Addie

On a lighter note than my previous post, please pray for Addie today. We go in this morning for a minor eye surgery to unclog one of her tear ducts. It's a very uncomplicated and quick surgery, but nonetheless they do need to put her out and her momma is looking forward to it being over. We have help from my dad and step mom, who are caring for the big girls today and tomorrow so I can focus on being with Addie and caring for her. I"m sure she'll do great...she's such a happy baby!

Read more...

Thinking on heaven

Our past week has been full of heavy hearted moments. Our church family lost 2 very dear members. One was a father, husband, and friend named John Spiro who was in his 50's, he died of ALS. The other was a young daughter, sister and friend, named Amy Calderone just 19 years old. She passed away from a brain hemorrhage.

All week I thought about posting, but didn't really know what to say. We didn't know them well, but the past week I spend many a moment praying, some crying. One person asked me if it was hard hearing about Amy, if it brought everything back that we've been through. Yes it does, but for me I think the hardest part was just contemplating another family having to walk this road of such deep pain.

However, being at the memorial services this weekend for these dear saints, was refreshing and provoking. Dave and I left, freshly aware of the brevity of life and encouraged by the way the Lord is meeting these families and, in ways, prepared them for these trials. Both John and Amy were both so hungry for heaven. Then yesterday, Josh Harris gave a phenomenal message on death and heaven in response to this past week. I left with so many mixed emotions and also encouraged as I thought on heaven.

Please pray for these two families as, in many ways, their grief has just begun and they have long roads to walk. Pray for sustaining grace and help from the Lord and that they would physically feel His presence carrying them.

Read more...

Christmas at Nani's

A combo of not taking enough pictures and too few coming out well, left me with just these. But I'm grateful for them. It was a bittersweet day for me at my moms for many reasons. She is going to be selling her house very soon, the home that I spent my last 32 Christmas' at. All of my childhood memories revolve around that home and it will be hard to say good-bye to it. But, on the flip side, my mom is going to be living with us, and we are all so excited for that day to come!

Read more...

Christmas morning

Read more...

Christmas Eve

Starting Christmas Eve, here are some highlights with the Castro family...

Opa with the grandkids

Addie eating Puerto Rican plaintains

Lily Lou

Mamma and Addie

Presents...

Read more...

Hearts at rest

"I would like to say that my heart is at rest, but I can't.

I would like to think that I always rest in God's care, but I don't.

I would love to declare that my faith is unwavering, but it isn't.

I wish it was a fact that fear is a thing of my past, but it simply isn't.

It would be nice to know that trust's struggle is over, but it isn't.

I wish I never wanted to be my own sovereign, but I do.

I want to have unbroken rest in the hand of God's love, but I don't.

I long to face difficulty without question or doubt, but I don't.

I do not want to re-question my Father's love, but I do.

I wish I never questioned the Lord's good plan, but I do.

The struggle is better than it once was, but not done.

My rest is more consistent that it used to be, but not complete.

My heart enjoys a greater ease than in earlier days of faith, but unrest comes.

I have lived with You and seen Your care, but questions come.

I have seen You do what I could not have conceived, but still doubt.

I have been in awe of the provisions of Your grace, but anxiety comes.

I have submitted myself to Your will and way, but still rebel.

So with rest in your forgiveness and confidence in Your power, I come.

With a needy heart that craves Your help, I pray:

'Help me, Father, today to let go of my need to always understand.

Enable me to live in rest when I don't know before what will happen.

Help me to have a restful heart when opposition is great, and all is You.' "

-Paul David Tripp

Read more...

Happy New Year!...and a great message

We had a great *after Christmas* week around here. It was our last week off from school, so I took advantage of it and we did a lot of purging old toys, organizing the play room, organizing some drawers and closets. The big girls were both sick for a few days, so we sat around and read books and laid low. We also had Dave's whole extended family over last night for a dinner and dessert party. So a big part of last week was getting ready for that - baking, cooking, and cleaning. A great annual tradition and it was so good to see everyone.

One morning last week I listened to this message, by Josh Harris, called Teach Us To Number Our Days, which he gave at our church on Dec. 26. We had missed the message. If you didn't hear it, it's a great message with some great truths to go into the new year with. Listen to it here.

The older I get the more I realize how short this life is...probably true for all of us. And especially after losing Alivia, I was struck with such a profound awareness of how temporal our days on earth are. In this new year, I want to grow more in numbering my days, and seeking to let go of the fleeting things for the sake of those that will last for eternity. I want to pray more, I want to read God's Word more, and through that, I hope to trust more.

Read more...