  I had the time of my life.  This is definately one for the record books.

Friday I took the girls to school, washed and cleaned house and then picked them both up from their last days of 1st grade and Middle school!!!!!!  Heaven how the time flies...I cannot believe that in a few months Makaila will be in high school and Issy will be in 2nd grade!!!!

To celebrate the last day of school I took the girls to the movies to see The Fault in Our Stars.  The movie was fantastic.  Makaila and I loved it.  Issy could most definitely done without it...she was bored and ready to go and tickled that we were crying so much! LOL
When I read books before watching the movie I am almost always disappointed in the movie remake, as it usually is lacking...that was not the case with this movie.  It was fantastic!!  If you haven't already made your way to the movies to see it.....I highly recommend it (bring some tissues).

After the movies we went to Hobby Lobby and bought all sorts of stuff (that I most really didn't need- but it is SOOOO HARD to say no at Hobby Lobby!!!)

We did a tad bit of shopping and then headed home to pack our bags because we were Dallas bound.

Makaila and I packed and then sat patiently waiting for Danny and Jessica to get there and us all to head out. Danny came home and then we waited on Jess....by 8:30 we were on the road.  Sadly, we didn't make it out of Humble before Danny got pulled over and received a speeding ticket!  Gladly though, he was a good sport and didn't let it really get to him.....what can you do...just take it and keep going.

We made the mandatory stop at Buckee's and then by 10:30 we were at my parents house!  We sat up and ate dinner, and laughed and talked.  The house was packed.  It was us four, my parents, Sam, Tony and his friend Javi.....We made due and by 1am...we were all tucked in and in bed.

I heard my dad up by 6 am, so I took one for the team and wet out to entertain him, so he would let everyone else sleep.  I drank tea with him out on the back patio, and took out the hammock, then we decided to go fishing! By 9, everyone else was up, and we walked the land for awhile, and then got back in the boat for some fun.

Mom made us breakfast and then by 11, we were in route to Dallas.  We checked into our hotel, did a few store runs, and then all got ready for the concert.  Danny was a tad impatient with Makaila and Jess.  I think he is spoiled and used to me being ready and waiting on him, that he was not feeling the waiting on others bit at all! LOL He was huffing and puffing.  After some traffic obstacles we made it to our lot and hung out with his friend Beto and his wife before the concert.  We headed into the stadium at about 5, and then the fun really got started.

Asleep at the Wheel played for about an hour and then George came on...and proceeded to play his songs for the next three hours!!!!!!!!!!!!  Can you believe it.  He sang with plenty of people, and had a smile on his face the entire time...it was hands down the best concert of my life and I have been to a ton of concerts!!

Words cant even describe the excitement and joy that filled that stadium.  The only bad things I can say about the concert was that they only served Miller light (no BUD at all- which really bummed Danny out - but I could care less since I was the designated driver), and only PEPSI products which I hate!!! The venue however was beautiful, organized, the concert was phenomenal and the memories are incomparable!!

Here is a glimpse of our fun:

Does that not depict an epic night of awesomeness?!!?!!?!?

Utter joy and happiness surrounded us all that night...it was fantastic.

Looking back on it thought this weekend was a testament to your attitude.....Danny could have let getting a ticket on his way out of town ruin his mood, yet he didn't, The night we left one of the persons who bought a ticket to go with us backed out and we were left seeking a buyer on Facebook, Instragram, IM, all of it...to no avail........let me tell you what happened next...

The day of the concert, my sister and Tony went to Cavender's and were trying to sell their extra ticket...no luck, someone told them to head over to the Red Neck Heaven and see if they could sell it there......they went, ate, and asked around, no takers.  Then Tony gets approached by a guy that is interested.  The concert mind you is about 2 hours away....He tells the guy he wants $300 and the guy offers him $100....Tony declines then the guy proceeded to bring up his bank account and show him that he has $217 to work with that he will give him $150...Tony agrees then this guy calls his mom to ask her permission (turns out this grown man suffers from epileptic seizures as well as other medical conditions and lives with his mother).  She tells him NO....ans warns him of scammers, and robbers, etc.  Tony talks to his mother and assures her that he will not take advantage of her son, that he doesn't even have to pay him until they are in the stadium.  She reluctantly agrees.  The guy Daniel, then tries to use the ATM machine and cannot get his money out.  Since he is a local at this place, he asked the waitress to give him cash and charge his card, which after a talk with him and a round of reassurance once again, she agrees and so Daniel gets into the truck with Tony, Sam and Tony and they all head to the concert.

Once inside, Daniel pays for his ticket as agreed, and then spend the remaining money in his account to buy his mom a shirt!  When Tony tells me this story I felt that it was all in Gods plan.  This guy Daniel was a die hard fan, and God put them in the right place at the right time to find each other and get him there to this concert.  Tony paid for Daniels drinks the entire night and he sat with us all and became one of the group.  Danny and I gave him money to but himself a shirt as well.  It was so awesome to be able to enjoy such a memorable event with Daniel and to be with a group of people who is so giving and took care of him for the rest of the night, giving him whatever he wanted and taking him to and from his hang out to be safe.

It was awesome to bear witness to that.  Once the concert was over, we all met back up at Rec Neck Heaven and had a late dinner with Daniel, then called it a night.

Sunday morning we all woke up. packed up and headed out.  We did some driving around in the Dallas area, drove through Grapevine, and then had lunch at Torchy's Taco's...I love their food!!

We stopped at my parents and hung out for awhile, then drove home. We offloaded then relaxed!!

It was a fantastic weekend, that like I said before I will never forget!!!!!!

BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE