Thankful Thursday ~ Grand Finale 2009

I sincerely wish all of you a wonderful and blessed final Thursday of 2009. Laurie from Women Taking A Stand is hosting Thankful Thursday, so please drop by for a visit.

As 2009 comes to end with bells and whistles, I stop to look at the blessings we have received throughout the year. My first "Thank You" has to go to my heavenly father God. He has given love, patience, forgiveness, and courage. I thank my kids for putting up with me and for loving me unconditionally. I am also thankful for my mother, who through the years has continued to be my mentor. My sister Angie gave me a foundation of faith because she took me to a Christian ACTS retreat that changed my life. My sister Gracie is always my vision of GRACE and I admire her family values. My "JOY" is my sister Jessica because she became my best friend and helped me find my creative passion and purpose. My brother Rolando is the rock of our family and a role mode for my kids.

When it all comes down to it, the things that matter the most are family and friends. To all of you my blogging friends; I wish you the best for 2010. You have reached deeper into your heart and have made me feel blessed by your friendship. God Bless You with love, happiness, and peace.

Love, Yoli

Tuesday Turquoise

I love turquoise. I think it is the most beautiful color that God created.

It is cold and drizzling outside. I'm tired from the unpacking at work and home, but looking through decorating websites makes me happy. The designs and use of color are inspirational. I can't wait to get my sewing room setup so I can start "creating" again.

Have a blessed Tuesday!
Yoli :)

Blue Monday ~ Yeah Fun !!

It is Blue Monday at Smiling Sally. It is so much fun and sharing of anything blue!

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I love these blue plate settings from Crows Nest Trading. I have some in turquoise but not in this royal blue. I'm going to see if I can find some locally at a lower price. I love Crows Nest online for decorating inspiration.

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Have a great week!

Yoli :)

Spiritual Sundays

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Spiritual Sundays with Ginger & Charlotte is a huge blessing in my life. I have reached out in prayer and have been blessed with the a support group of wonderful women of wisdom and faith. I have also been honored to be participate in prayers for other people in need.

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We moved to our new city a few days ago. I also started working in my new office last week. Life is beyond hectic with unpacking, relocation details, and work. I am praying for peace in my heart and sanity in my mind because I am tired and stressed. I am trying to be strong and keep things fun for my kids because I don't them to have such a difficult time adjusting.

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Thank you dear friends for your prayer and support. I am glad that we are all here for eachother, in faith and friendship.

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Blessed be God forever!

Yoli :)

Merry Christmas

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May the love of Jesus Christ be felt by everyone, especially those who are hungry, depressed, homeless, ill, and lonely. May the miracle blessings of love and salvation be the the most important gifts we receive. May we spread compassion, friendship, faith, and love, to everyone we know.

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Jesus Christ lives forever!

Love, Yoli :)

A Journey of Faith ~ Mary & Joseph

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. (Luke 2:4-5)
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While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:6-7)
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And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:8-12)
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When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. (Luke 2:39-40)
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I found these pictures at National Geographic. I am moved with love and compassion for Mother Mary and Joseph. No greater gift can be given than to bear fruit to God's only son. We are blessed that Mary and Joseph had the faith and commitment to follow God. Blessed be Christ Forever! ~ Yoli

Happy Blue Monday!!

It is Blue Monday at Smiling Sally. It is so much fun and sharing of anything blue!

Finally today the movers are at our new house moving in our belongings. With just a few days left before Christmas one of the first things I want to do is bake Christmas cookies. We have so much to unpack but we are having a fun time. We are going to setup the small Nativity scene and our small Christmas tree. My prayers go to all of you for a blessed Christmas. May the Lord be your guide in 2010 and faith grow stronger in Jesus Christ.

Have a beautiful Blue Monday!

Yoli

Spiritual Sundays ~ A Pause for Advent

Spiritual Sundays with Ginger & Charlotte has become something I look forward to all week. God has blessed me with a support group of wonderful women of wisdom. One of those women is Floss at A Pause for Advent. It has been crazy busy for me but thanks to Floss, I remember to slow down and remember the birth of Jesus Christ. If anyone is in need of prayer, please call out at Spiritual Sundays and be assured that many people are waiting to pray for you!!

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THANK YOU GOD!!! We finally moved. Today our furniture & household goods were packed and loaded into the moving van. We drove to our new city this evening. We're staying in a hotel until our furniture arrives, hopefully early next week. This relocation has been exciting and stressful. I know I could not have made it without the support of my family. I am also blessed to work for a company that has truly taken care of us through this relocation. And to all of you wonderful friends in faith; my deepest and sincerest thanks for being my strength. You heard me cry, laugh, and stress out; and you always come through with prayer. You are my Christmas gift.

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Have a blessed Christmas!

Yoli :)

Friends in Faith!

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I want to sincerely thank you for your prayers. When you heard me call for prayer about my relocation stress, you came to my side. That is the biggest gift of the season that I have received. You are my friends in faith!

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Today things went very well with our relocation details. We woke up at 5am and drove an 8 hours round trip to our new city. We picked-up the house keys, setup utilities, and visited the high school. For lunch we went to the Gristmill restaurant and walked around the shops in Gruene, TX. I took several pictures that I wanted to share with you.

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Saturday is another busy day because the movers will be at my house to put our belongings in boxes. The moving truck will be loaded Sunday and then we hit the road again.

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THANK YOU GOD FOR MY BLOGGER FRIENDS!

Yoli :)

Thankful Thursday ~ Prayer Request

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I sincerely wish all of you a wonderful and blessed Thursday. Laurie from Women Taking A Stand is hosting Thankful Thursday this week.

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I am so thankful for all of you, wonderful women of faith. I am coming down to the last few days of our relocation. I am sincerely asking for prayers because I am getting very exhausted, nervous, and overwhelmed. I have been hitting a few road blocks on the relocation details. As a single mom, I'm having to do everything on my own. My kids are helpful but I'm the adult so I have to make all the arrangements. I'm worried about everything being in place. There are so many things to do before, during, and after the relocation. We're moving this weekend so I will keep in touch sometime, somehow.

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God Blesses you and thank you!

Yoli

Single Woman ~ Married to God

“Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.” Proverbs 31:10-12

"Those who love me will keep my word and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them". John 14:23

I love these two scriptures. As a single woman I often try to fit myself into the meaning of Proverbs 31:10-12. It is difficult to do because I’m not married, so officially I’m not a wife. I don’t have a husband to lavish with love and respect. My role as a single mom requires me to also be a “dad” and the “man” of the house. Yet, I still joyfully sing the praises of a true Christian marriage.

For me, being married to God is a vocation. It isn’t formal but instead it’s spiritual. Marriage to God is about loving Him passionately and doing everything to make our dreams come true. God has dreams for me and my family, just as a husband has dreams for his family. Traditional wives are called to honor their husband in everything. I too feel called to honor God in all that I do. He is my partner. Like in a traditional marriage, my relationship with God needs to be intimate and respectful. I have to make a conscious effort to follow God’s lead and not let my pride or stubbornness get in the way. Marriage to God is relying on Him, believing Him, and obeying Him.

In John 14:23, I am reassured of God’s love if I keep His word. God is telling me that He will make a home for me. He will teach me through his son Jesus Christ and He will inspire me through the Holy Spirit. God will furnish our home with the Holy Trinity and fill our home with love, respect, passion, trust, and faith. Isn’t that what marriage is?

Yoli :)

Senorita Christmas

I should be packing but instead I was sewing Monday evening. I had a customer order the "Senorita Apron" from me, so I decided to add in a free gift for Christmas. I made a matching dish-towel with a beautiful red lace trip. I securely added the decal and embellished with bright stone accents. I love going the extra mile to surprise customers. I feel so blessed by God when one of my aprons is sold, that I always make sure to add in a little extra.

Take care and have a wonderful Tuesday!!

Yoli :)

Blue Monday

Please go on over to Smiling Sally, where today is Blue Monday at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/.

It is a "Blue Monday" for me because part of me is feeling down. We're packing this week and will move this weekend to our new city. There are so many things to be excited about but I'm sad about leaving my family. My mom, sisters, and brother are so special to me. During 2009, I got so much closer to my family.

Since we're packing, we didn't put up Christmas decorations other than a small 2ft tree, a cross, a candle, and the Holy Family. It is the most beautiful Christmas decorating we have ever put up because it hits directly to the heart and soul. My spirit is filled with the true meaning of the season.

Have a blessed week!

Yoli :)

For Unto Us....

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It is such a blessing for me to participate in Spiritual Sundays with Ginger & Charlotte. I have found so many answers to my prayers in the words of wisdom from the wonderful women I have met. I sincerely thank my Heavenly Father God for bringing mentors and inspirational friends to my life. One of those women is my dear friend Floss who hosts A Pause for Advent. During the holidays people are running crazy trying to find the perfect gift. It is easy to get stressed, depressed, or lost in the holiday frenzy. A Pause for Advent is my friendly reminder to appreciate the gift of life that God is giving us through His son Jesus Christ.
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With our relocating this month we were not able to put up our holiday decorations or do much gift shopping at all. Instead, I am reminding myself and my kids that the gift of Christmas is Christ himself. I am looking back at 2009 with gratitude for God's love and mercy.
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Jesus Loves You!
Yoli :)

Old Books ~ New Beginnings

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I love old books. There is something about them that intrigues me. I wonder about the story behind the stories. I image the numerous people who have read them and what they learned from them. I like the feel of old books and the smell of aging grace. Most of all, I love that our beloved Father God left for us the Holy Bible, filled with His teachings and hopes for us. I am starting to pack-up for our relocation. I have so many books that I need to sort through. It is hard letting them go because they have become a part of me. But, I know that new beginnings bring new blessings too. With care and patience I will go through all of them and only keep a few special ones. The other ones will be donated and hopefully bless another person as I have been blessed.
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Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.
Timothy 4:13 (NIV)
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Your Sister in Christ,
Yoli

Heart Choices

I just got back home on Thursday night from my house hunting trip. When I checked my mail I found the prize I had won at Heart Choices, Fitness Friday Giveaway. I send my sincerest appreciation to Debbie Petras for putting together such a wonderful gift package. I'm so excited to have the Food Network dvds about healthy cooking. Also, the candy cane ornament is adorable. The details are so lovely and Debbie included a story about the origin of candy canes. My faviorite is the ivory white soap. I gathered the goodies together and took a picture. The prize is adorable and greatly appreciated.

Thank you Debbie! You are a beautiful testament to God's grace in motion.

Sincerely, Yoli :)

Thankful Thursdays ~ Mom

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I sincerely wish all of you a wonderful and blessed Thursday. Laurie from Women Taking A Stand is hosting Thankful Thursday this week. I was raised by a strong woman of faith, my mother "Miss Bennie".

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This Thursday I want to give my thanks God for giving me my mother. She is my inspiration, my role model, and my best friend. I am still in central Texas on my house hunting trip. I invited my mother to join me on my trip, and I am so glad that she accepted. Mom has a wonderful life story which I hope one day she puts into a book. She is a woman of faith, service, and love.

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Here is a picture of the house that mom spotted on our house hunting trip. I submitted a lease application and I'm still waiting to get a reply; so please pray for us. My mother surprised us yesterday by buy a car for my 16 year-old son Vinny. She is Vinny's Christmas angel and he is so appreciative and excited.

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Have a Blessed Thursday and wonderful week!

Yoli :)

Americana Girl

I'm still out of town but wanted to drop in to update ya'll on my house hunting relocation trip. Things are going good, busy, and blessed. Hopefully by Wednesday morning I will know if I got the leased-house I applied for.
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There are so many antique stores in my soon-to-be hometown. Unfortunately, I haven't had time to visit any of them. I love the rustic furniture and antique kitchen utensils. The antique items whisper secrets from the past. I'm just an "Americana Girl" at heart.

Have a great week!
Yoli :)

Bluebonnets of Texas

Please come on over to Smiling Sally, where today is Blue Monday at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/.

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Today I am sharing the beautiful Bluebonnets of Texas. To see the bluebonnet flowers in full bloom is a reminder of the artistic hand of God. He painted the land with bold shades of blue.

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I will be in central Texas this week to look for a house for our relocation. Driving along Texas highways is so beautiful to me. To make things better, my mother has accepted my invitation to join me on the trip. Please pray for us that we find a good home. I have to report to my new job by January 4, 2010 and the kids start school the 3rd week of January. There are so many things to get done.

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Take care and hope you have a wonderful week!

Yoli :)

Spiritual Sundays ~ A Pause in Advent

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I want to sincerely thank Floss for hosting "A Pause for Advent". I know that God is wanting me to pause and look around at the wonderful women of faith that He has brought into my life. Charlotte & Ginger are my pillars of wisdom and they host Spiritual Sundays.
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"Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said “Woman, you are set free from your ailment”. When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God." (Luke 13:10-13)
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In the book of Luke, Jesus is teaching on the Sabbath. Today He teaches 24-7. This tells me that He is always available. The story is about one woman's faith and hope. It is so easy for us to be like the Crippled Woman. We too have been crippled emotionally, mentally, and physically. There are times that negative attitudes, anger, and impatience lead to physical ailments like headaches and stomach aches. A spiritually deficient person can not stand straight in faith but instead looks down at everything in life. We allow negativity to take our focus away from God. Like the Crippled Woman, we can also look beyond our problems and seek hope in Christ. When Jesus approached the woman, she was probably embarassed about her defects but she was confident in His power. When He told her that she was healed, she accepted his word as truth. She didn't question its' authenticity. She looked-up, stood up, and lived up to the a life of hope and faith.
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What has you crippled? As for me, I stress out a lot because I try to do things on my own too often. I get frustrated, tired, and impatient, and then I get headaches and muscle tension. Maybe if I would start by having greater faith in God I would be more peaceful and confident knowing that He was in control. I acknowledge my defects and stand before Jesus for healing. I wish the same for you.
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God Bless You ~ Yoli

Dias Festivos Market Place

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I have been super busy the last couple of days. My sister Jessica and I have a booth at "Dias Festivos Market Place" which is put together by the Junior League to raise funds for the children of the community. It is a grand shopping extravaganza with so many vendors and visitors. It runs from Friday - Sunday.

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Jessica makes beautiful jewelry, which she sells at JOY Marie's Boutique. For the show, I am featuring my aprons. It was a lot of work sewing them but so rewarding to see them being sold. Being able to participate in the market place is a blessing and I love spending the time with my sister.

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Oh, my relocation arrangements are still rolling. I'm having to multi-task for the market place show while working with my realtors & movers.

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Happy Holidays!

Yoli :)

Soup ~ Caldo

"Caldo" is the Spanish word for Soup. I am feeling a bit under the weather today. I need something warm and soothing for supper. It is cold and drizzly outside; and I'm in south Texas. I can only image how cold it must be in the northern areas. I love this weather when I can stay home, all cozy and comfy.

I won't post a recipe because some of the best soups I've had come from a can. My favorite soup when I was a kid was Campbells Chicken & Stars...yum, yum.

Take Care and Keep Warm!
Yoli :)

A Pause in Advent

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GOD answers questions FAST! Just a couple of hours ago I posted a question about Christmas decorating. The answers came through wonderful women of wisdom!
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Thank you to my sweet friend Floss for hosting "A Pause for Advent" because that was the reminder I needed. Floss, you helped me remember the "Reason for the Season", JESUS CHRIST.
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Super thanks to all the lovely ladies who posted your thoughts. I will certainly take your words of wisdom to heart. We will decorate our house with the Nativity display.
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God has truly blessed me with the gift of your friendship!
Yoli :)

Need Your Opinion!

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What do I do???? We relocate within 3-4 weeks. I feel bad that I haven't put up any Christmas decorations in our current house. I hate to put them up and just have to box them back up in a couple of weeks. I went online to look for inspiration and found this picture at Pottery Barn. I totally love it. The Christmas rustic scene is so me!
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I'm torn because I don't want to be a Scrooge Mommy by not decorating, even though my kids are teenagers. What should I do???? I guess I could down-size the decorations this year but it wouldn't be the same. I just love decorating, making cookies, and the smell of pine & cinnamon. This relocation is my Christmas dream come true!
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Need Your Opinion!
Yoli