Life with a Capital "L"

Today at church marked the final day of Pastor Matt's series on the book of John.  It was an incredible series that lasted 4 years.  Yes.  4 years.  A total of 71 sermons and 9 series within that series.  Church started off with the worship band rocking out to "The Final Countdown" as they wore rock n' roll wigs and head banged to the music.

They did a little skit in which they talked about what our world was like in 2006 when he started this series.  For instance, gas was $1.78 a gallon, YouTube had just started getting popular, and Carrie Underwood's song "Jesus Take the Wheel" was at the top of the charts!

I started thinking about how my own Life has changed since the series started,  I was still in my 20s. I was in my 5th year of teaching at CMCA and teaching 3rd grade.  I went back to teaching 4th grade.  I became Assistant Principal.  I became extremely sick and went through 2 surgeries in 4 months.  I was diagnosed with a pre-existing condition...Crohns Disease.  I dated and went through unspeakable heartbreak that I thought I would never have to go through.  I turned 30.  I met a man who loves me more than anything in the world.  He has seen me at my absolute worst.  He loves the Lord and he has asked me to be his wife for Life.

As we sang a song called "Everything," (by Tim Hughes) tears started welling up in my eyes as I recalled all of the above and how it related to the sermon series we were finishing up.

God in my living 

There in my breathing 

God in my waking 

God in my sleeping 

God in my resting 

There in my working

God in my thinking 

God in my speaking 

Be my everything 

Be my everything 

Be my everything 

Be my everything 

God in my hoping 

There in my dreaming 

God in my watching 

God in my waiting 

God in my laughing 
There in my weeping 
God in my hurting 
God in my healing 

Christ in me 
Christ in me 
Christ in me the hope of glory 
You are everything 

Christ in me 
Christ in me 
Christ in me the hope of glory 
Be my everything

Here is something that Pastor Matt wrote in our bulletin today...

"Life.  It's defined by many people in many ways.  Is it merely when cells are reproducing and a heart is beating?  Every one of us has a deafening hunch that there's more to the depth and dance of life than mere physical and scientific definitions.  But where do we turn for a greater, fuller, more accurate and credible understanding?...Through John's first-hand observation and experience of Jesus Christ...through his relationship with Him...through His inspired words, we meet Jesus, the Author of Life and the Redeemer of our lives.  He beckons us with an invitation.  With a call.  With a summons:  "Trust Me and you'll taste LIFE as it is meant to be lived."  And as we trust Him, we discover that receiving the LIFE He promises is impossible without following Him on a Path that is anything but easy."

This really hit home to me and made me realize what He was doing in my Life and what he wants to continue doing in my Life even though at times it will NOT be easy but because He loves us he will cover us under His umbrella of Grace and walk with us side by side in the sun and the storms.

Here is our Life Math:

   Jesus Christ (the object of our faith) 

+ Believing (the step of our faith) 

 LIFE with a capital L (the result of our faith)

Go ahead...start living your

LIFE 

with a Capital L!

It's totally worth it.

Reception Site...Check

We have the Fine Arts Center's glass corridor and courtyard set for our reception!  Check out the pictures.  We are THRILLED!

Random

So right after we got Tanner, Luis took off for a 2 week training mission.  We sure did miss him, but Tanner and I got SUPER close.  He follows me EVERYWHERE and will sometimes whine when I'm not holding him.  He's getting better on that...shew!

I took him to school with me one night.  He really enjoyed being my little helper.  His favorite place to lay was on my desk between my arms as I was typing on my computer.  He was the hit of the school that night.

He also had his first doctor's visit where he broke the scales at a whopping 3.4 pounds and got some shots.

One night we went to Uncle Jon and Aunt Sandi's for dinner.  Avery and Ashton were there in their Halloween costumes.  They LOVED playing with Tanner all night long and he LOVED playing with them too!  Ashton jumped right into Tanner's crate with her Tigger costume on and all.

This little girl LOVES the little Tan Man.

New Goal

Ok...so I've been pretty bad with this blogging thing.  I really do want to be good at it.  There a lot of fun times coming up that I need to document to share with my family some day.

New goal...be a better blogger.

The Beginning of Our Little Family

Last night we went out to Falcon to a place called Little Darling Pups and got us a little darling pup. He is a Poo-Shih (or a Shih-Poo) and was born on August 20.  So that makes him about 9 weeks old. And boy! Is he a doll!

 When we left there, we headed straight for PetSmart to get us ready to go with the little man: crate, food and water bowls, food, treats, collar, leash, a really cute football toy, a brush, and of course a blanket.  Then Luis treated Mommy (me) to a celebration dinner at Outback...YUMMY! 

Over dinner we discussed his name.  Here were some of our ideas: Teahan (thanks Charis!), Bruiser, Chief, Gizmo, Ewok, Mario, Bill, Manning, Wayne, Charles, Bowe, McClaister,...some of you may be picking up on a bit of a pattern.  We decided on...

TANNER MATOS

 We left him in the truck with his new blanket while we ate.  As soon as dinner was over, we rushed to the truck to see how he was.  He was completely under the driver's seat but had left a couple of presents to welcome us back.  His new blanket a one of those presents and so did Luis' beret.  Ha!

We then went to Uncle Jon and Aunt Sandi's to introduce him to the family.  Mandy and the kids were there too.  Let me just tell you that Avery was PRECIOUS with the little guy.  He was just her size and she could carry him around and he just loved it.  At one point she said, "Mommy?  When tan we tet one of dese little doggies?"

We came home and gave him his first bath as a Matos.  He did pretty darn well!

Then Daddy cuddled him while he dried off some.

Before I put him to bed last night, I took him outside where he pooped and pottied.  Then I opened the crate door and he walked right in and collapsed.  I didn't hear one peep all night long until 5:30 this morning.

So far no accidents in the house...we'll see how long we can keep that record going.  Right now he is napping in his crate with his blanket.

Welcome Tanner Matos.

And so the Matos family begins...

Welcome Fall!

Every year my family on Mom's side has a Welcome Fall Party at the park.  At our little party we roast hot dogs and this year did a scavenger hunt for the girls.  Avery also sang us some Welcome Fall songs.

Here is Avery making us some DELICIOUS playdough cookies!  Thanks, Aves!

Little Man Ian at his first Welcome Fall Party.  Don't you just love his IWU Wildcat hat?!?

Sometimes I wonder how old Luis really is?!  :-)  Kidding...the girls ADORE him.

Thanks Welcome Fall Party!  We had a great time and we will see you in 2011!

Jon Asp - Possible Photographer

It's been awhile since I have posted anything on here.  Probably because nothing big has happened for me to report.

We will be meeting with a possible photographer tomorrow night or Saturday morning.  He is actually someone I went to college with and his wife's family is friends of my family for several years.  In fact, her mom and my dad dated back in the day!  The photographer's name is Jon Asp.  I'm excited to get this nailed down.If you want to see some of his work, here is his website.

Still looking for a reception site.  Grrr...

Gonna Be a Good Daddy

Last night we went over to help David surprise Mandy.  He planned us to come over right after little man Ian was fed so that he could take Mandy to the Y for a little workout and time to sit in the hot tub.

This was also the first time for Luis to meet Ian.  Here is their first pictures together...

He's gonna be a good daddy.  :-)

Maybe Baby?

Well...I have checked on the Fine Arts Center here in Colorado Springs and they have the date available!  We just want to meet with them and see what the pricing would be and such.  Anyone know anything about events held at the Fine Arts Center?

Here are some pictures...

Here is the website for more pictures...
http://www.csfineartscenter.org/glass-corridor.asp

Cross your fingers!!!!

Bummer

We got so excited yesterday when we found that the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has a beautiful lodge for receptions.  It is on the mountain and looks over the city.  The lodge has windows that are like garage doors that can lift up and you are able to spread out on to a  tree lit patio.


So, I emailed them to check out the date...

It's booked.  Bummer.

Welcome to Our Blog!

Welcome to our little world.  Luis wanted to start a blog for our new life together...so we'll see how it goes.

Yesterday we went to the Air Show at the airport with our dear friends Charis and Jason and their little bundle of joy, Zoe Emma.

I also went with Grandma, Mandy, Avery, and Ian to try wedding dresses on again and I found THE ONE!  I absolutely love it and dreamed about it last night.  I can't post pictures because I have a curious fiance who is pretty sneaky...even though he SAYS he doesn't want to see.  ;-)

Today we are enjoying the fall day outside and watching football...our favorite thing to do together.  Maybe I should get busy with doing laundry and picking up the place.

I hope you enjoy our little blog.  ;-)