The Joy of raising our kids at Home!!!

Poem to ponder...

2011-02-07T12:32:00.000-05:00

Words are Wonderful Things

Keep a watch on your words, my darling,
For words are wonderful things;

They are sweet like the bees’ fresh honey,
Like the bees they have terrible stings;

They can bless like the warm, glad sunshine,
And brighten a lonely life;

They can cut, in the strife of anger,
Like an open, two-edged knife.

- Mrs. E. R. Miller

I am working on teaching my kids to use nice, kind, sweet words, especially to each other, what a hard thing to do! This poem will be read to them often and would like for them to memorize it also, let see how it works!

~Lore~

Funny video

2011-02-07T12:14:00.000-05:00

I thought it was cute, and the kids had a nice laugh with it!
~Lore~

Thursday Family Night!

2011-02-03T21:56:00.000-05:00

We missed daddy! We had to celebrate Thursday Family Night the three of us. We went to grab something to eat after I picked up Dami from his painting class, we got some new pets and had a nice time!

Here are some pics...

Dami and his new doggy, Pie (since he has another doggy called Pumpkin, so now he has Pumpkin Pie!)

Pie and no name yet!

Mia and her new pet, no name yet!

Had a great TFN! Next week with daddy!

Love,

~Lore~

Happy Bday Gio!

2011-02-03T13:40:00.001-05:00

Twenty-six years ago my brother was born. I remember clearly when we went to the hospital to meet our little brother. Years have passed by and now he is a handsome young man, but still my little brother. I love you Gio, hope you have a nice day! God has given you another year for you to use it wisely and enjoy it fully. I get sad on these dates when my loved ones are far away but my prayer is for you to be happy and healthy, and for us to be able to see you once again soon!

Love you much,

~Lore~

We called you earlier and left a message singing happy bday, well, here is the video version...hope you enjoy it!

Back!

2011-02-02T13:13:00.000-05:00

I have decided to use the blogger again. I stopped because it takes lots of time to post pics, and things, but I love the fact that this tool is a way to store all those moments that maybe as time passes we forget. I have been reading posts from 2, 3 years ago and it makes me want to start again! I treasure the little things I do with my kids and family so I am back! I will not post daily because of time issues (we are very busy now that homeschooling is more structured) but I will try my best. Whoever reads this I hope it can be a blessing for you but especially I want my kids to have a way to look back and see how their lives were many years ago and the happy moments we shared as a family!

Love,

~Lore~

Must needed update!!!

2009-06-18T11:05:00.003-05:00

It has been a while since my last post. So many things going on...well, we are finally in Ecuador after an exhausting move but finallly here. God has been so good to us! We have settled down in a rented house close to my parents, which is always good, getting used to the new place, enjoying the beautiful landscape and weather, seeing family members and loved ones we have not seeing in years, and trying to get into a new routine as a family. I am recovering from surgery (I had a hysterectomy done because of my recurrent ovarian cysts) feeling good with menopause, no symptoms with the hormonal treatment i am on. I had the blessing of having my cousin as my oncologist so he took care of everything, I was in great hands! All the results of the pathology from the cyst were negative which was something we were concerned about but I keep saying it, God has been with us all the way in the good and the bad. The kids are happy, have lots new friends, Dami lost his first tooth, Mia is hoping to lose one too!!! Not me, seeing Dami lose his teeth made me realize he is growing and is a bi kid now, it brought tears to my eyes!
We are going slowly but surely, no furniture yet, no car yet, but we have each other which I am thankful for everyday!
Will update soon!
Staying positive,
~Lore~

Us again!

2009-01-16T13:38:00.003-05:00

I know, it has been a W H I L E since we have posted anything. Well, it has been crazy since we moved to our new home here it TN, the moving, organizing, getting to know our neighbors, meeting new people, visiting beautiful places etc., had taken lots of our time and I decided to put our blogging to rest for a few months. Also, we don't have internet service so we connect when we really need to through our cell phones.

Now that we are settled down, God has opened a door for our family, a door that we have been knocking for years. We are moving to Ecuador! Rick has always wanted to move down to South America and now we have the blessing of him taking his "job" down there, so he will be working his same job but from Ecuador. We prayed for a long time trying to figure out what to do and God has answered every single prayer showing us that moving to Ecuador is what He wants for us. I was, and kind of am, a little scared since it will be a big change but after seeing God opening door after door I trust that He will lead us in our new journey in life. We are sad to have to leave this house, which we learned to love in such a short time, this beautiful state that has provided for many great experiences especially the change of the seasons, so many people we have met, family that we love, etc. etc. But one of the big reasons why we are excited is because we will have a chance to do some missionary work. There are so many people in need not only physical but spiritual needs that as a family we want to make a difference in their lives, the mission that God gave us to take the good news to all the world. We have some plans and ideas but God will decide how He want to use us, wherever we are. We are willing...

I will post some more soon...

Blessings,

~Lore~

Mustache

2008-08-20T14:31:00.002-05:00

We had a game of who would make the biggest mustache after drinking our morning fruit and veggie juice. You can decide who won...

God Bless,

~Lore~

Zoologico

2008-08-20T14:03:00.005-05:00

El Domingo fuimos a el Zoologico de la ciudad. Tuvimos un lindo dia en familia.

Nuestra guia....Mia y su mapa....

con el panda rojo, este lugar es famoso por ser el zoologico con mas crias de pandas rojos en EU

Estas tres fotos siguientes fueron tomadas hace casi 2 meses cuando fuimos por primera vez al Zoologico, para que puedan ver cuan hermosos son estos pandas rojos...

Fuimos a una seccion que es como un pequeno museo donde puedes hacer actividades manuales, entre ellas jugar a los disfrazes...
Nuestra abejita Mia

Y quisieron que la mami se vista tambien de abeja, lastima no entre en el vestido!!!

La zebra posando para la foto

Me encanta la mirada de estos pequenos animalitos...

Mucho amor,

~Lore~

Parque de la Semana

2008-08-14T11:43:00.004-05:00

En nuestra nueva ciudad hay muchos parques que tenemos planes de visitar. Decidimos empezar por este. No pude tomar muchas fotos como podran ver. Para la prixima semana tendremos mas.

~Lore~

Playing time

2008-08-14T11:29:00.002-05:00

Kids have so much imagination and I enjoy seeing creativity blossom in their lives. This time they used their "teacher role" to pass on their knowledge to their toys. Dami had a drawing and painting class, while Mia had a reading class!

Dami and his students

Mia reading to her class

Also Mia had an art class going on....

Here she made a photo frame with rocks as decoration...

and a mobile for her baby koala
up close of the mobile...

I love to see them having fun...cleaning up is coming after!

~Lore~

Mud bath

2008-08-11T16:21:00.007-05:00

This weekend we went to visit my sister and her family. They invited us to celebrate one of their friend's birthday so we went to her house and had a nice time. We played some volleyball, ate some good vegetarian food, played "carnaval" (water balloon fights), only downfall was that Rick hurt his knee after chasing my sister to get her wet, we went to a river to swim, among other things. But the highlight, at least for the kids was a nice mud bath! Ezequiel, the birthday girl's father made a mud puddle on the side of his home and got in...of course, being any kids dream to play with mud, the children got in too. They had so much fun and we enjoyed it too just by looking at them. Ezequiel told us about the benefits of mud and there are many...."Health benefits are not proven, but a mud bath is claimed to improve the complexion, relieve joint and muscle pain and remove toxins." Although they are not proven the kids surely enjoyed it!!!

Dami and Caleb

the kids had a chance to pick some strawberries
Ezequiel after his mud bath
Dami tried it too
Mia, Eli and Arleth

cousins playing together making mud pies
some volleyball anyone???

Love,

~Lore~

Buenas Noches

2008-08-07T20:49:00.003-05:00

Los ninos estan durmiendo en su propio cuarto y en sus propias camas. Estan felices disfrutando su independencia (por otra parte nosotros les extranamos!!). Una noche fuimos a chequearlos y esto es lo que encontramos...

Dami con medio cuerpo abajo y chupandose el dedo!!!

Mia no se mueve tanto, ella generalmente amanece de la misma manera en que se acosto...
pero Dami se pasea por toda la cama durante la noche...

Mucho carino,

~Lore~

Pool Time!

2008-08-07T20:12:00.005-05:00

We are enjoying the pool at the apartment complex we are while it last. An update on the house: we got it inspected and it looks like it is in great shape :) some minor repairs that the owner is willing to fix, so it looks like by the 25th of this month we will be closing on the house. We are soooo excited!!!! Therefore, we think our days in the apartment complex are counted and the kids are taking advantage of the pool. We have had so many good times here, the kids have learned how to swim, dive, submerge and get stuff from the bottom, they have lost the fear of water and gotten comfortable in it. Here are some pics of those milestones reached...

They love to jump

Mia and her goggles

This is at the beginning when they needed their "floaties"

After a nice swim...
more jumping
The pool has natural indoor trees, one of them is a palm tree. It even has bananas!!!

We are going to miss the pool!

Blessings,

~Lore~

Margarita Falls

2008-08-03T20:53:00.004-05:00

Una de las ventajas de vivir cerca de la familia son las reuniones aunque no muy frecuentes pero muy disfrutadas! Mi hermana y su familia viven a una hora de donde estamos ahora asi que cuando podemos nos visitamos. Esta vez nosotros fuimos a su casa y ellos nos llevaron a una cascada que se llama Margarita. Para llegar a la cascada grande uno tiene que subir una montana pero como llegamos un poco tarde y la subida consiste en unas cuantas horas de caminata, cruzando rios, escalando troncos y piedras, etc, etc. no pudimos llegar, pero pasamos lindo.

Una de las tantas "cascaditas"

Los tres mosqueterosY mi sobrino Caleb, que se me parece tanto a Dami cuando era chiquito ahora que le cortaron el cabello!

Con amor,

~Lore~

It's always nice to have family close by. My sister and her family live an hour away and when we get together it's always fun. Here we are at Margarita Falls. Although we did not get to the actual Fall we had a great time.

Update on our house search

2008-07-31T21:34:00.004-05:00

Well, after seeing many houses and driving LOTS of miles, we think we have decided on a property. First, the two properties I posted earlier are not going to be the ones because one has major problems and the other one was sold! But God is good, He took us to this cute cedar home sitting in 3 acres of usable land! I did not take any pictures of the inside nor the outside but this is the picture of the MLS listing.

It met all the requirements we had and we put an offer. After negotiating we ended up with a nice price and our closing costs paid by the seller!!! Nothing is sealed yet so I will not get carried away with the house. Our expected closing date is at the end of August. Thanks for all the prayers, God is answering little by little. We'll see what He's got stored for us.

May God bless you all,

~Lore~

Paseo al centro de la Ciudad

2008-07-31T21:17:00.006-05:00

Otro de nuestros paseos para conocer nuestra nueva ciudad. Esto fue la la segunda o tercera semana desde que nos mudamos. Esta vez fuimos al centro donde hay un parque grandisimo con una pileta de agua que nos refresco en ese dia tan caliente a pesar de que no ibamos preparados para mojarnos!

Despues caminamos hasta una torre que se llama Sunsphere a la cual uno puede subir y deleitarse de la vista de la ciudad.

Tomamos un bus que nos dio un tour por la ciudad y terminamos el dia jugando en un parque que quedaba cerca.

Carinos,

~Lore~

In search of our home

2008-07-28T19:14:00.007-05:00

We had to start our search of a house again since the contract we had in the house we found did not go as we would have wanted to. I loved the house but it had many cons than pros. So yesterday we went to look at other properties in another area (We will look around town in all directions before making an offer, I think that was our mistake in the first property also). Of all of the properties we decided on two. We still have 2 more areas to look at before starting putting in offers. We are looking for a property with some acreage, the house does not have to be big, actually we want a small house (trying to simplify our life instead of complicate it), with water, either from a creek, a spring, or a well, we don't want city water as the main source, and some woods (for fire). We have a budget that we are not to surpass and if we find something way under it, even better (another problem with the first house, surpassed our budget). Our goal is to get out of debt, so we want to get a comfortable mortgage and pay off the house soon. Both houses have some to work to be done and we are welcoming the challenge. We want to make it a family project, including the kids, to fix up our house. Here are some pics of both properties. Unfortunately we could not see them inside but we will soon.

This property has almost 4 acres, house is small, needs work.

most of the acreage is fenced, has a fireplace, but no woods which is a bit of a downfall, but the price is way under our budget, which is good.

The views from the house are SPECTACULAR, all farmland, rolling hills, peaceful, probably 40 minutes from the city.

Second property is on the other side of the city. The house sits on a nice piece of land but only 2 acres, good thing about that is that is less maintenance but still lots of place for the kids to play and for our vegetable garden! I love the fact that the whole property is surrounded by trees as you can see below so it is secluded, yet in a convenient location, only 15-20 min from the city.

Views on this house are not as the other one, some mountain views, but mostly trees.

The house is bigger, has a partially finished basement, which we like, so we can finish it ourselves. House is newer, price is little higher but stil under budget.

You can see the "tree fence" around the property, and it goes all the way around the house but on one side. It has a well. No fireplace though.

front porch, windows look new.

a peak inside through the window, nice wood floors
back of the house, has nice window for the dining room
behind the house are some wooded area

I like also the fact that it had a nice, long driveway to get to the property.
This week we will visit the last two areas we are interested in and then will start with the offers. Please keep us in your prayers since buying a house is a big decision that only if put in God's hands can be sucessful. We believe that He knows what is best for us, for our kids, where He wants us to work for Him, so we will follow His promptings and accept His will. After all, He wants the best for His children. "Thy will Lord, not ours" is our prayer. We'll keep you updated.

Blessings,
~Lore~

Nuestro primer paseo en TN

2008-07-24T22:08:00.006-05:00

Empiezo por decir que hay tantas cosas que ver y hacer en esta ciudad y sus alrededores! Este fue nuestra primera salida, aventurando por lugares desconocidos para nosotros, cabe indicar que me encanta la incertidumbre y la curiosidad de descubrir lugares nuevos y diferentes. Este fue nuestra salida, en el primer fin de semana que llegamos, casi hace 2 meses. El lugar se llama Cades Cove y es una reserva de viviendas, iglesias, escuelas coloniales. Fue interesante ver como la gente vivia hace tantos anos cuando no tenian las comodidades que hoy tenemos, pero estoy segura que a pesar de las dificultades, la vida era mas simple y descomplicada, pienso que habia mas tiempo para la vida familiar, para disfrutar de la naturaleza, etc.

Dami y Mia en el rio

Los paisajes son hermosos

En un area parece que estos insectos estaban en pleno aparemiento porque estaban por todos lados ... y hacian tanto ruido! La casa de uno de los pioneros de esta region!
Deuce nos acompano tambien

Pudimos ver tambien osos, Rick trato de acercarse lo mas posible para tomar fotos.
Casi al final del paseo me dio alergia y como me picaban los ojos me refrege tanto que me dio una reaccion alergica en el ojo que se llama chemosis, que es ina inflamacion del ojo. Al dia siguiente estuve mejor. Gracias a Dios parece que mi cuerpo se acostumbro a el polen y al ambiente de aca asi que mis alergias cesaron :)

Carino,

~Lore~

Our first trip to Cades Cove probably 2 months ago. Beautiful place. Suffered some allergies and got a condition called chemosis that went away the next day. Thank God I am better, my body seems to be getting used to the area!

Kids!

2008-07-22T21:54:00.004-05:00

Dami decided to dress up as a super hero. The funny thing is that he has never seen or being exposed to "super hero" movies or books but for some reason he knows they wear a cape and "mommy's sunglasses" !!!

Mia and her super hero

The kids were playing as photographers and fixed a corner of the house with different backgrounds.They asked me to take pictures with our dogs.

Have a nice day!

~Lore~

Otra vez!

2008-07-22T21:10:00.002-05:00

Despues de habernos tomado una LARGA vacacion aqui estamos otra vez! Hay tantas cosas que contar que lo hare brevemente y luego, con mas tiempo pondre fotos de cada dia.

Dios ha sido tan bueno con nosotros. Tantas bendiciones recibidas...
Pasamos tan lindo en el Ecuador y tuvimos unos pocos dias extra en Colombia! Vimos a mucha gente querida, comimos tan rico, aumentamos unas libritas de mas...
De vuelta a la Florida, empacamos y salimos a nuestro nuevo hogar, Tennessee.
Llegamos a nuestro apartamento rentado y estamos disfrutando a diario (bueno casi) la piscina cubierta y el jacuzzi.
Empezamos a buscar casas, encontramos una, pusimos una oferta, fue aceptada, cerramos a mediados de Agosto si Dios lo permite.
Nos hicimos parte de Iglesia Sencilla. Un metodo diferente de alcanzar a la cultura secular del 3er. milenio con la esperanza de una vida mejor en Jesucristo. Para mas informacion visita el website de Simple Church, proximamente en espanol.
Llegamos a organizar nuestro apartamento en menos de lo que pensaba. En tres dias ya estabamos listos!
Tuvimos nuestras primeras visitas. La familia Naranjo estuvo con nosotros y pasamos muy lindo. Esperamos que pronto vengan mas...
Los ninos empezaron otra vez con proyectos (lapbooks), estamos aprendiendo hacerca de Metodos de Transportacion. Pronto pondremos fotos de su proyecto terminado.
Luego de un mes en Tennessee volvimos de paseo a la Florida por una semana. Extranabamos a mis papisy pasamos esa semana con ellos. Nos quedamos en la playa por un par de dias, regresamos piel canela...
De vuelta a TN. Estamos disfrutando de la hermosa naturaleza que este estado ofrece y el clima es perfecto!
Nos encanta que Rick esta trabajando desde la casa.
Volvimos a nuestra rutina diaria. Los ninos la necesitaban y yo tambien.
Lo unico malo es que extranamos a nuestra familia...

Hay tantas cosas mas que contar pero por ahora estos datos les daran una idea de como estamos. Pronto pondremos fotos de lo sucedido en esos meses que estuvimos ausentes.

Con amor,

~Lore~

Back again!

2008-07-22T20:51:00.004-05:00

We are back blogging! We took a long brake. I have been procastinating posting since there are so many things to share that I have decided to take my time and post all the pics from our trip and our new place, good friends, etc. etc. one day at a time. It is a lot! so for now this are the news in our world...

God is good! so many blessings...
We had such a wonderful trip to Ecuador and had a few bonus days in Colombia too!
Came back and pack all our stuff (not much since we got rid of most of it!) and moved to Tennessee.
Became frontier missionaries, joined Simple Church, more info visit Simple Church website. Such a wonderful life changing experience. More to come soon...
We got to our rented apartment and are enjoying the indoor pool and jacuzzi.
Organization took less than what I thought it was going to be. We were up and running by the third day!
Started looking for properties to buy. Found one, made an offer, got accepted, waiting to close by mid August, God willing.
Had our first visitors, Naranjo family. Had a great time with them. We are waiting to have more visitors soon...
Starting lapbooking again, Transportation is the theme, pics to come...
Went back to Florida for a week, spent time with my parents (much needed), went to the beach, stayed there for a couple of days, got a tan!
Back in Tennessee, we are enjoying the beautiful nature and views here, weather is perfect! So many things to do here, went tubing, swimming in a crystal clear lake, visited Smokey mountain State Park, saw bears, found a baby deer in our "future property", etc.
Love having Rick working from home, Dislike him leaving for a couple of days to Florida every two weeks, but no complains, having him here is great!
Back into our rutine, kids needed it and me too.
Miss our family.

There are so many more things to note but I believe these are the most important ones. Soon I will have pics of some of those.

Nice to be back!

Blessings,

~Lore~

Bubbles...

2008-05-01T00:01:00.002-05:00

Bubbles, bubbles, I like to play with bubbles, Jesus must like pretty things because He made the bubbles...

Rick having some fun with bubbles...

Disfrutando el parque

2008-04-30T23:38:00.004-05:00

El Domingo fuimos a la casa de unos amigos y despues de comer un almuerzo preparado por las damas, salimos al parque. Me encantan estas fotos...solo miren las caras de Rick, Dami y Mia, disfrutaron mucho en este jueguito...He aqui la prueba...

Con Amor,

~Lore~

Park of the week

2008-04-30T19:50:00.004-05:00

Our park of the week was a familiar one this time...we took our lunch there and had a picnic. There we met a hungry, unafraid squirrel who joined us for lunch. Then off to the playground. We had a nice day...

Dami eating his lunch

Mia and static...

Love,

~Lore~

Update...

2008-04-22T13:25:00.020-05:00

We have not posted in a while, so here is what we have been up to...

We had some warm days to get our swimsuits out and get a tan...

In one of our foraging trips, there had been many, the kids collected some seeds from a tree and decided to plant them to eventually see some trees grow...I told them it will take a while, that did not stop them!

Then to play in one of their favorite trees...

My mom had some beautiful Amaryllis growing on the side of the house...

God is so gracious...one of His ways of showing us His love is by nature...Just look at the flowers that are blooming right now all around us. I am captivated by them. My aunt gave me a book called "Wildflowers and Flora of the Americas" I am having so much fun with it, Thanks Tia!

and I have been taking pictures and trying to identify the ones I find. All pictures are of wildflowers, flowers that are found in abandoned lots, next to the streets or as weeds!!! I cannot wait to get to Ecuador (we will be traveling to visit family on May 6th!!!) and enjoy all the flora over there!!! and then on to Tennessee to discover more flowers!

Here is Dami, tia Ciqui, my mom, and my dad in the trail. We went walking and searching for wildflowers...

Mia with a bougainvillea plant...

A little testimony on how God takes care of His children. One day I was feeling down, everything looked gloomy and dark. We decided to take the kids to the park and I met Rick there. On our way I was talking on the phone with Rick and letting all out with some tears included. When we got there after being at the playground we went walking in search of wildflowers to photograph. On our way to the trail we met a nice family. After talking for a while we found out they were an adventist, homeschooling family with the same values and goals in life as our family...After that I felt so much better. I really believe that God sent the Martin family to give me hope and let me see that we are not alone, that there are families like ours, struggling to keep a pure, loving, Christ-centered family in the midst of this rotten world. I felt revitalized and ready to face life with a new hope. We then, the next Sabbath, were invited to their home for lunch and met two more friends Chantal and Curtis. We had a nice Bible study in the afternoon and ended with a walk in the park. I thank God for new friends.

Here we are with Anton, Jonna, their kids Isaiah and Faith, Chantal and Curtis, oh! and Maverick (the dog)

Dami is a pro on the monkey bars, after a few blisters in his hands!!!

Rick got a bike extension for Mia since she is not comfortable riding her bike without training wheels and we don't want to leave her behind when we ride our bikes, so here she is, she loves it...

My mom has been sewing some skirts and dresses for Mia, here is one of them...thanks mami!!!

We went to one of our favorite restaurants with my parents and my brother. I had my usual dish, Stir Fried Tofu with Lemongrass...yumm

The next day my dad left to Ecuador. He is the first one to arrive there of all of us. Next will be my sister, my brother in law, and my two nephews, the same day but later my brother will arrive. The following day it will be our turn and my mom gets to Ecuador the following Sunday! I cannot wait to be there the WHOLE family and enjoy a couple of weeks before we come back to the US and move to TN.

How fun is this...the kids enjoying some time playing in the front yard with the sprinklers...

I should have taken Dami's shoes off...

My little explorer....

God Bless,

~Lore~

Wild Flowers YUM!!

2008-04-07T15:41:00.006-05:00

Plants and flowers have always gotten my attention and I have always wanted to learn about them, especially edible and medicinal ones and teach my kids about them and how to use plants in a beneficial way. So finally I decided to take action. After looking at different websites we decided to take a walk in an abandoned field (it used to be a baseball one) behind the tennis courts in our neighborhood and go foraging. We have walked that trail and among those bushes many many times but never paid attention to the plants. There are so many plants in there!!!

Dami smelling different plants

First I took some pictures of plants and flowers that I "thought" might be edible, always very cautious not to eat anything without being 100% sure they are safe to ingest, then I brought the pics home and did some research. Well, I found out that one of them is safe and not only safe but very nutritious and medicinal!!! And the best thing is that is FREE and ABUNDANT!!! What a blessing...So we went back and collected as many as we could, between rain showers, (it has been raining a lot lately) and made a jelly out of them! Dami and Mia helped to pick them and Mia helped me to sort them out, we had a nice time!!!

The name...Elderberry...benefits...a good source of vitamins A,B, C. Cooked berries can be used in pies and jams, as a lemonade, applied externally as a poultice, useful for burns, rashes, and minor skin problems.

American Indians use the leaves and flowers in antiseptic wash for skin diseases, and the berries to dye their hair (black), the flowers simmered in oil for sunburn, and steeped in water as a compress for headache. Very good to prevent and treat colds and the flu.

Elder flower water can be used s a wash for dry skin or as a cooling wash for the eyes. According to an ancient recipe, washing your face with elder flower water in the morning and at night (and leaving it there to dry) will remove freckles and morphew (hardened skin). American Indians used the leaves for pain relief and to promote healing of injuries. WOW!!!

Got a recipe for Jelly and here is the result...the taste is phenomenal, sweet yet tangy. The only problem was that I did not crushed them enough and did not use cheesecloth to strain them but I like the crunchiness of it. Everybody liked it.

I am looking now for a good guide book with illustrations and information of each plant. There are a few sites where there is very useful information about this. If in Florida, you can visit Eat the Weeds, or Learning Herbs is a good one too for any type of region. I am so looking forward to explore Tennessee's fields and flora!

I think foraging is fascinating and now every where we go I look for Elderberries, they are everywhere there is an abandoned lot!! I need to find another plant now...

A wild berry, not sure yet if it is edible

Dami found a little friend

look at these wild flowers...

Our beautiful wild field, the ferns are amazing!

Happy foraging...
~Lore~

Elephants Painting

2008-04-03T17:11:00.004-05:00

Take a look at this! I got it from my AHE List and it is amazing! I was a little skeptical but as you see the video there is no camera tricks, these elephants are really painting. Amazing what animals can do...They atributte this amazing ability to the fact that Elephants have in their trunk 40,000 muscles, more than what we have in our entire body!! so that gives them the ability to draw. I don't know how ethical is their training, I just hope the elephants are well taken care of...although they are not free in their own habitat. Dami and Mia were in awe, as well as Rick, me, my mom, my dad.....

Love,
~Lore~

Thursday Family Trip

2008-03-30T21:05:00.006-05:00

Another business trip that became a family one! One of the advantages of having our own business is that we can tag along and travel a little as a family. This time we got invited to a boat trip. We had a great time, the day was beautiful. We rejoiced admiring lots of animals and the beauty of God's nature and here are some pics...

Getting ready to sail...

In the boat

we had such beautiful weather

father and son

I had to have a monochrome photo... Look at that blue sky!
now with mami
Love this pic...
Typical Florida palm tree
we saw some dolphins...one of the highlights of the trip

they were swimming around the boat, very friendly...
a nice pelican
my cowgirl!

Again, taking advantage of the beautiful coast before our move...it will be missed, that's for sure.

Much Love,

~Lore~

2008-03-25T12:17:00.000-05:00

"If we meet and you forget me, you have lost nothing...but if you meet JESUS CHRIST and forget Him you have lost everything!!"

Brunch

2008-03-24T14:56:00.005-05:00

We had a nice Brunch on Sunday with Rick's family. We brought Rick's famous Bagel Pizzas. He made them with soy cheese and Toffurky Italian Sausage, they were really good! Here are some pictures, (as promised Cathy).

Lisa and Rick

In the wood cabin Gil made
Gil and the kids, amazing how many kids we have in the family now!!!
Lisa and Sophia

Rick took over, I am usually behind cameras, here is one of the few of myself. Todd and Claudia
Roberto, impersonating someone????
Sebas

The Baseball players...

Abuelita and Mia

Warmly,

~Lore~

Ressurection Day!

2008-03-23T14:19:00.001-05:00

Many people celebrate Easter, a day where the bunnies and eggs are the main event. I like to call it Resurrection Day instead, where Jesus coming back to life is the main event. I am so grateful to God for having sent His only Son to live, show us a vivid example on how to do it, die in our place and give us a new hope, but not only died for us but resurrected to show how powerful and loving He is towards us. HE IS ALIVE! regardless of what people say or hypothesize. To me, He is my Risen Savior, who I am anxiously waiting...

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

Love,

~Lore~

Jueves en Familia

2008-03-20T14:33:00.000-05:00

Este Jueves nos toco en grande! Como nuestro tiempo se acorta en la Florida y acaban de abrir un nuevo parque de agua que es parte de Sea World llamado Aquatica, decidimos ir a visitarlo! Junto con Gil (mi cunado) y sus 3 hijos, Erico, Elkin y Esai, tuvimos un dia increible! Aunque el dia estuvo un poco frio y se supone que calentaron un poco el agua (para mi estuvo todavia fria), pasamos muy bien! Otra buena adicion fue que ofrecian comida vegetariana a buen precio y quedamos satisfechos durante todo el dia! Aqui unas fotos...

Gil y Esai (a punto de quedarse dormido) Apenas uno salia del agua teniamos que cubrirnos por el viento!
Elkin calentandose!

Una de las cosas que mas disfruto en los parque de Sea World son sus jardines y las hermosas y coloridas flores!

Un abrazo carinoso,

~Lore~

Y nacio....

2008-03-18T18:03:00.007-05:00

Cada dia hemos estado chequeando y esperando el "nacimento" de nuestra mariposa. El Domingo en la tarde acompanamos a Rick a un viaje de negocios a otra ciudad y como estamos pronto a mudarnos de estado aprovechamos y nos dimos nuestra escapadita (mini paseo). Rick solo trabajo unas pocas horas asi que el resto del dia paseamos un poco. Cuando estabamos alla mi papi me llamo para contarme que nuestra mariposa habia salido de su crisalis esa manana! Que tristeza que despues de tanta paciencia y expectacion nos perdimos la parte mas especial de todo ese proceso! pero bueno, mi papi tomo algunas fotos y pudimos conocer a nuestra mariposita aunque sea por fotos. Aqui se la presentamos.....

Se puede ver el "cascaron" vacio...

Con amor,

~Lore~

Nice Family, good Restaurant

2008-03-17T14:33:00.004-05:00

On Sunday we had Lunch at a new restaurant called Elephant Restaurant and we had a great time. The food was good, they had a few vegetarian dishes, and the place was really nice. With us were the Ferrer family, we enjoy their company every time we meet! They are our tenants and future owners of our house. God willing we are closing in our house in the following weeks! We are glad to be able to sell our home to this nice family and we know they will enjoy many years as well as build many memories in this house, the same way we did in the 5 years we lived there.

Mia and Dami enjoying Nayeli's company!

God Bless,

~Lore~

Jueves en Familia

2008-03-14T10:04:00.005-05:00

Hace unos dias Rick trajo unas camisetas y pintura para tela con la idea de usarlas para nuestro Jueves en Familia. Dami y Mia estaban ansiosos, contando los dias para pintar sus camisetas. La noche llego y aqui esta el resultado!!!

Con carino,

~Lore~

My hubby

2008-03-13T11:09:00.004-05:00

Rick wanted to put a picture in his resume to give it a little kick, so I volunteered to take the picture. He wanted black and white so I tried that. He had such a hard time posing since he does not like to be photographed, at least not be himself! but I enjoyed it, and he looks so handsome....who would not hire this man??!!!

Love you honey! thank you for being so patient and cooperative with your photographer/wife.

Love,
~Lore~

Photos

2008-03-13T09:27:00.009-05:00

Yesterday I had a photography day! I would love to take some photography classes in the future but for now my camera manual will do! I also want to take some courses on natural medicine or hydrotherapy and think those are more important and useful than photography. So I take pictures as much as I can, where ever we go. We had our park of the week at the neihborhood park with my dad and the kids.

with a lizard...

Then in the afternoon we had a nice time with a cute little baby, his name is Cruz. I can believe how time flies, Cruz's mom used to be one of my Sabbath School students!! and he reminds me of our nephew Elkin when he was a baby, I think is in the eyes.

and Mia....

Grace: if you want the pictures let me know I can print them for you or send them by e-mail. I took a bunch so you may want to see them all. Your baby is a cutie! God bless him!

~Lore~

Fotos Tennessee

2008-03-10T12:04:00.007-05:00

Aqui estan algunas fotos de nuestro ultimo viaje a Tennessee. Estuvimos con mi hermana y su familia durante el fin de semana y la pasamos muy bien...

Buenas noches,

~Lore~

God is Faithful

2008-03-09T20:19:00.002-05:00

I got this by e-amil from a dear tia (aunt) of mine....I had to share...
Thanks Julita!

In the country of Armenia, in 1988, Samuel and Danielle sent their young son, Armand, off to school. Samuel squatted before his son and looked him in the eye. "Have a good day at school, and remember, no matter what, I’ll always be there for you." They hugged and the boy ran off to school.

Hours later, a powerful earthquake rocked the area. In the midst of the pandemonium, Samuel and Danielle tried to discover what happened to their son but they couldn’t get any information. The radio announced that there were thousands of casualties. Samuel then grabbed his coat and headed for the schoolyard. When he reached the area, what he saw brought tears to his eyes. Armand’s school was a pile of debris.

Other parents were standing around crying. Samuel found the place where Armand’s classroom used to be and began pulling a broken beam off the pile of rubble. He then grabbed a rock and put it to the side, and then grabbed another one. One of the parents looking on asked, "What are you doing?" "Digging for my son," Samuel answered. The man then said, "You’re just going to make things worse! The building is unstable," and tried to pull Samuel away from his work.

Samuel just kept working. As time wore on, one by one, the other parents left. Then a worker tried to pull Samuel away from the rubble. Samuel looked at him and said, "Won’t you help me?" The worker left and Samuel kept digging.

All through the night and into the next day, Samuel continued digging. Parents placed flowers and pictures of their children on the ruins. But, Samuel just kept working. He picked up a beam and pushed it out of the way when he heard a faint cry. "Help! Help!" Samuel listened but didn’t hear anything again. Then he heard a muffled voice, "Papa?" Samuel began to dig furiously.

Finally he could see his son. "Come on out, son!" he said with relief.
"No," Armand said. "Let the other kids come out first because I know you’ll get me."
Child after child emerged until, finally, little Armand appeared. Samuel took him in his arms and Armand said, "I told the other kids not to worry because you told me that you’d always be there for me!"

Fourteen children were saved that day because one father was faithful.

How much more faithful is our heavenly Father! Whether trapped by fallen debris or ensnared by life’s hardships and struggles, we are never cut off from God’s faithfulness. He is true to His character. He is reliable and trustworthy and can always be counted on.

Deuteronomy 7:9 "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations…"

1 Corinthians 1:9 - God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

Psalm 37:28, "For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. They will be protected forever"

~Lore~

Caterpillars into Butterflies!

2008-03-09T20:00:00.004-05:00

On our way back from Tennessee (we finally got a rental place to start! we leave at the beginning of April, God willing) we were eager to see what happened to our caterpillar friends...well, they were gone! :( We looked for them for days in the trees close by but nothing...then yesterday we tried once more and with my dad's help we found one!!!! It was a chrysallis hanging in a leave! We are so excited to be able to see the metamorphosis right in our house. We have to watch it carefully so we don't miss the big day!

Blessings,
~Lore~

Tennessee

2008-03-09T19:52:00.002-05:00

Volvimos de Tennesse despues de buscar y buscar casas para alquilar y terminamos escojiendo un apartamento por 6 meses hasta familiarizarnos con el area entonces si poder comprar nuestra casa! A principios de Abril estaremos en camino a Tennesse a emprender una nueva etapa en nuestras vidas. Estamos muy emocionados!

Quote

2008-03-06T18:31:00.002-05:00

"The goal in marriage is not to think alike, but to think together. "

Love,
~Lore~

Quote

2008-02-27T07:58:00.002-05:00

"His quiet and simple life, (Jesus' life) and even the silence of the Scriptures concerning His early years, teach an important lesson. The more quiet and simple the life of the child,--the more free from artificial excitement, and the more in harmony with nature,--the more favorable is it to physical and mental vigor and to spiritual strength."

Desire of Ages p. 74

It is my prayer tha I as a mother can provide a more quite and simple life to my kids...

Our new guests

2008-02-26T09:18:00.003-05:00

A few time ago we went to a Butterfly Garden (you can read of it here en espanol) and at the end we got some milkweed plants to attract caterpillars that will turn into butterflies, we planted them in hopes of some day see some amazing change. Well the day is here! Today early in the morning when Rick and the kids went to their usual walk with the dogs they found 5 caterpillars eating away the milkweed plant!! they were so excited! and this is the first time I am glad caterpillars are eating my plants ;) We will be out this week (we are going to TN in search of a rental house, finally the day seems to get close, God will lead the way...) so we hope they take some time to turn into butterflies, we want to get their chrysalis and observe it through all their metamorphosis (great way to start a new lapbook!) Today our task will be to figure out what kind of butterfly they will turn to be! Fun, fun, fun!

God Bless,

~Lore~

First Suit!

2008-02-25T20:38:00.003-05:00

We finally got Dami his first suit!!! We have been wanting to get one for him to wear at church and to match with daddy! Well, here he is...and Mia was asking "Mami, where is my suit!"

...my baby is growing up (too fast for me)

Blessings,

~Lore~

Picking Strawberries

2008-02-20T14:06:00.005-05:00

I have been wanting to pick our own fruits. It's such a fun experience for all and the produce is way better and fresher ....and since we do not have the space for our garden....We have picked oranges in the past but I wanted to pick strawberries and right now they are in season. We went to an orchard and picked, picked and picked some more...This place was really big and full of ripe, sweet strawberries. We picked two different kinds, one is called Sweet Charlie (super sweet, smaller, and has a mild flavor), the other called Camarosa (bigger, redder, and a stong flavor), both great! The difference between the ones I buy at the grocery store and these is enormous! These taste like real strawberries, are juicier, firmer, well, better overall. Rick suggested us to come back when we run low on the ones we picked today...I think we will be back pretty soon...we have been eating them like candy, they are addicting by themselves. So far we have had a Strawberry smooothie, and our favorite salad, spinach, tomatoes and strawberries. Tomorrow we'll have strawberry muffins for breakfast and Strawberry Angel Pie for dessert later in the day! Strawberries, strawberries and more strawberries.....cannot go wrong with that...

Paseo al Zoologico

2008-02-19T12:58:00.000-05:00

Mi mami vio en las noticias que habia nacido un monito la semana pasada en el Zoologico asi que dijimos "porque no ir a conocerlo y de paso tener una linda salida al zoologico!" El dia estuvo un poco frio pero disfrutamos mucho al ver los diferentes animales. Aunque nos dio tristeza saber que los pobres animalitos viven encerrados en jaulas pequenas, que apesar de que son alimentados a diario y muy bien cuidados, no es lo mismo que vivir libres en su propio habitat. Despues de caminar por un buen tiempo llegamos al bebe monito! Un tipo de mono arana de solo 1 semana y media de nacido...Aqui estan unas fotos...

Carino,

~Lore~

Valentine's sweet things

2008-02-14T16:21:00.000-05:00

We were planning on going to a doctor's appointment on Valentines (all four of us plus my mother in law and her husband) but Rick got an emergency call from work and we (the kids and me) ended up staying at home with the whole day free with no planned activities. So, we decided to do some Valentine's sweet things for our loved ones. We baked mini cupcakes with colorful frosting and a nice cupcake paper. Then we made homemade play doh and put different colors in it. We made them into hearts and put them in plastic bags and Dami made the tags. We had so much fun trying the frosting, making different colors with the play doh, it was a day of experimentation, baking, and fun...

Then Rick called us. He was done working and took us to eat out for the special day. The day had a special message of love and friendship but we wanted to put some emphasis in that every day we should celebrate love and friendship and especially remember the love God has for all of us and how we should express that love to others. At night we got together with Abuelita Mariela and Roberto to finish the day of at Dandelion for some vegan desserts.

Much Love,

~Lore~

Park of the Week

2008-02-13T22:15:00.003-05:00

Today was a L O N G day...We went to three parks, one trail, two apartment complexes and one Rent a Car place!!! At the end we all enjoyed our busy day. The kids had fun at all the parks, and helping mami do her "work". Work??? Well, yes, I am making a portfolio for my mother in law's company!! I am so excited, since I have to go to the different jobsites to take pictures, then organize them in my new favorite program "Publisher" (the same one we used to make our Family Album), sorting all the pics and choosing the best ones, playing with colors, textures, etc, etc. I had to compromise with the kids because I know they get bored going from place to place in the car so I took advantage of the playgrounds in each apartment complex! For each trip to the apartments to take pics we went to a playgroung onsite, one complex had two playgrounds so they got a nice bonus! At the rent a car place they found some brochures from theme parks and touristic places which here are abundant so they enjoyed that too. We had our lunch at the park, and attempted to find a letterbox in a park close to one complex but we could not find it. All in all we had fun and it was a different day, out of the ordinary! Hopefully the portfolio will be ready by next week, I will post the final result of our hard work.

At the park....

another park!

Blessings,

~Lore~

Despedida...

2008-02-12T19:22:00.000-05:00

Aqui estan algunas fotos con nuestros queridos visitantes....Disfrutamos mucho de su compania y ya los dias se acabaron.Hace unas horas dejamos a mi hermana y sobrinos en el aeropuerto y estan ya de vuelta a Tennessee. Los doce dias que estuvieron aqui pasaron volando pero hicimos mucho, fuimos a la playa (unas cuantas veces!!), vimos el despegue de la nave espacial Atlantis, paseamos por diferentes lugares, comimos, nos reimos, jugamos, entre otras cosas.....pero lo especial fue haber tenido la familia junta otra vez!

Mucho amor,

~Lore~

2008-02-07T21:41:00.000-05:00

After a few times of trying to watch the Space Shuttle Atlantis launch, it finally happened! and we got it in video....take a look...

Love,
~Lore~

Limones....

2008-02-04T22:53:00.000-05:00

Siempre hay una primera vez para todo.....

Con amor,

~"Tia Lorita Bonita"~

(como diria mi sobrino Eli!)

My Brother's B-day!

2008-02-04T22:29:00.001-05:00

On Sunday it was my little brother's birthday. We went to the beach but unfortunately he could not make it!!!!

So we celebrated his 22nd birthday today... We went to eat at a nice restaurant and had a great time with the whole family. Now that my sister moved to TN these rare ocassions are really priceless. We enjoyed every minute of it. Here are some pics....

Happy Birthday Gio!!! we love you very much and we pray that God keep blessing you this year, we hope that you can achieve all your goals, and especially that God be in your heart and be a priority in your life! Te queremos muchisimo....

~Rick, Lore, Dami and Mia~

Happy Birthday Video soon to come.....

2008-02-02T09:25:00.000-05:00

Miren quienes estan visitandonos!!!!!

...Y hay gozo en todos, como pueden ver.....

Carino,

~Lore~

The power of Expressed Love....

2008-02-01T13:57:00.000-05:00

"Love does not, will not, and indeed cannot survive for long without expression. This is a truism, dispite the tendency of modern movies and literature to romanticize unexpressed and unrequited love. Unexpressed love is a tragedy both to those deprived of its benefits and, most of all, to its holders. I remember hearing of a man who traveled to a hot, arid country. He noticed that many of the popular songs had to do with water, and he asked and acquaitance about it. "yes," he replied, "we do tend to sing and dream about what is most rare. Is that why all of our songs are about love?" "

"Empowered Living" by Jim Hohnberger (Kindling the Flame, p. 151)

Something to think and act about....

~Lore~

Parque de la semana

2008-01-30T20:58:00.000-05:00

Lastimosamente esta vez Dami no pudo disfrutar de nuestro parque de la semana porque estuvo castigado, asi que se quedo con el Tata en la casa! Lo extranamos mucho, especialmente Mia porque a mas de hermanos son amigos y les encanta jugar en el parque juntos. Yo se que para la proxima semana Dami estara con nosotros ya que aprendio su leccion...a las duras...

Fuimos a visitiar el parque donde tenemos plantado nuestro letterbox y vimos que el cuaderno tiene nuevas visitas!!! Luego fuimos al parque, Mia jugo ahi un poco con un nino que conocio. Quisimos ir al lago donde nos quedamos jugando con la arena, el dia estuvo calido asi que pasamos un buen rato ahi.

Carino,
~Lore~

Family Album 2007

2008-01-29T16:15:00.000-05:00

We finally got our Family Album today! It is awesome! We got it produced by My Publisher and we are very pleased with it. We will be doing this every year to share our year in pictures with our family. We ordered three, one for us, one for my mom and dad, and one for Rick's mom. This is our first year doing our family album and I think it will be a nice gift for our parents to have once we are apart. We chose to have a book sleeve this time and I think we will keep it that way. It looks very professional and the quality is worth the price. We used a few coupons that they provided so we paid 40% less than what we were supposed to pay! It was a great deal...Here are a few pages of our Family Album "2007 in Pictures".

Blessings,

~Lore~

Our trip to the Library

2008-01-28T16:53:00.001-05:00

The kids picked a new subject for our next Lapbook. Bees. So we had a trip to the Library and picked these...Bees and Knitting...

Blessings,

~Lore~

2008-01-28T16:48:00.000-05:00

Tata les regalo a Dami y a Mia dos mascotas nuevas.....Corazon y Osita

Un ben dia para todos,

~Lore~

One crazy weekend!

2008-01-28T15:46:00.000-05:00

This weekend we had two birthday celebrations! Pabli and Lisa turned one year older! Happy Birthday to both again...

We got together with Pabli first at my aunt's house and had such a nice time with all. We had not gotten together in a long time....I miss those days!

Here is the birthday boy (who had to leave way too early...)

A nice table set for lunch
Pabli, his unseparable guitar and Dami

I have always wanted to knit, it is very convenient since you can take your project anywhere but I have always put it in the back burner. I remember in 5th or 6th grade I had to make a scarf and I started it but I recall my mom finishing it for me!! so I did not learned much :(

In the evening I had the opportunity to finally learn to knit from three different teachers! We had so much fun as you can see....We even got a name for us....Meet The Black Widows!!!

with our own taliban Jeke

The next day we got together with Lisa and the family for her birthday, here are some pics...

Mia and Sofia

Happy Birthday to both from our family!

Love,

~Lore~

Jueves en Familia

2008-01-24T22:48:00.000-05:00

Hoy tuvimos la oportunidad de comer en un restaurante 100% vegetariano (vegan) que abrio hace un mes aqui en nuestra ciudad llamado Ethos. Este es el unico resturante en el cual no tenemos que preocuparnos de ordenar algo que tenga leche o queso o derivados lacteos o productos animales...ordenamos una pizza para los ninos, Rick pidio un sanduche de "carne con queso" y yo uno de vegetales. Todo exquisito! Para finalizar ordenamos unas galletas y un cake de naranja. Antes de irnos estuvimos conversando con la duena, que a la vez es la que prepara la comida y hornea las galletas y los cakes y me dio unos tips en como perfeccionar el arte culinario vegetariano. Hablamos tambien de los beneficios del regimen alimenticio y de como lo que comemos influye enormemente nuestra salud fisica, emocional y espiritual. Cada vez que comparto con alguien que es vegetariano aprendo mas y confirmo el hecho de que tomamos una decision importante y positiva para el bienestar de nuestra familia.

Dami esperando la comida

Antes de entrar el restaurante

Mia posando para la camara

Con Amor,

~Lore~

Frogs Lapbook

2008-01-24T17:05:00.001-05:00

We have finished our Frogs Lapbook! We learned so much with this subject, things that I did not know and new things for the kids. We learned about the biggest frogs and the smallest, how they change, how to tell if the frog is a male or a female (without having to turn them up side down!), their habitat, food, predators, etc, etc, etc. We got a few books from the Library that I read to them and where we got most of the information. Unfortunately we have not seen frogs lately but we will look forward searching for tadpoles and frogs later this year. (Update...we just saw one tonight!)

Love,
~Lore~

Park of the week

2008-01-23T15:51:00.000-05:00

Letterboxing again...we went to a very nice park that had three boxes to look for. We found two but really enjoyed it since we have not done it in weeks. Then we played in the playground with some kids who were there also. Lots of birds, ducks, and even a hungry turtle!
We found a nice bush of roses, they smelled delicious, each color had its own sweet smell, and of course, Linda (Mia's doll) had to smell them too!

In the afternoon we had a nice visit. Our friend Jenny, who we had not seen in a long time came to introduce her brand new bundle of joy! He is so so cute, not even 2 months old! Nice to meet you Nicolas may God bless you always!

God Bless,

~Lore~

Chocolate Pudding Parfait

2008-01-22T16:43:00.000-05:00

In our latest trip to the Library I got this book...Vegan Planet by Robin Robertson. I have been trying several recipes from it and loved all of them so far. This one recipe is great since I have a sweet tooth and was craving pudding for a long time up until now!!! I substituted the chocolate chips for carob chips and used a mix of nuts (cashews, walnuts, and pecans) Very healthy and the kids loved it. They had two each one.

Chocolate Pudding Parfaits

1 cup of carob chips

1/2 cup of pure maple syrup

12 oz silken tofu, drained

1 ts. vanilla extract

1 cup creamy whipped topping (recipe below)

1/2 cup chopped nuts

granola

fresh strawberries

1. Melt carob chips in a double boiler along with maple syrup, put aside to cool.

2. Put tofu and vanilla in blender or food processor until smooth.

3. Add carob mix and blend until all is combined.

4. Spoon a small amount of the pudding into individual parfait glasses, top with small amount of the whipped topping, add the nuts, granola, and top with the strawberries.

5. Put in fridge for an hour (the recipe calls for at least 2 hours but we could not wait that long, we ate them within the hour with successful results!)

6. Enjoy!

Creamy Whipping Topping

1 cup silken tofu

2 tbs. agave or confectioner's sugar

1 tb. safflawer oil or any neutral tasting oil

1 ts. vanilla extract

1/4 ts. fresh lemon juice

1. Blend all until smooth

2. Refrigerate. (We put it on top of the pudding and then put in the fridge for 1 hour.)

Have a sweet day!

~Lore~

Kids...

2008-01-21T20:45:00.001-05:00

We went for a nature walk during the weekend and took a scavenger hunt page that I got from Ann's blog page (great idea Ann, thanks!) and one of the things we had to find was a feather...well, we finished the walk and could not find one so we walked towards the car and Dami said,
"Look, mami I found a horse's feather!"

Love,

~Lore~

"Dog's" Park of the Week

2008-01-16T15:38:00.000-05:00

Today it was the dog's turn ....Dog's park of the week!

We took them to a dog park close by and even though it was middle of the week there were many dogs there so Deuce and Essie had lots of fun chasing and playing with their buddies. Essie got her paws wet in the lake but was not too brave to get in too deep, it was cold and windy today. We brought some tangerines that my Tia Ciqui gave us from her tree (they are delicious, sweet and juice, and the type that are really easy to peel...you can end up with almost the whole peel intact after peeling it! I love them!) and enjoyed watching all the dogs playing around.

Blessings,
~Lore~

2008-01-15T14:09:00.000-05:00

El Domingo empezamos el dia jugando un poco de tennis.....

En la tarde fuimos con Rick a ayudarle en la remodelacion de unos apartamentos por medio de el negocio de su mama. Trabajamos los 4, padres e hijos! Dami se encargo de poner los enchufes bajos de todo el apartamento, yo puse los altos, Mia ayudo a instalar un ventilador de techo, una lampara en el bano, y recojer la basura, Rick instalo el sistema del aire acondicionado, detector de humo, entre otras cosas. Disfrutamos mucho al ver a nuestros ninos siendo responsables con los proyectos que se les asigno y por sobre todo disfrutamos el tiempo juntos. Ya estamos listos para el proyecto que tenemos para el futuro, construir nuestra propia casa entre los cuatro!

Con amor,

~Lore~

Sublime....

2008-01-14T11:36:00.000-05:00

We have found the best Vegan/Organic restaurant! On Thursday we went down South because Rick had to do some work for one of his clients and my mom had to go to Miami to get her passport (my parents are taking a romantic trip for their 32nd Anniversary later this month!) so we tagged along! On our way back we stopped at this vegan restaurant that we found at our always useful happycow website (if you are looking for a vegetarian/vegan restaurant or healthfood store worldwide this is the place to find it!). Sublime is the name. The place was very elegant, upscale, and classy. The food was to dream about! All the details in the presentation, the taste of all the ingredients, the service, all was excellent! We will certainly come back again before we leave the state.

Love,
~Lore~

God works in many ways....

2008-01-09T14:01:00.000-05:00

I received this story from Rick's cousin Cathy by e-mail and had to share it with all in our blog...

Thanks Cathy, beautiful story, beautiful message!

Please read on...

The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn , arrived in early October excited about their opportunities.

When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve.

They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls,painting, etc, and on December 18 were ahead of schedule and just about finished.
On December 19 a terrible tempest - a driving rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days.

On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high.
The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home.

On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market-type sale for charity so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center.

It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall.

He bought it and headed back to the church.

By this time it had started to snow.

An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus...she missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later.

She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry.

The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area.

Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle.

Her face was like a sheet.. 'Pastor,' she asked, 'where did you get that tablecloth?'

The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials EBG were crocheted into it there.

They were.

These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria.

The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the Tablecloth.

The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria . When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison - and she never saw her husband or her home again.

The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth;but she made the pastor keep it for the church. The pastor insisted on driving her home, that was the least he could do.. She lived on the otherside of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job.

What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve .... The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great. At the end of the service, the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return.

One older man, whom the pastor recognized from the neighborhood continued to sit in one of the pews and stare, and the pastor wondered why he wasn't leaving.

The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike. He told the pastor how the Nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her, but he was arrested andput in a prison.. He never saw his wife or his home again all the 35 years in between.

The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier. He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on the door and he saw the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.

True Story - submitted by Pastor Rob Reid who says God does not work in mysterious ways..

I asked the Lord to bless you as I prayed for you today, to guide you and protect you as you go along your way. His love is always with you, His promises are true, and when we give Him all our cares you know He will see us through.

So when the road you're traveling on seems difficult at best.. Just remember I'm here praying and God will do the rest.

When there is nothing left but God, that is when you find out that God is all you need.

Blessings,

~Lore~

Oatmeal cookies

2008-01-08T15:22:00.000-05:00

Vegan Oatmeal cookies

These are fabulous! The recipe called for chocolate chips and some nuts but I added macadamia nuts, cashews, coconut flakes, and raisins instead...yum! They disappeared! Some are going to Abuelita, since I know she likes to try our baking...hope you enjoy them!

(I doubled the recipe because the first time I baked them we ended up short)

1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/4 t baking soda

1/4 t salt

1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup walnuts [or other nut], chopped in smallish pieces

1/6 cup peanut butter (I used Almond butter)

1 T canola oil [or other mild-flavored oil]

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/6 cup soy milk

1 t vanilla extract

Set oven to 425F. prepare cookie sheet, whisk all wet ingredients together until smooth.

Sift flour, baking soda and salt together.

Add rest of dry ingredients to flour.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, mix until well combined.

Separate in three, or however many cookies you want to get out of the batter, and place upon cookie sheet. Bake for approximately 8 minutes, depending on size.

Let cool on cookie sheet for about 5 minutes, then place on a rack to let cool.

Love,

~Lore~

Galletas y mas galletas

2008-01-08T14:02:00.000-05:00

Como muchos sabran a mi me encanta lo dulce, yo podria vivir comiendo todo dulce! asi que nos hemos dedicado a experimentar con galletas. Hemos hecho unas cuantas ya, pero la que mas me ha gustado no solo por el sabor y la delicada textura sino tambien por la hermosa presentacion que tiene es esta galletita de almendras con Fruta en el centro! Definitivamente hara un lindo regalo en el dia de San Valentin para nuestros amigos y familiares! y lo mejor es que son completamente vegetarianas y saludables! Son muy versatiles ya que se puede usar cualquier forma. Nosotros hicimos unas pocas letras como veran la "D" de Dami.

Con amor,

~Lore~

2008-01-07T17:58:00.000-05:00

Welcome to our new designed blog! New Year, new design...I wanted something more simple and white! I have not changed anything else as far as pictures but I will update the family pics slide soon (hopefully!). Hope everyone is well...
See you around,
~Lore~

Piggy Banks

2008-01-04T11:27:00.000-05:00

We finally went to IKEA, which recently opened here in town. There were so many cool things we want to get but we will wait until we are ready to move. We settled down for two really cute, affordable, and unbreakable piggy banks. We are teaching the kids the art of saving and the blessing of giving tithe that we could not let these pass. Mia had been saving her "monnies" (as they call coins and bills) in an old little purse and losing it everytime, now the piggy banks stay in a safe place and the savings keep piling up...

Have a great day!

~Lore~

Jueves en Familia

2008-01-03T21:07:00.000-05:00

Hoy hicimos galletas de azucar. Ayer prepare la masa y la deje reposar. Hoy al medio dia horneamos las galletas y en la noche las preparamos con la crema de colores y nos divertimos mucho pintando nuestras galletas. Las dejaremos reposar otra vez y estaran listas en la manana. Nos adelantamos a probar algunas y quedaron deliciosas.

Dami quiso ser el fotografo hoy y tomo algunas fotos. Escogio esta para el blog!

~Lore~

Our Christmas and New Year

2008-01-02T21:16:00.000-05:00

1) We spent Christmas in Tennessee at my sister's house. We had a great time, met some new friends, ate plenty of delicious vegetarian foods, we held a family concert (I will try to put a video or audio later), had two Christmas dinners! plus one more at my sister's, gave and got some presents, and the most important thing...we spent time with the family. We missed you Gio!!! My nephews are growing so fast...Eli made me laugh with his phrases and maturity, and Caleb melted my heart, he is adorable!

2) Rick got two job interviews in two different cities in Tennesse. We are waiting for either one to call and say "you got the job!". I am leaning towards the one closer to my sister's but God will open the door where He sees fit. We just have to trust...and wait.

3)We drove back on the 26th.

4)Went to Sea World on the 30th. but turned around because it was packed, they even closed the parking lot! Got some mini golfing done instead.

5)Dami started with conjunctivitis (again...we don't know where he got it) so we had to spend New Year's Eve at home. Rick and Mia went to Rick's cousin's house where we were going to celebrate at midnight with our whole family. Dami and I stayed home. But before that we got some firework party for the kids in the front porch, they loved it!

6) We hope everybody a blessed 2008. Much love, health, and happiness to all our friends and family.

Love,

~Lore~

2007-12-26T14:15:00.000-05:00

Mi mami recibio este e-mail por Navidad y quiero compartirlo con ustedes...

La diferencia entre Santa Claus y Jesus
Santa vive en el Polo Norte,
Jesus esta en todos lados

Santa Claus anda en un trineo,
Jesus se mueve en el viento y camina sobre las aguas

Santa solo viene 1 vez al año,
Jesus esta a tu lado todo el tiempo

Santa llena la casa de regalos,
Jesus suple todas tus necesidades

Santa entra por la chimenea sin ser invitado,
Jesus toca a tu puerta,entonces entra a tu corazon cuando se lo permitas

Tienes que hacer fila para ver a Santa,
Jesus esta a tu lado solo con mencionar su nombre

Santa te deja sentarte en su falda,
Jesus te deja descansar en sus brazos

Santa no sabe tu nombre,solo dice,"hola, niña, niño, mujer, hombre, ¿cual es tu nombre?
Jesus sabia tu nombre desde antes que nacieras,
no solo sabe tu nombre,sabe tu direccion,
sabe nuestro pasado y nuestro futuro,
sabe hasta cuantos cabellos tienes en tu cabeza

Santa tiene una barrigota como una bola,
Jesus tiene un corazon lleno de amor

Todo lo que Santa ofrece es un HO,HO,HO,
Jesus ofrece,salud, vida y esperanza

Santa dice, es mejor que no llores,
Jesus dice, "echa toda tu carga sobre mi, que yo te dare descanso"

Los ayudantes de Santa,hacen juguetes,
Jesus hace nuevas vidas, sana heridas del corazon, restaura hogares rotos y construye mansiones para nosotros

Santa te sacara una sonrisa,
Jesus te dara un gozo, que sera tu fortaleza

Mientras Santa pone regalos bajo tu arbol,
Jesus vino a ser nuestro regalo y murio en un madero ,
hecho de un arbol, la cruz

Necesitamos poner a Cristo en primer lugar en la navidad otra vez,
El todavia es el motivo de esta temporada

"Porque de tal manera amo Dios al mundo,que ha dado a hijo unigenito para que todo aquel que en El cree,no se pierda,
mas tenga vida eterna." Juan 3:16

Feliz Navidad.

Con amor,

~Lore~

2007-12-25T14:02:00.000-05:00

My mom got this by e-mail and forward it to me and I thought to post it here....

Santa lives at the North Pole ...
JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh ...
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year ...
JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies ...
JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited ...
JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa ...
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap ...
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl,
what's your name?" ...
JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows
our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many
hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly ...
JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO ...
JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry" ...
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."

Santa's little helpers make toys ...
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds
mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but ...
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree ...
JESUS became our gift and died on a tree.

It's obvious there is really no comparison.
We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.
We need to put Christ back in CHRISTmas,
Jesus is still the reason for the season.

Today, Christmas revolves around a fictional character instead of the real reason why Christmas came to be. Although we are not certain when Jesus was born we take this opoortunity to celebrate HIm during this season. I like what a pastor said to us a few days ago..."My mother was not born on Mather's Day but still I celebrate her on that day, Jesus was not born on the 25th of December but still we should celebrate Him also".

So, why not take this time to remember the great gift God gave us, his Son.

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Love,

~Lore~

Weekend

2007-12-17T22:44:00.000-05:00

1. On Sunday we went to a program called "Global Christmas" where we found plenty of food from different countries, craft for the kids, carols, and we learned way in which other countries celebrate Christmas from Puerto Rico to Germany! Here we are Mia and I making a paper roll candle. Really cute!
2. Dami had such a good time, he loves loves loves crafts! Here you can see father and son at work!
3. Then we, the parents took over and started a competition...who would make the best crown for the kids. I had Dami's crown and Rick had Mia's. We went all out, getting stuff from the other tables an all. You can see Dami's here with his name in precious stones and it was half way done so you can imagine how many things I put in it. Rick even put a chimney in Mia's crown! We laughed so much doing that.
3. Then we went to our traditional drive to see Christmas lights. We love to go to this house that is filled with lights, but I am not taking about some few inflatable things and a few lights, this house is an attraction! It is always full with people who go and admire the work, and "the waste", as some others view it, of this house. This is a picture of the garage!
4. You can read a few facts of the house....
5. and more pictures...

6. This is one of the windows, they had a beautiful display of trains and miniature towns.

7. Then went to to another house that has something similar but not as such large scale, and this is a drive thru, not a walk in. They have music and the lights turn on and off at the rhythm of the music. Really nice too. Here is a choir of angels and a Nativity.

8. Oh and finally it got cold! 39 F!!! but in a couple of days it will be back in the upper 70's....

9. By the way...my dad got back from Ecuador!!! It is so good to see him again. And my brother left today to Ecuador to spend Christmas and New Year there...how lucky!!! I know he will enjoy every minute of it!

Love,

~Lore~

Happy Birthday tia Jodie

2007-12-13T17:05:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday tia Jodie! We hope you have a beautiful day in your birthday and that the rest of the year brings you happiness and many blessings. We send a big big hug. God Bless you always,

Rick, Lore, Dami and Mia

Fin de Semana

2007-12-10T13:29:00.001-05:00

Este viernes pasado fuimos a Cocoa Beach porque habia un despegue de la nave espacial Atlantis asi que Rick le pidio a uno de sus clientes que tiene una casa alli que si podiamos usarla por ese fin de semana. Llegamos en la noche y tuvimos la oportunidad de disfrutsr de un cielo completamente despejado y lleno de estrellas, tambien nos arriesgamos a meter los pies en el mar, y digo arriesgamos porque estaba super oscuro y no habia nadie en los alrededores. Nos acostamos temprano porque quisimos levantarnos antes de que salga el sol para poder ver el amanecer. Casi no pude dormir esa noche porque estaba pendiente que el sol no se nos adelantase! Llegaron las 5 de la manana y desperte a la familia. Entre bostezos salimos a la playa, empillamados todavia y con una sabana y cobija para calentarnos porque estaba un poquito fresco. Nos acostamos alli y esperamos. Fue una experiencia tan especial ver como poco a poco el cielo negro, lleno de estrellas, se va aclarando a medida que el sol sale por el horizonte. Pasamos el dia en la playa, caminando, recojiendo conchas, caracoles, Dami y Mia metieron "un poco mas" que sus pies en el mar, y todos disfrutamos mucho.

A las 5:30 AM

6:30 AM

Hasta pudimos ver un par de delfines

7:30 AM

Nuestro Superman!

En la tarde volvimos a Orlando porque era el cumpleanos de Abuelita Mariela y nos ibamos a reunir toda la familia donde Lisa y Ramses para cenar. El domingo fuimos a un parque a festejar otro cumpleanos, esta vez de Joel (por eso los videos anteriores de Joel y Abuelita). A la final no pudimos ver el despegue del Atlantis ya que se pospuso hasta la proxima semana pero gracias a eso tuvimos una mini vacacion en la playa!! La proxima semana estaremos en Cocoa Beach otra vez para ver el tan ansiado despegue!!Feliz Cumpleanos nuevamente a los flamantes cumpleaneros!!!

Mucho amor,

~Lore~

Jonah Lapbook

2007-12-07T12:20:00.000-05:00

By the kid's request we did a lapbook of the Bible story of Jonah. We had fun learning new things about this very often told story. This story usually brings to mind the big fish, the disobedience of Jonah, etc., but one thing that we empazised with this lapbook was the compassion God had to Jonah although he was running away from God. The same compassion God has for us today, even though we sometimes "run away" or sin, God is a merciful God who forgives us and restores us if we just ask Him like Jonah did from the belly of the big fish. Here some pics of the lapbook.

God Bless,
~Lore~

Thursday (almost) Family day

2007-12-06T20:11:00.000-05:00

Rick is taking an Ethical Hacking course this whole week from early in the morning to late in the evening so this week our TFN was incomplete, no papi for us today :(

We went to the beach by default! There was a shuttle launch scheduled to go today and we have been planning on going to Cape Canaveral for week already, so the day came and we anxiously (especially Dami who is into Space things lately, everything he draws is space related!!!) drove there. When we got there we stoped to get something to eat and a gentleman told us that the launch had been cancelled and rescheduled for tomorrow!!! So we took advantage of the beautiful weather and went to the beach! We usually go to this park that has an entrance to the beach and a nature walk (which we never visit because we go for the beach itself ) but today we took the trail and it was gorgeous! we found many interesting things, bugs, and found out the name of the little berries we see this time of the year here in Florida...Beauty berries, perfect name for those cute berries! Then we went to the beach and enjoyed some time there. We will try again tomorrow since this could be our last chance to see a shuttle launch an hour away from home!

Dami's shadow

Jonah's fish (our current lapbook) beauty berries

snow berries
In the trail
posing for the camera
Dami made his name with shells

Love,

~Lore~

Feliz Cumpleanos Abuelita Mariela

2007-12-06T19:44:00.000-05:00

Hoy es el cumpleanos de nuestra querida Abuelita Mariela!!! Queremos mandarle un abrazo muy muy fuerte de parte de nuestra parte y esperamos que cumpla muchos mas. Estamos muy felices de tener una abuelita y madre tan especial! Le queremos mucho y que Dios le bendiga con mucha salud y amor en este nuevo ano de vida.

"Una foto con mis tres hijos"

Abuelita con Mia

Muchos besos,

Rick, Lore, Dami y Mia

Wednesday Park of the week

2007-12-05T20:12:00.000-05:00

We are trying to get back in business so we are posting our traditional Park of the week! We went to a very familiar park for us today. Since Mia has pink eye we only went walking close to the lake and hiked in a trail, no playground for respect to the little kids playing there since pink eye is so contagious! We don't know where she got it from but she is getting better. We have been putting charcoal-flaxseed poultices in her eyes and cleaning it with chamomile water and it has worked very nicely. We decided to go to this park because we are going to make a Frog Lapbook and the kids wanted to see some tadpoles and algae. After finding some tadpoles look-a-likes (I really think they were little fish, but we could not get so close to the water as to being able to make sure they were indeed tadpoles, but the kids wanted to see tadpoles!!!), we went to the trail and got some cool plants, leaves, rocks, etc, etc, etc. Then Mia took us to a "backyard", an open space were we run, and made a couple of "homes" for the kids' tiger and piggy.

At the lake

Tadpoles???
beautiful sky!!!
Just in time for the season
Hiking
In the backyard"Jose" the Tiger and "Maria" the piggy
Dami working on his tiger's house
All done!

Blessings,

~Lore~

Happy Birthday Joel

2007-12-04T20:19:00.000-05:00

We want to wish a very, merry, happy birthday to our good friend Joel!!!! God Bless you and we hope That in this year He will "shower" (that was Rick"") you with many blessings, health and especially a strong relationship with God. We send you a big hug and hope you enjoy this little video from the kids....

With love,
Rick, Lore, Dami and Mia

Weekend events

2007-12-04T13:12:00.000-05:00

We had such a nice weekend! Since Christmas Season is here, well, it has been here for over a month already! but now all the events have started. I was browsing to see the christian events around here that we could go to and there are plenty! Of course, most of the events are secular but there are several shows, concerts that are Christ-centered. On Friday we went to one of the three "Walk thru Bethlehem" type of programs that we are planning on going. We invited Lisa (Rick's cousin who just moved back from up north) and her kids Sebastian and Sofia. We had a nice time. The program is always so realistic and took us to the times where the first Christmas was held...Bethlehem to see the birth of Jesus. The kids enjoyed it so much, they even got a little startled by the "Roman guards" who were "rude" to the Jewish people and us "travelers". Then on Saturday night we went to a Brass concert (hence the background music) What a delight! They were the Central Florida Brass Ensemble and it was in a Lutheran Church. It was their annual Christmas concert. Rick was planning on falling asleep since he does not like any of the orchestra type programs, but he didn't, he enjoyed it almost, yes almost, as much as I did!!! I think he is ready to try the Hendel's Messiah's concert next year!!! We have plans for every weekend until Christmas when we will leave to Tennessee to spend it with my sister and her family!!! I could not take any pics since my battery was low, better said...dead, but I will try to get some photos for the next weekend..
God Bless,
~Lore~

Thanksgiving Lapbook

2007-11-16T14:14:00.000-05:00

As Thanksgiving is approaching we are making a Thanksgiving Lapbook. We love lapbooks. It is a great way for the kids to learn. Plus we can keep their crafts organized and in a neat way storage them. We combine arts, crafts, vocabulary, bible, writing, memorizing, history, geography, math, all in one lapbook and in a fun, relaxed way. We learned a lot with this lapbook, and I say "we" because, sadly to say, I only knew the commercial side of Thanksgiving, the turkey, the dinner, the get together, etc. I never knew the real story and the real motives for the celebration. The devotion and courage of the pilgrims to find a place where they could worship God, the long, hard journey they had to withstand, the helpful attitude of the Indians towards these stranger people, their friendship, their good heart. Of course, things turned sour later on, as history present us, but we learned many good things from this story and these people.
We had a great experience with this lapbook, and will be finishing our first one, "Creation Week Lapbook" that we put on hold to do the Thanksgiving one.
There are so many great resources online for lapbooking and it can be used by anyone to help kids learn by projects or to supplement schooled kids in a more relaxed, fun way!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving to all!
Love,
~Lore~

Anniversary

2007-11-07T22:01:00.000-05:00

We are still trying to get our routine back so my posting is still on hold but I could not let this day pass without saying Happy 8th Anniversary to my dear husband!!! Eight years ago we got married, well through a judge at my parents house eight months prior to our wedding in the church. We did that to speed up things with my residency papers so we could be able to travel out of the US in our honey moon if we decided to do that. We invited our immediate family for the ceremony and the rest of the family and friends for the "reception" that followed. I cannot believe 8 years have past so fast! and I have to thank God for giving us such wonderful years together. We love each other even more now...and we looked so young!

Gio, Gil, Jodie, Pete, Erika

Rick and me

The judge (I don't remember his name, I feel so bad!), Mariela (Rick's mom), Erika (my sister), My mom, Jodie (Gil's wife), Gil (Rick's brother)

Pete (Rick's brother), me, Rick, Gio (my brother)
and my dad was the photographer!

The three brothers

with my new sister in law and mom in law

In the reception

Morales family

Naranjo family

Love,

~Lore~

Taking a break!

2007-10-29T16:56:00.000-05:00

We are in the midst of moving so we will take a break until we settle down. I will try to get some pictures of us working and working and all the friends and family that are so graciously helping, you always know who really appreciates you when it is time to lend a hand and thank God we cannot complain!
Hope every one is well,
~Lore~

Estamos en plena mudada asi que vamos a tomarnos un tiempo libre hasta que ya estemos un poco mas organizados. Tratare de tomar fotos de la locura que tenemos aqui y especialmente de todos los amigos y familiares que nos han prestado una mano! Gracias a Dios no nos podemos quejar en ese sentido!!!
Un abrazo carinoso,
~Lore~

Vegetarian Quote

2007-10-26T15:17:00.000-05:00

"Vegetarian food leaves a deep impression on our nature. If the whole world adopts vegetarianism it can change the destiny of humankind."

~Albert Einstein

Amigos

2007-10-25T07:21:00.001-05:00

Disfrutando de la compania de nuestros amigos fuimos a un restaurante vietnamita que tiene platos vegetarianos deliciosos. Encontramos este restaurante hace unas pocas semanas y ahora lo visitamos frecuentemente. Preparan tofu en varias formas y lo mejor es que el tofu es hecho fresco ahi mismo, asi que sabe increible!!

Y aqui estamos otra vez en el mismo restaurante unos dias antes! Mia con su peinado loco, como ella le llama!!! Luego fuimos a visitar el apartamento donde viviamos cuando nacio Dami!

En el tercer piso! esa es la ventana de nuestro cuarto y el balcon, cuantos recuerdos...

La puerta de entrada de nuestro apartamento

Que tengan un buen dia!

~Lore~

Eating at a viet restaurant with good friends and visiting our old apartment where Dami was born!

Letterboxing

2007-10-24T19:52:00.000-05:00

This particular letterbox was a 3 in 1! We had to find all three letterboxes in order to make the final stamp! How cool is that! So we started our search 2 weeks ago as part of our Thursday Family Night. We found 2 but it got dark so we left the last one for another day, well, that day was today! Finally we got the whole stamp. It was a bicycle, so the first letterbox had a stamp with the body of the bike and the other two had a stamp with the wheels. It took us several miles riding on the bikes to get it complete, but we enjoyed it so much. It got dark again but we were determined to finish the stamp and as a treat we ended the night by going to our favorite ice cream place. They have the best vegan coconut italian ice!

Bike's body, no wheels yet
This is the "mounstrous" bridge

Hugs and kisses,
~Lore~

Otra de nuestras busquedas de letterboxes, esta nos tomo dos dias para encontrar 3 letterboxes, terminamos celebrando en nuestra heladeria favorita!

Encouraging Quote

2007-10-24T06:59:00.000-05:00

In my devotional today I found this encouraging quote and I want to share it with you.....

"If we will but listen, God's created works will teach us precious lessons of obedience and trust. From the stars that in their trackless course through space, follow from age to age their appointed path, down to the minutest atom, the things of nature obey the Creator's will. And God cares for everything and sustains everything that he has created. He who upholds the unnumbered worlds throughout immensity, at the same time cares for the wants of the little brown sparrow that sings its humble song without a fear. When men go forth to their daily toil, as when they engage in prayer; when they lie down at night, and when they rise in the morning; when the rich man feasts in his palace, or when the poor man gathers his children about the scanty board, each is tenderly watched by the heavenly Father. No tears are shed that God does not notice. There is no smile that he does not mark. If we would but fully believe this, all undue anxieties would be dismissed. Our lives would not be filled with disappointment as now; for everything, whether great or small, would be left in the hands of God, who is not perplexed by the multiplicity of cares, or overwhelmed by their weight. We would then enjoy a rest of soul to which many have long been strangers." CE 55.1

May God give you the peace He can only provide!

~Lore~

Reminiscence/Recordando

2007-10-23T15:45:00.000-05:00

Now that we are packing everything we have found many things that bring back memories in our lives and one of them are old pictures. We stop all that we are doing and start remembering old times. We want to share that with you....

I will post old, old pictures for our loved ones to reminescence.... hope all enjoy them as much as we have!

Can you recognize these faces??

Ahora que estamos empacando todo para la mudanza hemos encontrado muchas cosas que nos han traido tantos recuerdos, una de ellas son fotos antiguas de nuestra familia y amigos y cada vez paramos todo lo que estamos haciendo y recordamos los viejos tiempos!!! Queremos compartir con ustedes esto tambien....

Voy a poner fotos "viejas" de nuestros seres queridos para el recuerdo. Esperamos que las disfruten tanto como nosotros!

Puedes reconocer estos rostros???

Next post will have the answers and up to date pics!!!
EN el siguiente post tendremos las respuestas y fotos recientes!!
Love,
~Lore~

Elkin's birthday

2007-10-18T16:05:00.000-05:00

This post is especially dedicated to Claudia. She could not be in Elkin's birthday because she was recovering from a nasty flu. We missed you, Todd and Ashley. The kids had lots of fun playing in the playground, hitting the pinata, eating candy! the adults enjoyed looking at them play and enjoyed each other's company. Here are a few pictures.

(Sorry I posted this late, technical difficulties!! )

Esai

Birthday boy
Joselyn
Dami Erico
All the kidsRight in front of the cake, you can see some in Mia's hands!!
Mia sharing "candle" with Esai

Hope you feel better and enjoyed the pictures...

~Lore~

Con Abuelita

2007-10-17T15:14:00.000-05:00

El fin de semana visitamos a Abuelita y los ninos tuvieron la oportunidad de tomar sus primeras clases de manejo!!! He aqui las fotos y miren la concentracion que tenian

Abuelita y Mia

Abuelita y Dami

Un abrazo,

~Lore~

Dami and Mia taking some driving lessons from Abuelita

Farm life!

2007-10-17T05:08:00.000-05:00

Dami and Mia loved this video. They love the farm and we hope to be able to have a little farm of our own some day.

Enjoy!

Love,

~Lore~

Muffins

2007-10-14T08:49:00.000-05:00

I have been trying different muffin recipes and this one was the winner! Blueberry Vegan Muffin. It has a soft, moist texture, not so sweet but very tasty. I added some nuts to give it a protein boost and a crumb crunchy topping. And the big plus...it's healthy!

Ingredients:

1 cup of whole wheat flour

1/2 cup unbleached all purpose flour

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 Ener-G Egg Replacer

3/4 cup soy milk

1 cup blueberries

CRUMB TOPPING:

1/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup Whole wheat flour

2 tablespoons soy margarine

3/4 teaspoons cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200C).

Get all the dry ingredients together and sift them to mix in a bowl.

Make the Egg Replacer in a cup, add the oil in the same cup.

Mix in the egg and oil mix to the dry mix and add the milk.

Mix well to get a nice consistency.

Fold carefully the blueberries.

Pour in oiled muffin pan.

To make the crumb topping:

Mix by hand all the ingredients, it will be crumbly.

Put on top of the muffin batter.

Bake for 25 minutes or until golden.

Enjoy,

~Lore~

Beautiful Florida's Nature

2007-10-14T08:10:00.000-05:00

Blessings,

~Lore~