footprints in the sand

As I was reflecting on life today I remembered one of my favorite poems... thought I would post it.

One night I dreamed I was walking
Along the beach with the Lord.

Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.

Sometimes there were two sets of footprints.
Other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed that
During the low periods of my life when I was

Suffering from anguish, sorrow, or defeat
I could see only one set of footprints,

So I said to the Lord, "You promised me,
Lord, that if I followed You,
You would walk with me always.

But I noticed that during the most trying periods
Of my life there have only been
One set of footprints in the sand.

Why, when I have needed You most
You have not been there for me?"

The Lord Replied,
"The times when you have seen only one set of footprints
is when I carried you."

Calorie Count

So this long weekend began with the idea that we were going camping and fishing.  We went to Walmart and bought all of the essential things for camping.....hamburger buns for the hamburgers we had in the freezer, two bags of chips, a bag of peanut M&M's, a bag of twizzlers, graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows, etc.  Needless to say it was raining like CRAZY and we decided not to go...especially since our new mattress arrived on Friday and sleeping on an air mattress (after sleeping on one for a month and a half) when we could finally be sleeping in a real bed just didn't sound as appealing anymore.  We still went fishing part of the day on Saturday...and that is when the eating began.

I kid you not, between the two of us we ate EVERYTHING I just listed among other things.  Yes, we finished off both bags of chips, both bags of candy, half the graham crackers, a few marshmallows, the hamburgers which were super greasy (and Juan made home made french fries to go with it) plus two full breakfasts (yes, I am talking eggs, toast, bacon, etc.), tacos, popcorn, and part of the molton chocolate cakes Juan attempted to make.....BASICALLY I ate more than a weeks worth of calories in 3 days.  And of course, I spent most of the weekend in my new bed....so the calories just stayed right in my body......no burn off at all.

This is just my way of telling myself how much of a fat lard I am.  HAHA.  No wonder people tend to gain weight when they get married....and I'm sure that is without eating as awful as I did this weekend.  Having now written it all out I realize how completely  horrible all of that food is for my poor body...and suddenly I am craving an apple.  Well, I guess it is time to get back to real life....and hopefully much better eating.

so this is christmas

Yes, I realize that I am a bit (or maybe a lot more than a bit) late with the whole Christmas thing.  Things have been pretty crazy for us the last few months.  We were lucky enough to spend three weeks in Brownsville, Texas with Juan's family during the Christmas season.  We had a lot of fun with his family (parents, siblings, nieces, cousins, etc.) and although they generally speak Spanish around the house, some how mine has yet to improve at all.  I seem to think that I will magically be able to speak fluently when I wake up one day, though that dream is beginning to seem far fetched and I guess I may have to actually get my act together and learn it myself.

Since we got back from Texas in the beginning of January, things seem to be going nonstop in our lives.  Two days after we got back we moved into a new apartment in Mountain View, California (about 5 min from where I grew up).  It is an older building, but very quiet and we haven't had any problems thus far.  We love it!  We have however been sleeping on an air mattress for the past month and our backs are starting to feel the toll that that has taken on us.  The good news is that we should be getting a bed in the next week (it is ordered and on its way to us).  The move brought with it a new ward, which we love and we can't wait to get to know more people.

Juan's internship at NASA was extended once again until the end of April.  We keep playing a waiting game of what our future will hold and as of now all we know is that we are here till April.  I have been substituting at a preschool since just before winter break in addition to the Saturday Math Academy class that I teach.  After we got back I got a tutoring job helping a 3rd grade girl with math and other things.  She is very cute and I enjoy it a lot.  I also got on as a Substitute Teacher for the Palo Alto Unified School District.  Between my four part time jobs, I have stayed busy.  Juan and I enjoy our evenings together, but we await a day when we will both just be able to sleep in again (since he is up at 6 every weekday and I am always up by 7 on Saturdays...and we have early church on Sundays).  Life is good.  There is not a whole lot more that we could ask for (except maybe a little bit of stability...but it will all come in time).

Here are some pictures from our trip to Brownsville:

We made gingerbread men with Juan's nieces.

Mr. and Mrs. Ginger.....my pride and joy.

Juan's mom makes the most amazing tamales.

Lu (Juan's niece) smiling for the camera.

Juan with his nieces (Jo and Lu)...they love him.

Jo and me at our Christmas feast.

Joe and Ashley....and the yummy food.

Juan got coal in his stocking.

We picked someone to give a gift to out of a hat....Juan got Lu.

Gaby and me on New Years Eve

Estrella (Juan's youngest cousin).

San Antonio Temple