High School a Little Different

The two oldest have arrived to high school unscathed, for the most part. No, we haven´t killed them, nor have we put them in a barrel with a hole in it yet as our pastor joked about us doing when they were little. He actually said to put them in a barrel with a hole in it, but when they turn 16 to plug the hole! 

Now that is just wrong! As a mom of three teenage boys, however I sometimes wonder if I should put myself in said barrel.

This year we will be homeschooling a little differently. The Lord put it on our hearts to change our curriculum totally. After all, I am only an elementary teacher. They needed more than I could give. We spent most of the summer praying about what to do. God led us to Liberty University Online Academy through my cousins who have just graduated through the program. 

We have just finished our second week, and I must say I love it! However, when I asked them if they "liked" it, all I got for an answer was from my second son Andrew, the more anylitical one who said "Mom, it´s school!" 

The work effort they are putting in this, though shows how much better they like it. They are getting up on their own and starting most days on their own. LUOA plans their daily work and their projects! I just oversee and help study now. 

Michael is  in 7th grade now. 

I must admit to shedding a tear at storing their old grade book. I have kept their grades since they were in Pre- K in that book. Reminding myself of God´s answer to our prayers, I put it away without a second look. We continue to pray that God will provide for the monthly payments which we are more than happy to make sacrifices for. 

How are you coping with high school? If you homeschool, have you thought what you will do when your littles enter high school or middle school?

Hills, Friends and A Toro

Tonight´s escapade  late evening jog was met by many hills! This normally would get me running the other way in search for an easier way, but a new friend and her sons wanted to come out with us tonight, so we tackled these hills!

Yes, I said "us". 

Typically, I jog with our dog, Toro ( which means "bull" in English), He pulls incessantly and is as stubborn as a donkey, but he keeps me company when I go jogging at night. Tonight, however, all three of my boys and their friends decided to take Toro out with me. Which means, we all were going to the park together. 

 " There goes my peaceful jog to think and listen to music!" I thought, but instead I joyfully  hurried the troop out the door to the great outdoors. It was, after all, getting late.

My new friend and I managed to do two big laps, (3Km) and some abdominal exercises, when out of nowhere our Toro comes running to give my new friend a kiss right on the nose!


"Hey, I don´t even know your name," she laughs out loud. 

Oh, thankfully she likes dogs. 

The boys are laughing, throwing each other around, swinging and zip lining as if it were a summer night! It was so hard to tell them it was time to go home. 

I love this park, where I used to take my little boys. It was as if I heard their laughter from a time past. 

What was only to be a quick 30 minute jog, turned out to be a fun, chaotic adventure! That´s what happens when the hills meet 6 boys and a Toro! 




Check out how you can also be strong in your fitness journey at my other blog www.faithfitnessandfun.blogspot.com
.........and
Check out our BE STRONG Ministry at www.bestrongmissions.blogspot.com

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Some Major Heart Warming!

What makes your home run smoothly? What makes you happy when you come home? 

When I came home tonight from a meeting, this is what greeted me and just warmed my heart!

My dear hubby making his new favorite meal - shrimp tempura (with some veggie tempura to make me even more happy)



My middle son, Andrew, working on his last few lessons of math to get ahead. (yes, really, he decided he wanted to have a lighter day tomorrow)

My youngest son, Michael, doing all of his school work for tomorrow, so he can help his "Coach Daddy" paint their football helmets! 

My oldest son, Isaiah, with all his homework done! 

Working-out while watching one of our favorite series with my family. ( me working- out and the rest watching)

Bringing to my mind the verse my dear hubby and pastor preached yesterday,

"Therefore, my beloved brethern, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 

1 Corinthians 15:58 

Be Strong and Consistent,



Check out how you can also be strong in your fitness journey at my other blog www.faithfitnessandfun.blogspot.com
.........and
Check out our BE STRONG Ministry at www.bestrongmissions.blogspot.com

Joining every Monday with,

Mother´s day in Spain

You know, photoshop is getting easier and easier. I wanted to make a special bookmark for our ladies in church, but balked at using photoshop. So glad that it didn´t take all night. 

Happy Mother´s Day in Spain! 

What better verse than Proverbs 31?

Oh, that my boys will be able to call me blessed. 

They sure do like to goof around! 

We went out to play with the dogs and play soccer. It was a riot! So glad we chose to just hang out with the boys at the park. They are growing so fast. 

A gorgeous sunny day with my boys, makes for a happy mommy!

I know it´s not Mother´s day till next week but, Happy Mother´s day to all you Moms out there. Cherish your kidos while you can! What do you hope to do for Mother´s day?

Joining with, 

A New Family Member!

I wanted to surprise the boys for all their hard work these last couple of months.

They had earned a lot of smiles on their smile charts for all their jobs, and this Saturday, they were doing their jobs pretty much without me telling them. It pleased me so much! I just was bursting to my mom on the phone, watching them clean their hamster cage all by themselves, all three of them together.


We needed something special!

Something to show them that Mommy was so proud of them.

It was time for a new member of the family!

May I introduce you to our guinea pig Reeses Pieces - lovingly called Reese.

She is only 6wks old  and is babied and pampered all day long. I wonder how she will turn out?

Surrounded and Joining the Ranks

I am surrounded by footballs, football equipment, and football players.

I guess, if you can´t beat ´em, join ´em.

 My boys start practicing with their daddy´s team, the Gijón Mariners full tackle American Football team.  They are a little young for the team yet, but the coach wants our boys practicing with them to help build a junior team. We are so excited for them!

Go Mariners!

Changes and Blessings

TEXAS is a big change from Asturias, Spain! 

We are on what missionaries call "furlough" which means rest, but often it means many many hours of driving, new surroundings, and many many new experiences. We give a report to our supporting churches of what the Lord has been doing on our mission field. We will be Stateside for 5 months.

El Paso is a culture all of it´s own.

Here is our driveway!

God has blessed us with a trailer in the desert to live in. We have a bit of a drive to our sending church, but it is exactly what God has provided for us.

The boys have had a full week of school and of football practice. These are days that we pray they will be thankful for the rest of their lives.

The boys on their first day of school last week after traveling three days from Florida.

The boys first day of Panther full tackle football!

God has allowed us to serve in our sending church and school, as well, as visit new churches in the area.

Primary school chapel

Our first church meeting.

The boys and Joseph singing "The Blood of Jesus" in 4 part harmony.

Please continue to pray for our church in Gijón, Spain and for our travels all over the USA.

Moments like these...

You need to stop and just admire their ability to sleep wherever and however.

This could be an occupational hazard for an MK.

MK?? You ask.

Yes, our highly adapted missionary kid sleeping in the Madrid airport. He and his brothers have traveled/waited over 48 hours to arrive in the good ol´ USA.

Our little troopers!

We arrived in Miami, Florida August 9 at 6pm, but you know, after baggage claim and customs, we didn´t actually see my parents till well after 7 pm. Which by the way was 1am our time!

It has been 2 years since we had seen our family. These reunions are so precious, and I am taking so may pictures to capture almost every moment. I don´t want to miss anything.

My mom and I!

If you don´t hear from me for awhile, you´ll know I am taking lots of pictures and really enjoying our furlough.

The boys start school next week in Texas. Please pray for our traveling safety as we head that way.

I hope to be able to visit you at your blogs soon.

A Surprise Treat!

La Familia Contreras Trio -
The first of many, Lord willing!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing

Final Flashback

For a little while anyway.

Yeah, *sigh* ... I just don´t have much time to blog these days. Didn´t think I would say it but, blogging has become last on my "to do" list.

Not only has summer started and I want to be out more, I am taking care of a 5 month old baby every day too. She is precious, don´t get me wrong. I just forgot how much time one little baby can take up. I know I already blogged about this, so I will just go on and on about how sweet and bubbly she is. She is growing and has adjusted to being with our family. Oh, and she loves her feet!

In retrospect of camp coming up,  here is a Photo flashback picture of one of our first camps together in Spain. Our boys were ages 6, 5, and 4. We finally got to enjoy and work at the camps as a family!

Camp Ebenezer in the Barcelona area

Family camp 2005

Monte Calvario Campamento Bautista

Family camp 2005

I was going to link up with the Completing Him Challenge with some wedding pictures too, but I have already posted some. If you would like to see them. Please go HERE. 

This week´s challenge is to pray for your man! Pray specifically. I pray for him but, the list Courtney had on there just blew me away. I realized how specifically I really should be praying for my dear husband.

I will be starting another challenge as well. This one is very very important to me. I don´t want anything getting in the way. This one must become a priority. Discipline has been an area that I have needed to work on. Discipline in fitness, healthy eating, in my house hold chores... well, and one other area.  I have wanted to make more time for is my daily Bible reading. I read, but I must admit, it´s been a long time since I have really delved in.  Here is what I am committing to.

Read through the Bible in 90 days!

Well, hope you all will miss me a little bit. I will miss you all.  Be back to post pictures when I can. Meanwhile, maybe you will join in on some of these challenges too.