ME

I'm Moving.

2009-03-11T11:38:00.003-04:00

Goodbye blogspot..hello wordpress. I have let peer pressure get the best of me and from now on I will be blogging at www.mrsrivas.wordpress.com. Special thanks to Naty and Priscilla for pushing me. Hope you all keep reading! Blogspot...it has been a pleasure.

Important Message from the AFA

2009-03-03T14:13:00.002-05:00

Obama seeks to take away religious rights of doctors and health care providers who refuse to perform abortions
Urgent: send your e-mail to the White House today!

According to several news agencies, President Barack Obama will rescind the "conscience rule" that protects health workers who refuse to participate in abortions or other medical procedures that go against their moral and religious beliefs. If the rule is rescinded, doctors, nurses and other health care workers could lose their jobs or be punished professionally for adhering to their sincerely held religious convictions. Obama's proposal would take away their religious freedom.

The current rule empowers federal health officials to cut off federal funding for any state or local government, hospital, clinic, health plan, doctor's office or other entity if it does not accommodate employees who exercise their right of conscience. It applies to more than 584,000 health care facilities.

The Obama administration is doing the bidding of pro-abortion advocacy groups who seek to penalize health care providers who refuse to participate in abortions.

According to The Washington Post, Obama administration officials stressed that the proposal will be subject to 30 days of public comment. That is why it is so very important for you to let the White House hear from you today.

Take Action

Enter your ZIP CODE and click "GO" to send your e-mail to President Obama opposing his plan to rescind the "conscience rule."

Forward this to family and friends and ask them to do the same.

Thanks for caring enough to get involved. If you consider our efforts worth supporting, would you please consider a small tax deductible donation to help us continue?

Sincerely,

Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman

AFA - American Family Association - Activism

2 1/2 Months

2009-03-02T15:54:00.002-05:00

Soon enough...Ian will be turning 3 months and he is growing soooo fast. He went to the doctor last Monday and weighed 9 lbs 12 oz. I totally feel it in my arms. He is such a great baby. He barely cries. He loves hanging out on the swing and tummy time. He laughs at just about anything...even when I suction out his buggers, he laughs. His reflux had gotten better...and then it returned. Apparently, when it first started, we had been giving him too much milk for his size. We were giving him three ounces and that was too much for his little stomach and that's what was causing all the chaos. Well, when his body weight caught up, 3 ounces was just right and he was digesting it very well, so I boosted it up and now it came back. Well..I went down to 3 1/2 ounces because according to his body weight, he should be taking 3.123 ounces every 3 hours or 25 ounces in one day. He's doing better. He's barely gagging and barely spitting up, so that's good, and he doesn't stay hungry. He sleeps most nights for 5 hours straight and when he doesn't, he'll at least sleep 3 hours. He has a bit of a cold now. Nothing big, just a stuffy nose, so we're taking care of that. Above is a picture of Ian's dedication at church.

Ian's Eyes

2009-02-27T19:37:00.002-05:00

What is the first thing you notice when looking at this pic? Right..that Ian's eyes have 2 different colors. It's not uncommon. I've met people with two different eye colors. I think it's pretty cool. He got 1/2 of an eye from mom and 1 1/2 from dad. I had to post it because you can't really notice it when you look at him in most lights and when I mention it to someone they think I'm crazy because they can't see it...well, here it is. Ian's eyes.

Update on Ian

2009-02-18T23:37:00.003-05:00

My little man turned 2 months already and I can't believe how fast he's growing. He is now very alert and looks at everything and everyone. He loves to smile when you talk to him. He has rolled over a couple of times which is pretty crazy for a kid his age. He is doing a lot better with his reflux and has been sleeping most nights for 5 hours straight. I am loving all the time I get to spend with him because I get to see how he develops and I don't miss out on anything. He is a very happy and good baby and I can't wait to see what he does next.

Tennessee

2009-02-18T23:24:00.004-05:00

This past week we spent it in Tennessee. Thanks to the Garcia Fam and Oliver and Marelys. We left last Wednesday and got in on Tuesday night. We had a great time and it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be to take a 2 month old on a 14 hour car ride. The whole way there he pretty much slept and he did the same on the way back. I'll leave the good funny stories for Priscilla to blog about because she's better at that than I am, but I'll mention some of the highlights of the trip.

1. Priscilla thinking we had made it to Daytona in an hour and yelling at me for correcting her.
2. Chris asking "Where's Keren?" when I had fallen asleep and my head was hidden. He thought I wasn't in the car.
3. Getting our first souvenir...a ticket in South Caroling by trying to catch up to Oliver. Special thanks to the officer who put it down as if Chris was going 10 miles under what he really was going.
4. The Falling Rocks. A new band in Tennessee according to Marelys.
5. Patty wanting to eat my baby with some biscuits and gravy.
6. Miriam's crazy looking glasses.
7. Our very special Valentine's Dinner. I think the waitress is going to request to take coffee and cream off the menu.
8. Chris on a horse. I'll leave it at that.
9. Our $400 rental car.
10. Being able to poop on vacation...that's priceless.
11. Priscilla singing Ian to sleep and not knowing we were watching, much less videotaping her.

Of course...I'm missing a lot of things, so if any of you that went want to add to the list...go ahead.

Rough Nights

2009-02-02T20:53:00.002-05:00

So for the past couple of weeks Ian has had a bit of a hard time digesting his milk. He apparently suffers from reflux which is not a big deal, but does cause him pain and discomfort and it causes me a whole lot of stress and sleepless nights. He will cry uncontrollably for a while and fall asleep for a while and it just goes around in a circle. On top of the fact that his gagging really freaks me out. This normally happens at night. He went to the doctor on Friday and we're just going to keep an eye on it and see how bad it really is. We don't want to put him under any unnecessary medicine. However, looking at the bright side of things, he has not lost his appetite and is now weighing 8 lbs 2 oz. That's probably around what he would have weighed if he had been born when he was supposed to. He is very alert now and smiles when we talk to him. He moves around a lot and turns from side to side. He keeps his head up by himself pretty well. It's still a little wobbly, but he's getting there. He survived his first Super Bowl Party and his first trip to Dolphin Mall. Whew! I know this whole reflux thing will get better and I really look forward to that, but for now I'm just taking it one day at a time and when I find myself getting too overwhelmed with his consistent crying, Chris is there to rescue me and I really thank God for that.

Barneyisms

2009-01-28T15:05:00.002-05:00

“A bro-ing away party, a special bro-casion, a bro-choice rally, bro-time at the Apollo.”

“In my body, where the 'shame' gland should be, there is a second 'awesome' gland.”

“LEGEN – wait for it, and I hope you’re not lactose intolerant because the next part is – DARY!”

“I hope you’re finding a new gender for yourself because I revoking your dude membership.”

“Here’s the mini-cherry on top of the regular cherry on top of the sundae of awesomeness that is my life.”

"How much does Korean Elvis rock? I'll answer that: Infinity. He rocks infinity."

"You're going as my wingman. Flight suit-up!"

"Phone five"

"This is so going on my blog"

"What up"

"What's that? Self five? Nice. We out."

And So It Begins...

2009-01-27T13:33:00.001-05:00

An article from NY Times

Obama Reverses Rules on U.S. Abortion Aid

WASHINGTON — President Obama repealed rules on Friday that restricted federal money for international organizations that promote or provide abortions overseas, sweeping aside a pillar of the social policy architecture of George W. Bush’s presidency.

The executive order that Mr. Obama signed reverses one of the first measures enacted by Mr. Bush when he took over the White House eight years ago and capped an opening-week flurry of action intended to signal a sharp break from the past in domestic and foreign arenas.

“For the past eight years, they have undermined efforts to promote safe and effective voluntary family planning in developing countries,” Mr. Obama said of the restrictions. “For these reasons, it is right for us to rescind this policy and restore critical efforts to protect and empower women and promote global economic development.”

In a written statement, Mr. Obama said he would work with Congress to restore financial support for the United Nations Population Fund. But he bemoaned the “politicization” of abortion and promised to reach out to all sides to initiate a new dialogue about reducing unintended pregnancies.

“For too long,” he said, “international family planning assistance has been used as a political wedge issue, the subject of a back-and-forth debate that has served only to divide us. I have no desire to continue this stale and fruitless debate.”

The move touched off the anticipated torrent of praise and criticism from advocates in the highly polarized abortion debate. Supporters of abortion rights hailed the end of what they call the “gag rule” binding family health clinics from even talking about medical options in other countries, while opponents warned that it would effectively spread abortion to all corners of the world.

The restrictions Mr. Obama lifted on Friday barred the United States Agency for International Development from providing money to any international nongovernmental organization that “performs or actively promotes abortion as a method of family planning” in foreign countries, and covered a wide range of activities, including providing advice, counseling or information regarding abortion. The restrictions did not apply to counseling for abortions in the case of rape, incest or danger to the life of the pregnant woman.

The policy has become a symbolic and substantive football in Washington politics over the years. President Ronald Reagan first imposed the ban in 1984 when it was announced at a conference in Mexico City. President Bill Clinton lifted it a couple of days after taking office in 1993. Mr. Bush restored it a couple of days after he took office in 2001, and advocates on both sides expected Mr. Obama to lift it again.

The only surprise was that Mr. Obama acted a day after the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision establishing a constitutional right to abortion, rather than on the day itself as the last two presidents did. Mr. Obama did little to call attention to his move, issuing his comments only in writing and releasing the order after 7 p.m. Friday.

Moreover, Mr. Obama did not move to lift restrictions that Mr. Bush had imposed on federal financing of embryonic stem cell research, another important issue in the abortion battle. Mr. Obama supports expanded stem cell research to find cures for diseases but it remains uncertain whether he will use his executive power or wait to let Congress write the policy change into law.

Abortion opponents condemned Friday’s order, calling it an unnecessarily divisive way for a president preaching unity to start his administration. “President Obama will be remembered forever not just as a smart, savvy, gifted and eloquent leader — but as the Abortion President,” Representative Christopher H. Smith, Republican of New Jersey and co-chairman of the House Bipartisan Pro-Life Caucus, said in a written statement.

Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, called the order “the first in an anticipated series of attacks on longstanding pro-life policies as the new administration pushes Obama’s sweeping abortion agenda.”

The effect, Mr. Johnson said, would be to redirect federal money “away from groups that do not promote abortion, and into the hands of those organizations that are the most aggressive in promoting abortion in developing countries.”

By contrast, the president’s executive order energized abortion rights and family planning groups. “President Obama’s actions will help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies, abortions and women dying from high-risk pregnancies because they don’t have access to family planning,” said Tod Preston, a vice president at Population Action International.

Word of the order was received enthusiastically at a meeting on population trends at the University of California, Berkeley. Many of the gathered experts work for family planning organizations that face declining flows of government and private aid.

“It is actually a great day for those who oppose abortion,” said Steven W. Sinding, a past director-general of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and population adviser to the World Bank. “This will help many of the most effective providers of family planning services to enable women to avoid unwanted pregnancies.”

I Think He Needs a New Name

2009-01-26T15:46:00.003-05:00

Priscilla..this is for you. Taken from Urbandictionary.com

Pancho:

The generic name for a Mexican person whom you don't know the name of.
"Hey! Pancho! What's up?"

"Actually my name's Jorge."

"Yeah whatever"

Pancho:

Usually, spanish slang for the name "Francisco". Can also mean "schizophrenic", "drug addict" or "very small, crazy bald person who lives in Puerto Maderou".

1 Month Later

2009-01-22T18:44:00.002-05:00

Ian's already 1 month old! I can't believe how fast time goes by. Before you know it he'll be celebrating his first birthday and Chris and I always mention that soon he'll be one of those kids running around the room after the service is over and the chairs get picked up. I can't wait for those moments, but for now I'm enjoying every second I spend with him. Some days...or I should say...nights are pretty hard, but it really has been easier than I thought it would be and he's a great baby. Plus, God makes them so cute so you really can't get mad at them. On Ian's 1 month, we baked brownies and put a little candle and took some pics. Soon, we'll be taking him on his first vacation to Tennessee. I can't wait to spend time with our friends up there in a different environment. It'll be fun. So..that's what's up for now. I'll be sure to keep the blog updated from now on since I have way more time on my hands being home.

Update on Motherhood

2009-01-03T23:21:00.002-05:00

I'm loving being a mom. I love every little second I get to spend with Ian. Feeding him, bathing him, playing with him, etc. He's a really good baby. He's sleeps great and only wakes up to eat. I can already see his personality coming out when he's awake. I haven't had bad postpartum. I cried when I was home and he was in the hospital and one night that he was home and I woke up in the middle of the night with massive headaches and I thought my spinal headaches had come back. Thank God they didn't. I've been healing nicely from the c-section. I've been off pain medication since the 23rd of December. I really thank God for this huge blessing he has sent us. I also have to thank God for the great husband he has given me. He has helped me in so many ways and he's really taken on his role as dad. Above is one of the most recent pics of Ian on his daddy's hands. The pic was taken by Bryan www.nbphotographix.com. Until next time I have time to write....

-Keren

First Night Home

2008-12-23T22:00:00.002-05:00

Last night was Ian's first night at home and I have to say, it was interesting. He woke up a whole lot and I know it's because he's getting adjusted to the environment. I did get to take a little nap during the day though. Other than that, it was fine. He's eating well and breastfeeding is going ok. It can go better, but right now it's going well. I just have to remember not to give up and keep going because that's what's best for him. I thank God for getting us through our first night with Ian and I look forward to many more sleepless nights. :)

Baby Ian Came at 34 Weeks

2008-12-18T16:44:00.006-05:00

Where do I begin? I am writing now that I actually have time to do it. The last couple of days have been exciting. On Sunday I started losing my mucus plug. On Monday I didn't go to work because I had terrible lower back pain. On Tuesday I went to work, but I started noticing that the baby had not been moving or kicking as much as he normally did, so I called the doctor and they told me to go to the hospital. I left work at around 11:30 am. We came to South Miami. The first thing they did was an ultrasound and the baby was moving and his heart was beating fine. Then in triage I was hooked up to the monitors to monitor his heart rate. It started out fine, but then for about 4 minutes, his heart rate completely dropped. Like a scene out of ER, I was rushed into another room and in a matter of 2 minutes I was hooked up to an iv and in a hospital gown. They hooked the monitors back up and his heart rate picked up again. We waited it out for a while. We were nervous, but praying to God. He is always in control and knows why He does things and so we completely trusted in Him and let Him do what He wanted to do. About an hour later the nurse let us know that the baby's heart rate was not stable. It was going down and up and down again, so my doctor arrived and decided to do a c-section immediately. Getting the spinal block was the worse because since I'm so petite they had a really hard time doing it, but again, with a lot of prayer, it got down and I didn't have to go under general anesthesia and got to experience Baby Ian come into the world at 3:34 pm. Everything happened very fast. My doctor told me that my placenta was calcified and if I wouldn't have come in when I did, Ian might not have made it. He weighed 5 lbs and 1oz and measured 17 1/2 inches. Even though he has had to be in NICU, he is doing great. He is now off the oxygen and breathing on his own. He is drinking out of a bottle. The doctor says I might be able to keep him in my room tomorrow and we might be able to bring him home before Christmas Day. I cannot even begin to express how absolutely grateful I am to God for taking care of our baby boy. It has been an emotional, scary, happy, exciting past couple of days and I have felt God's presence all throughout this experience. Thank you all for your prayers. They are very much appreciated. We will soon be bringing Ian home and eventually to church so everyone can meet him.

With love,

Chris and Keren

Soldier Daddy Comes Home

2008-12-06T09:26:00.001-05:00

This one's for Priscilla. I'll totally join you in the crying for this one.

Week 32

2008-12-05T18:21:00.002-05:00

This past week has been rough. I've had a lot of leg and back pain and even walking is difficult. Let's not even mention sleeping. I really thought I was probably going into labor, but today we had an ultrasound done that the doctor requested and it was not a surprise to see that Ian is extremely big. That explains all of my discomfort. He's healthy. Has a head full of hair apparently. The only problem is...he's weighing around 5.9 lbs and he shouldn't even be near that right now. According to BabyCenter.com he's supposed to be weighing around 3.75 lbs. I hope those were miscalculations. But it was very clear to see how little space he has and how crammed he is in my belly. We got to see half of his face on 3D because the other half was being squished. I'll post up pics as soon as they get scanned. Please continue to pray for these last weeks of my pregnancy. I have to work for another 2 weeks and then I'm putting myself on bedrest. Just pray I make it far enough to a point that his lungs will be healthy enough for him to be able to come out.

Thankful

2008-11-27T22:22:00.002-05:00

This year I have sooo many things to be thankful to God for. Not that I didn't have a million things last year, but every year things change. So...here's my list and I'm sure I'm forgetting a whole lot.
1. My salvation
2. My family
3. My husband and the things God is doing in his life.
4. My husband's new job.
5. Provision. It has been a rough year and God has provided in ways I cannot even explain.
6. My job and how much I actually enjoy doing it
7. Friends (You all know who you are. There's a lot of you so I can't mention everyone just in case I forget somebody)
8. Church family
9. Food....I'm really loving food these days.
10. My church and my pastors
11. For God giving me the opportunity to serve Him.
12. For hard times because through those I have learned important lessons.
13. My home
14. And of course...cannot leave out Ian, our baby and his upcoming arrival. I am a million times thankful to God for giving us this baby and allowing us the chance to be parents and I pray that everything we do as parents may honor Him.

Thanksgiving Day is just one day out of the year, but everyday there is something to be thankful for. :)

30 Weeks

2008-11-15T21:06:00.002-05:00

I can't believe how quickly time has gone by. I am about 10 weeks away from having the baby and I am getting anxious. Not anxious to get him out because I enjoy feeling him kick and move, just anxious to meet him. As far as how I'm feeling, it's getting even harder to sleep. I can't seem to find a comfortable position. I am definitely feeling the extra 15 pounds I have gained and at the end of the day I am so exhausted, all I want to do is go to bed. God has been good though and I really have to thank Him for the easy pregnancy I have had. I always though that with my petite frame I wouldn't be able to handle it, but God has given me the strength I've needed to go about my day as I normally would. So...baby Ian will be arriving before you know it!! Can't wait!

The Past 2 Days

2008-10-28T23:34:00.003-04:00

The past 2 days have been a bit rough. I shouldn't complain because I know others have had it worse. I got a bad stomach virus and vomited around 5 times at home, 1 on the way to the hospital, and 4 more times at the hospital. I could barely stand up on my own two feet by the time I got to the hospital. On top of the dehydration, the baby decided to tease me a bit and I was having contractions about every 10 minutes. That led to a couple of shots that made me feel like if my heart was going to come out of my chest. Fun, fun, fun. The baby was head down in the ultrasound too. The doctor decided to keep me at the hospital to monitor the contractions and thank God, by this morning, they had died down. I'm very thankful to be home, sleeping in my bed and almost back on a regular diet. It's very scary when you're 27 weeks pregnant and you start getting thoughts of having a preemie. That's when I have to remember that the baby I'm carrying belongs to God and He's in control of that life. So, thank you all who prayed for me and Ian and thanks to my dear husband who stayed by my side the whole time. And of course I have to thank God for being so faithful and for bringing me peace these past 2 days. :)

2 More Nights

2008-10-19T22:18:00.002-04:00

Well, here I am in my 26th week of pregnancy and feeling a bit down when nighttime comes. Chris went on a Missions Trip to Nicaragua and I had no idea how horribly lonely I was going to feel especially at night. We always have dinner together, watch some tv together, and these past nights have been hard, not only for me, but for the other wives as well. I thank God for the opportunity that Chris was given to take this trip and even though I miss him like crazy, I'm sure this trip is something that he will never forget. I haven't heard his voice, but through other people that have had some sort of very minimal communication, I've heard they're all doing fine. So, only 2 more nights to go and I can't wait to hear all about the trip. Good Night!

Week 24

2008-10-06T11:33:00.002-04:00

I am just now entering Week 24. Only 16 more to go. I've been feeling ok. My ribs really hurt whenever I'm sitting down for too long, so I have to stand up and walk around. Sleeping gets harder. I guess I'm just being prepared for the sleepless nights that are to come. I can't find a comfortable position to sleep in so I spend the whole night tossing and turning. The leg cramps are pretty bad too. Regardless of all of that, I'm really enjoying being pregnant. I'm also anxious for Baby Ian to come because I can't wait to meet him and hold him and see what he looks like. I thank God that everything is going so well even with my very petite frame.

Reaching 100!

2008-09-16T19:57:00.002-04:00

I went to the doctor today and I have for the first time in my life reached 100 pounds. I'm so excited about that!!! I know some might say I'm crazy, but pre-pregnancy, no matter how much I would eat, I wouldn't go past 92 or 93 pounds. I was worried I wouldn't gain enough weight during pregnancy, but the doctor says I'm gaining just enough for my size. So, yay for me!!!

20 Weeks and Counting

2008-09-08T20:31:00.005-04:00

I am 20 weeks pregnant. Officially halfway there unless Ian decides to come a little earlier. God willing he won't. I'm feeling ok. This weekend was kind of rough because we went to Rock the Universe with the young adults and that was too much for me to handle. I got home feeling horrible. My body ached all over, especially my back. It was one hot, exhausting weekend for me. Other than that, everything is going well. Baby Ian is moving a lot. He especially likes to move when I am ready to go to sleep. I have gained a total of about 6 pounds. It's all belly apparently. Well, as promised, here are some pics from the last ultrasound I had done on August 21. This was when we found out we were having a boy. There are also 2 pics of my growing belly. One at 13 weeks and one from this week.Enjoy!

It's a Boy!!!

2008-08-21T22:45:00.002-04:00

This week I am 17 weeks pregnant. Today we went to have the ultrasound done where we were immediately notified that we are having a boy!!!! While we would have been happy with whatever gender the baby would be, I am so happy it's a boy. I had a feeling it would be a boy since I found out I was pregnant and I almost cried when it was confirmed. Everything is going well. Baby Ian is measuring above average. He gets that from his father. I thank God everyday for this little in size, but HUGE blessing He is sending us. We'll have pictures posted soon. :)

14 Weeks

2008-07-28T13:05:00.002-04:00

I am officially out of the first trimester. Yay! I've been feeling a lot better with the exception of lack of sleep. I can't even nap. I've been swimming about 2-3 times a week. Those days I do get really tired and fall asleep without a problem, but other than that, it's been hard to get a full night of sleep. In two weeks we will hopefully find out the sex of the baby. I can't wait because then I'll get to start picking things out for the baby. Anyway...here's what's happening this week.

14 Weeks Pregnant

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

Week 12

2008-07-16T11:02:00.002-04:00

Yesterday we went to the doctor. Everything is going fine. All my tests came back fine. We heard the baby's heart beat again and that's always exciting. I got a third opinion on my chances of giving birth naturally and this is the third doctor that recommends a c-section. I don't want to get into details as to why. All I can say is I'm going to leave it in God's hands. He knows what's best for me and He'll somehow reveal to me what would be better for me and the baby. My blood type is A- so I will have to get a shot at 28 weeks. It's routine. We'll be back August 12 and hopefully we'll know the sex of the baby then. Can't wait. Here's what's going on this week:

The most dramatic development this week: Reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.

Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over two inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.
babycenter.com

12 Weeks Pregnant

What's Up with Miss USA????

2008-07-14T15:43:00.002-04:00

Miss USA at the Miss Universe pageant in 2007.......

Miss USA at the Miss Universe pageant in 2008.....

One year later and a totally different girl. What is going on???

Week #11

2008-07-09T22:12:00.002-04:00

So this past weekend we got to spend a few days away from home. We went to Orlando and got to go to Sea World. I'm sad to say it was not very enjoyable simply because it was so hot! Hopefully we'll get to go some other time and it will be much better. Being away from home for a few days is always a nice thing, however, so we're happy we got to go. Here's what's happening with baby Rivas this week.

Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.

She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

Vote

2008-07-01T11:57:00.001-04:00

Vote on our baby names list.

Week 10

2008-06-30T09:31:00.002-04:00

Yay! Week 10. Only 30 more weeks to go more or less. I'm feeling great. Haven't had any morning sickness for about a week and a half now. I'm on vacation this week and I'm super excited about that. We're going to leave to Orlando on Thursday and come back on Sunday. We'll be going to Sea World on Saturday. It's always nice to get away. Here's what's happening with the baby this week:

10 Weeks Pregnant

Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.
He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.
If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.
In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

Baby's First Picture

2008-06-24T17:07:00.001-04:00

Sorry I skipped Week 8. Either way...I'm in week 9 of my pregnancy right now. All the symptoms are starting to die down and for that I am very grateful. We went to the doctor yesterday and got to see our baby...or what looks more like a little alien right now, but still our precious baby. We also got to hear the heartbeat and that was very exciting. It all became extremely real yesterday to me and I'm sure to Chris also, actually seeing the baby develop. I can say I didn't cry, but definitely got excited. The doctor says everything is fine and he/she is measuring 2.8cm. You do the math. Here's what's going on in week 9.

Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

Summer is Here

2008-06-10T14:57:00.000-04:00

Today I thought I'd write about something besides the pregnancy. I imagine it can get pretty irritating reading about it week after week. I'm so glad the school year is finally over. I survived my first year teaching music and art and while it was a lot of work, it was also a lot of fun. I'm very grateful to have been given the opportunity to work at my church's school with great people and great students. However, I am very glad summer is here. A few months of relaxation. While I will still be working during summer camp, things are different and a little more relaxed. I'm looking forward to my week of vacation and hoping to actually do what it was meant for, relax. No specific plans for the summer, but I think we'll just be spontaneous about it. Can't wait.

7 Weeks

2008-06-09T14:08:00.000-04:00

Thank God the nausea has eased up the last couple of days. I've been eating a lot of peaches and natural strawberry popsicles. I can't live without them. The more time goes by, the more real this all becomes and the more exciting. I catch myself looking in the mirror a whole lot more than I used to. Every time I go to a store I go directly to the baby section. Can't wait to find out what it is. The bad part this week...I have a cold and I had to stay home today because my stuffy nose barely lets me sleep. Other than that, things are going great. I'm loving being pregnant right now and I thank God everyday for this blessing He has sent us.

Here's what's going on this week.

The big news this week: Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs — although they look more like paddles at this point than the tiny, pudgy extremities you're daydreaming about holding and tickling. Technically, your baby is still considered an embryo and has something of a small tail, which is an extension of his/her tailbone. The tail will disappear within a few weeks, but that's the only thing getting smaller. Your baby has doubled in size since last week and now measures half an inch long, about the size of a blueberry.

If you could see inside your womb, you'd spot eyelid folds partially covering his/her peepers, which already have some color, as well as the tip of his/her nose and tiny veins beneath parchment-thin skin. Both hemispheres of your baby's brain are growing, and his/her liver is churning out red blood cells until his/her bone marrow forms and takes over this role. He/She also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. A loop in your baby's growing intestines is bulging into his/her umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from his/her tiny body.

7 Weeks Pregnant

6 Weeks

2008-06-02T19:53:00.000-04:00

6 Weeks Pregnant

6 Weeks pregnant. Time seems to be going by so slow. I guess it's because I'm so anxious to get out of the first trimester and out of all these crazy symptoms. Morning sickness is really kicking in. These past few days have been rough, but I've made it through thanks to God, preggy pop drops, and saltine crackers. I've been rejecting certain foods that I thought I would crave more of. Such as ice cream, cake, anything sweet. Today I went to the doctor. My first visit. I was very nervous, but everything turned out fine. He did a sonogram and he saw something. He tried to show Chris and I where the baby was, but I couldn't see anything. What's important is that he saw it and he says everything seems to be going fine. Either way....here's what's going on this week.

This week's major developments: The nose, mouth, and ears are beginning to take shape. If you could see into the uterus, you'd find an oversize head and dark spots where the baby's eyes and nostrils are starting to form. His emerging ears are marked by small depressions on the sides of the head, and his arms and legs by protruding buds. His heart is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute — almost twice as fast as yours — and blood is beginning to course through his body. His intestines are developing, and the bud of tissue that will give rise to his lungs has appeared. His pituitary gland is forming, as are the rest of his brain, muscles, and bones. Right now, the baby is a quarter of an inch long, about the size of a lentil bean.

www.babycenter.com

5 Weeks

2008-05-27T18:10:00.000-04:00

5 Weeks Pregnant

I am now 5 weeks pregnant and so far, so good. No crazy morning sickness and aside from feeling tired all the time, everything seems to be going fine. I have a doctor's appointment June 2 so I will say more when I know more. I have a crazy feeling it's going to be a boy, but of course, I might be wrong and there's still a long way to go until we get to find out. For now...here's what's going on at 5 weeks.

How the baby's growing:
Deep in the uterus the embryo is growing at a furious pace. At this point, he's about the size of a sesame seed, and he looks more like a tiny tadpole than a human. He's now made up of three layers — the ectoderm, the mesoderm, and the endoderm — which will later form all of his organs and tissues.

The neural tube — from which the baby's brain, spinal cord, nerves, and backbone will sprout — is starting to develop in the top layer, called the ectoderm. This layer will also give rise to his skin, hair, nails, mammary and sweat glands, and tooth enamel.

His heart and circulatory system begin to form in the middle layer, or mesoderm. (This week, in fact, his tiny heart begins to divide into chambers and beat and pump blood.) The mesoderm will also form the baby's muscles, cartilage, bone, and subcutaneous (under skin) tissue.

The third layer, or endoderm, will house his lungs, intestines, and rudimentary urinary system, as well as his thyroid, liver, and pancreas. In the meantime, the primitive placenta and umbilical cord, which deliver nourishment and oxygen to the baby, are already on the job.
www.babycenter.com

Big News!!!

2008-05-14T15:38:00.000-04:00

This week I found out that I'm pregnant with my first child! Chris and I are a bit freaked out, but at the same time very excited. We are very grateful to God. I love children and I've always had the desire to have a few of my own, so here we go. Please keep us in your prayers. So far, no crazy symptoms, but I'm praying it'll all be smooth sailing.

Sunday Afternoon

2008-04-23T22:26:00.000-04:00

I'm very happy to say that on Sunday afternoon we did something else besides eat. We did eat lunch after church, but then Me, Chris, Marien, Naty, Bryan, and Danny went to play some basketball (or attempt to play basketball) and some tennis (or attempt to play tennis). We did, however, manage to break a sweat and have some fun. The funniest thing that happened was when Danny swallowed his gum playing basketball and then managed to get it to come out of his nostril. Pretty funny. The following two days, though my arms and legs hurt quite a bit, I felt like I had accomplished something, which was to get off my booty and enjoy some physical activity out in the sun. This kind of pain was totally worth it and I'm proud of us for getting through the 3 1/2 hours of it.

No More Sun!!

2008-04-08T19:15:00.000-04:00

Last week was Spring Break and for weeks I had planned with my sister that we were going to go to the beach. Soo....on Friday, we went to the beach and it was a beautiful day. It was cloudy and even though I know that's the worse time to get sun, I refused to put on sunblock because the whole purpose of me going to the beach was to get some color. Well....big mistake!!! Those of you that saw me over the weekend know how ridiculously burned I was and still am. I think after 4 nights of not getting the sleep I would like, I will finally and hopefully be able to sleep tonight. No Aloe in the world has been able to give me the comfort I have needed. So, even though the color might be nice, it is definitely not worth the pain. Next time, I will make the sacrifice and go to a tanning salon.

Looking Forward to More Whatever Days

2008-03-31T20:36:00.000-04:00

It was been a while since my husband and I have been able to spend a Saturday together. I was very happy when he called me this Saturday after having left the house early to work a little bit, to tell me that he was going to pick me up to go out. Of course, we didn't have any specific plans or anything so we just decided to do whatever. We drove around, went to Knauss Berry Farm. Picked up some delicious cinnamon rolls. We also went to CP Baseball game. They lost, but it was still fun. Then we had lasagna at Oliver and Marelys' house. The best thing about the whole day is that nothing was planned. We just went with the flow and I absolutely loved it. I'm definitely looking forward to more days like that.

It's Been a While

2008-03-01T23:25:00.000-05:00

Well, it's been a very long time since I've written on here. There are many reasons and excuses, but the top two are....my laptop broke, and I haven't really felt I've had anything to write about. However, great things have been going on in my life and I would like to share them in as little detail as possible. (For those of you that know me, know that my stories come with a lot of detail). We're in a new place. Smaller, but better and God is really blessing us. Penny had 7 puppies on Jan. 22. I'm dying to get rid of them and I have 2 left, so if you that are reading this wants one or knows someone who does, please let me know ASAP. I would really like them out of the house this week. Moving on to more important things. God has been really working in my life. He has shown me great things these past couple of months. A couple of weeks ago, a group of us went to a Young Adults retreat in Lake Yale and it was really eye opening. I received so much from it that it is almost impossible to share it all. I just want to really thank God for all His blessings and for putting me in hard situations. I know that sounds crazy, but it is through those situations that I've been able to just let go and give Him full control. Well, in a nutshell, that's what's going on in my life. :) I'll try to keep writing. Good night!

Excited

2007-11-20T17:49:00.001-05:00

I absolutely love this time of year even though with it comes a lot of work and stress. Thanksgiving is already here and I love all the Thanksgiving food. Last Friday, we had a taste of what's to come because we had our Young Adults Thanksgiving dinner. Most importantly I have a lot to be grateful to God for. The Thanksgiving service at my church is probably my favorite service of the whole year, so I'm looking forward to that. And who doesn't look forward to those couple of days off from work? I have been sent to bed rest for the whole week because I'm sick, but I always look forward to those two days off. Next comes all the Christmas musicals. This was my first year as a music teacher and it's the first time I have had to put together a Christmas musical with the kids. I'm a bit nervous about it, but at the same time excited because I've seen how much hard work the kids have put into learning everything they've had to learn. Then of course, comes my 25th birthday. Big party this year. I can't wait. Then our 2nd Wedding Anniversary. I can't believe so much time has gone by. Of course, Christmas. I looooooooove Christmas. New Year's...... and so on. I will probably gain about 5 pounds this year with all the food, but who cares? I'm just happy to be able to enjoy these upcoming holidays with the ones I love always remembering why it is that I celebrate these days.

Grateful

2007-09-14T19:40:00.000-04:00

To start off, I just want to say that I am extremely grateful to God that my life is so great. I see the things other people have been through in life and it just helps me realize how absolutely blessed I am. I feel like I thank God a lot when he gives me something I ask for, but a lot of times I forget to thank Him for the things I didn't even ask for and He just gave me. So, I just want to take a little moment to share what I'm so thankful to God for this specific week. Health is one. I've been sick with the flu for the past week and God gave me strength to get up and go to work everyday even though I really didn't feel up to it. I am feeling a lot better. I am grateful for family. Sometimes things get a little rough and it's just great to have people there that you can call family that can help you out even if it's just to lend you a shoulder to cry on. And I'm not just talking about blood relatives. I am really grateful for having a roof over my head, a bed to sleep in, food to eat. I am grateful because God provides. I am grateful for soooo many things, but lately, those are the things that have stood out to me and I just wanted to share them.

Miss South Carolina

2007-08-28T18:55:00.000-04:00

Poor girl. It happens to all of us....sometimes we're trying to say something and it doesn't come out right. Usually we have a chance to redeem ourselves, but Miss Teen South Carolina didn't. I can't imagine what she must've felt like knowing how many people were watching and listening. Watch.

Work Work Work

2007-08-15T23:10:00.000-04:00

After 8 months of not working, I have once again started doing something valuable with my time. Not that being at home isn't valuable, I was just getting pretty lazy, waking up at 11am (sometimes later, don't tell Chris), playing with the dogs, watching my soap (Days of Our Lives). Pretty much I was mostly hanging out and even though I don't like to admit it, I was getting pretty anxious to do something else with my life. So, today I started working as the Music teacher at the church school. Kindergarten - 5th grade. I'm really excited about it and even though I know some days it's going to get pretty hectic because of all the church activities that I am involved in at the same time and the house work, I know that God has me there with a purpose and I want to allow Him to use me at my workplace. Please pray for me as the new school year starts. I also want to be able to continue my studies in Sign Language Interpreting and that also takes some time. I need to be able to balance out my time between Husband, home, school, work, church and never forget that I have to put God first above all. :)

Youth Choir Trip Highlights

2007-08-12T23:09:00.000-04:00

Here are some of the crazy things from the trip.

1. Fiugitiva (Way to go Shannon! I Luv U!)
2. Beef Jerky
3. Our neverending devotionals (girls)
4. Ghosts on the fourth floor??? Really???
5. Cookies at the Country Inn...and more cookies
6. Gy Gy, they spelled your name wrong.
7. Louise (Ms. G)
8. "Tengo paz como un rio, tengo paz como un rio, tengo paz como un rio en mi ser...."
9. Elo Luv!
10. Anita and the vending machine....hmmm.
11. Ironing hair and more hair and more hair and more hair.
12. Baells
13. Guys by the pool at 2:30 in the morning!!!!!!!!! Yes, it was a highlight when you look back, but don't ever do it again!
14. Sweating in the sun, knocking from door to door, looking for people to share the gospel with. (Definite highlight)
15. Ally...remember the towel?
16. Getting stuck at 7 Eleven in the rain.
17. All the old people in Sarasota.
18. Food!!
19. Volleyball...switching every 10 points and me not being able to float with the noodle.
20. Leo and I trying to make you all smile.
21. Ana's bracelets
22. Chicken Nuggies (Pointed out by Coryna)
23. And who could forget......Delilah? I think I need to have a talk with her.

Not so much highlights
1. The Pilot by the pool
2. Wendy's...ew
3. And of course......Guys by the pool at 2:30 in the morning!!!!!!!! Still luv you guys though.

Let me know if I forgot anything.

Sooooo many birthdays!!!!

2007-08-10T13:52:00.000-04:00

The month of birthdays in my family has arrived. Josh on the 7th, uncle on the 10th, James on the 15th, Danny on the 18th, Aunt in PR on the 19th, Mom on the 27th, and Chris on the 28th. One party after the other. How exciting and exhausting. Sooooo Happy B-day to all you August people! Those I mentioned and those I didn't, may God Bless you greatly!

We're Baaaack!

2007-08-07T22:51:00.000-04:00

So we got back yesterday afternoon from the youth choir trip. It was great. I am exhausted however. We went to 4 churches. The youth got to Evangelize in Naples. Met a lot of people along the way. One person did stand out. Louise (aka Ms. G). She was an amazing older lady who shared some time with us in Sarasota. She shared a part of her testimony with us and let us invade her house and her pool. I'm sure she made an impact in most of our lives. We had a lot of fun and I can't wait until next year. :)

Youth Choir

2007-07-28T01:09:00.000-04:00

The youth choir at my church has been part of the music ministry for a veeeery long time. I can't say exactly how many years because I really don't know, but I'll round off to about 20 years. I participated in youth choir from when I was in 7th grade until my senior year of high school. We would go every summer on a mission trip. That was something that I really looked forward to. In 2002, my sister and I became the directors of the youth choir. She handles the music direction and I assist her in teaching the notes with the piano and coming up with the choreography. We pretty much work together in picking out the musicals and just organizing everything. It's been great seeing our little brother participate in and enjoy something that we also participated in when we were his age (it wasn't that long ago). I really enjoy being a part of it for many reasons. One of them being that music is such a big part of my life and always has been. God gives us gifts and we have to use them. For the past six years we can really say that we've been blessed. Even when there have been times that we lose motivation. It might be because someone made a comment we didn't like or a youth decides not to participate, but we are quickly reminded why we're doing this. We are allowing God to use us to minister to others through music. On Tuesday, the youth choir is leaving on their annual mission trip. At the beginning of the year we had decided that we were going to New Orleans, but God had other plans. He wanted to keep us here in Florida. We will be going to Tampa, Sarasota, Naples, and Gainesville (not necessarily in that order). I'm really excited to see what great things God is going to do this coming week. The youth will be doing some community service along with evangelism and they have a concert in every church we stop at. They've really shown a lot of excitement about sharing the gospel. I know God is going to use us and I just ask that you pray for every youth and adult that will be going on this trip. That God may start preparing our hearts and preparing the hearts of each and every person that we will be meeting. Also, that He may keep us safe and give peace of mind to the parents that are letting their kids go out without them for the first time. I would like to have all of you pray for the youth, therefore if you're willing to spend some time during the days July 31 - August 6 praying for a youth choir member, let me know and I will give you the name of a youth that you can pray for. Thank you for reading. God Bless!

Hairspray

2007-07-24T18:48:00.000-04:00

For those of you that don't know this already...my sister and I are musical junkies. More her than me. We'd probably go bankrupt living in New York because we would want to see every Broadway musical over and over again. So you can imagine that I've been counting the days until "Hairspray" came out. Finally, last night, we were able to go see it and I absolutely loved it! It was so much fun. An absolutely, incredibly talented cast. The worst part of the movie was the pre-teen girls sitting next to me. Every time Zac Efron (Link) came out they would giggle, clap, and scream a little. It was cute, but at the same time annoying. So if you like musicals, you should definitely go see it.

I Love My Friends

2007-07-23T14:42:00.000-04:00

I can't believe I'm actually writing on this from time to time. Feels nice to write what I'm feeling. It's no coincidence that my favorite bible verse is Ecclesiastes 4:9-10. Look it up. Ok..fine I'll tell you what it says. " Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up.But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" Let's see.....to start off, growing up, I loved having friends and making new friends, but I was never the type of person to maintain friendships. Weird huh? How could someone who loves having friends not be able to maintain them? Mostly because I have such a big mouth and I like to say things like they are. Those of you that know me well and have stuck by me through this, I love you guys! As I've gotten older, I've learned how to hold back a little. Not as much as I would like, but I am really working on that. I would like to thank Chris for letting me know when it's time to close my mouth. I've also learned how to appreciate my friends more. Anyway....after going through so much drama in my teenage years (girls love drama), I decided, I didn't want that in my life anymore. I would much rather have only a few people I can call my close friends instead of trying to make the whole world my friend. Don't get me wrong, it's great to have friends, the more the merrier, but because I'm such an emotional person, I prefer to avoid getting hurt. Yes, I have trust issues when it comes to friendships. And...it really hurts me when someone was calling themselves my friend 2 weeks ago, but today they won't even say hello. The worse part is trying to figure out why. A lot of people don't actually have the guts to come up to you and tell you what you did wrong. If you're reading this, and you consider yourself my friend...please tell me if I've done anything to upset you or hurt you. Don't just stop talking to me. I want to know. That's how relationships grow. You say things...and you say them with love. That is one thing I definitely have to learn. I have so many things to work on. I know. But mostly when it comes to relationships with people, here's what I want to be able to accomplish: 1. Forgiveness. I have a really hard time forgiving people who have hurt me in the past. I want to be able to let go and just move on. 2. Love. I want to be able to show love to EVERYBODY. It's one thing to think you love someone, one thing to say you love someone, and it's a totally different thing to actually show it to someone. Even when someone has hurt me, or someone just doesn't talk to me, I want to be able to show love and compassion towards that person. 3. Silence. I want to be able to say things only when it's appropriate to say them and I want to able to say them the right way. If I can't say it the way it's supposed to be said, then I need to stay silent. So those are 3 things I want to work on. I really want to take this blog and use it to let some of you know that I love you guys and I really appreciate you. If I leave you out, don't get offended. Just think of it as a way to start working on our friendship. Starting with....of course, God! #1 in my life because He is the only one who has never and will never let me down. Next...Chris, I love you! You've been my best friend since before we started dating. My sister and brother...Marien and Danny...I know I don't say it enough...but I love you siblings. Naty and Bryan. I love you guys and appreciate you letting me vent with you sometimes. You just sit there and take it. :) Yesenia. Really appreciate your friendship. Don't forget I got all 10 questions right at your Bridal Shower. Leo and Itch. Yes....believe it or not, your names get mentioned too. You think you're only Chris' friends, but you're mine too. Kristine...even though we had a couple of years of distance...I am really thankful to God for bringing you and Jose back into our lives. So....I love you guys. And again, if your name wasn't mentioned, don't feel bad. I'll work on mentioning it in the future. :)

Girls and Guys

2007-07-21T00:11:00.000-04:00

Well...I'm trying to think of a way to express my thoughts without coming off too critical or judgemental or even too mean. I'm not even sure if anyone reads this, but hopefully someone will understand what I'm trying to say. Lately....well, I guess for the past year I've noticed the behavior of certain girls in the church. I like to call it, the "body massage." There are many single young girls in the church. Most of the ones I'm talking about are in their twenties and what I've noticed is the way they say "hi" to the guys at church. It's almost a full body massage. They get very physical. Sometimes they even sit on their laps. They hug for a large amount of time. As they talk to them, their arm is wrapped around their waist. They don't even do this with just the single guys. They act this way with guys who have girlfriends too. It's kind of disturbing. What's worse is that the guys actually allow this. Yes! Even the ones with girlfriends. I don't know about everyone else, but I sure wouldn't want a girl to come up to my husband and put her hands all over him. I know we need to have love for each other and a lot of us have been raised to say hello with a hug and a kiss. I just think these people are taking it a step too far and it doesn't seem right. Some of these girls at times serve as leaders to some youth activities and what kind of example are they setting for the younger girls? It's like I was taught as a youth .....one little thing can lead to much worse and I really want to urge the girls who read this to watch the way you treat men or guys or boys. Whatever age you are. Have some self-respect. It is so precious to wait for that special someone that God has saved for you. Please be aware of what you're doing. Remember that your bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit. It's in the way you dress, it's in the way you speak, it's in your actions with the opposite sex. Again, I don't want to come off too judgemental, I just need to vent.

My First Post

2007-07-18T00:04:00.000-04:00

So I've started a blog. Knowing me I'm not sure if I'll keep it going, but I'll try. Good things are going on right now. I have a new job which I'll be starting on August 15. I'm really excited about that because I'll be dealing with two things I absolutely love, music and children. I haven't worked for 7 months, so I have to start getting used to waking up early again and not at noon everyday. The little girls dance team at church is such a blessing. For the past couple of months I've been teaching some girls from church a couple of worship dances. There are 8 girls ages 3-10 coming every wednesday to class. The younger ones like to call it "Ballet class" even though I barely have a clue as to what ballet really is, but I love watching them learn and pay attention and just watching the excitement on their faces every time they dance. Youth Choir is going good. We are leaving on our annual concert tour in a couple of weeks. We will be going to Sarasota, Tampa, Naples, and Gainesville. They will be presenting a concert and going out into the cities presenting the Gospel and doing community service. We've encountered a couple of obstacles, but we know that God is in control and He's going to use these youth to bring people to His feet. So I guess that's all I have to say for now. Check out Chris' page www.thecrivas.blogspot.com. Until next time.