Wednesday, April 27, 2011

5 Things About Me Today

1. I need to stop going to bed at 11:30pm. Way too late. That is way too close for midnight and every day I promise to go to bed early the following night and it doesn’t happen. 70 percent of the time, the TV is not even on and I still end up going to bed late. I have to stop this cycle before my teeth turned way too yellow.

2. Yesterday we had 8 Tornadoes, 19 cities had hail and 7 had wind damage around the metroplex. For the last two weekends, we have heard the tornado sirens go off and the weather guys are saying that this coming Saturday night; we are having another round of storms, with a high possibility of tornados. I still believe is a blessing to live in Texas.

3. The hammock is hanging on our backyard and the girls love it. Getting them off is a problem.

4. I’m seeing a grief consular through Stephen Ministries. Hard-core stuff.

5. My Plantar Fasciitis is at 5%!!!! This means that I can run! And I have! I’m running a mile only at 14.25. I have cut two minutes!!!! I’m on my way. I had to buy these really really really expensive insoles for my running shoes that support my very high arch and it is working! I have no pain!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Bullying the Boy Scouts

Liable for Doing the Right Thing

By: Chuck Colson
Published: April 25, 2011

I’ve been warning you that the current push to legitimize homosexual conduct and so-called gay “marriage” represents today’s greatest threat to religious liberty. I’ve told you about attacks against iPhone apps for the Manhattan Declaration and Exodus International, as well as a boycott of Chick-fil-a.


Their crime? Supporting marriage as only between a man and a woman and having the temerity to not support so-called gay "marriage."

The Boy Scouts’ politically incorrect stands on homosexuality and atheism have long put this great organization in the extremists’ cross-hairs, and now the pressure is getting even more intense.

The Scouts prohibit open homosexuals from serving as leaders. That’s because the organization believes that “homosexual conduct is inconsistent with the obligations in the Scout Oath and Scout Law to be morally straight and clean in thought, word, and deed.”

How’s that for straight talking, friends?

But now, in the St. Louis area, parent associations working with the public schools are severing ties with local Scouting groups rather than face the risk of lawsuits alleging -- you guessed it -- discrimination based on sexual orientation.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, in March, the Missouri PTA advised all of its 420 member units to stop hosting charters with the Boy Scouts because the agreements put them in legal jeopardy.

An official with the state PTA said the advice to local associations is not a criticism of the Scouts but rather flows from the liability issue. The official said, “We’re not telling them, you absolutely can’t. “We’re saying, it’s not in your best interest to do that.” A Scouting spokesman, however, says insurance provided by the Boy Scouts would preclude any financial or legal jeopardy to PTA sponsors.

But for cash-strapped schools and PTAs, just the threat of a lawsuit is enough to get them to abandon the Boy Scouts. And the gay-rights groups know it.

In fact, in the name of fighting discrimination, the gay-rights extremists are working overtime to shut down -- to discriminate against -- one of America’s finest organizations, which aims “to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes.”

In other words, the Scouts want to help youngsters in “Doing the Right Thing,” which just happens to be the title of the six-part video series on the restoration of ethics in America we’ve just released at the Colson Center. It’s available now at DoingTheRightThing.com.

So what are we Christians to do amid this latest controversy? One thing’s for certain. We can’t cut and run, which is exactly what the gay-rights extremists are hoping we will do.

Here are a couple of suggestions. First, pray for the Scouts, that they will be able both legally and financially to practice their beliefs in our supposedly free society. Second, send money or donate your legal expertise to help whenever these harassing lawsuits arise. And third, support your local Boy Scout troop. Become a Scoutmaster or other volunteer.

The Boy Scouts have served God, country, and all of us for all these years. Now it’s our turn -- and privilege -- to serve them.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Movies We Watch


Movie: Get Low

Out of all the mediocre movies we have seen, there is Get Low. Starting Robert Duvall as the old crooner who lives in the woods alone for about 40 years, why? No one knows and everyone has judged him as crazy until Felix Bush (Duvall) decides to throw a living funeral service to find out what people truly say about him. However, at the funeral, we find out why Felix Bush has been in solitude for 40 years. I would sum up this story as a story of forgiveness. Truly one of the best movies of 2009. I totally recommend this movie. Very funny at times. Bill Murray plays the Funeral Director, he's outstanding!

We give it 4 stars!





Movie: All About My Mother

This movie is what not to watch. I love foreign movies but this foreign movie from Spain, Penelope Cruz stars as a Nun who becomes pregnant by a travesty and to hide it she tells her parents she's going on a mission to El Salvador! of all countries, she's replacing the nuns that were just killed during the civil war. No positive message or nothing to learned from except that I have never heard of a Nun sleeping with travesties! Whatever!

We give it ZERO stars!!!

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Raul And Chaziree

Raul and Chaz wedding day!

 Here comes the beautiful bride! I loved her veil! Made by Chaz herself! I have to say very original! and the dress gorgeous!



Mr. and Mrs. Solis 

10 years ago, Chaz was in my wedding! Who would have thought this day would come so soon! 

We are proud of you and you can always on our support and love! 

We love you Vanessa! 

Sofia couldn't stop looking at Chaz, Sofia called her, Sleeping Beauty.





At the Fort Worth Zoo!

We decided we needed a family vacation day, therefore, we decided to go to the Ft. Worth Zoo before the weather got way too hot for our girls.
It is hard to make Raquel smile. She has this serious look, I have no idea who she got it from....

The stroller we rented only lasted for about 15 minutes and they didn't want it anymore, Sofia and Raquel wanted to walk, so we ditch the stroller. 


Raquel: I don't see nothing! 

that look again... 

Sofia watching the Gorilla sleeping. 

The Ft. Worth zoo has dinasours all over the park and all of them roar, made Sofia nervous. 

Raquel: "I'm hungry! Feed me!! 


I'm a Princess! 



At the Caroussel, Raquel didn't want to get on the horse at all. 

At the Train! 


Feeding the birds!

Raquel with the same expression she started with...



After our long day at the Zoo, we finished it off eating at Sundance Square! 



Sundance Square was happening!  

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

A Call to Grace

Why 'The Grace Card' Is the Best Recent Christian Movie
By: Esther J. Archer

The slew of Christian-themed movies hitting theaters in recent years has caused different reactions from moviegoers. Some of these movies are done well, and others make you walk away from the theater ashamed that you paid the price of admission and popcorn.

The Grace Card, in this author’s opinion, is the best film in this recent trend because it is authentic, and instead of throwing “God” in the face of the viewer, it displays God’s grace for all to see.

Mac McDonald's life is falling apart. His wife is seeing a counselor because of their marital and family issues, he was passed over for a promotion in the Memphis police department because of his attitude, and his son is using drugs and failing out of private school. Mac believes all of his problems started with the accidental death of his other son 17 years earlier, when he was hit by a suspect during a police chase.

What Mac does not realize is that bitterness and racism have been overtaking his heart and alienating him from those that love and care for him. To make matters even worse, he's forcibly partnered with the African-American man who received his promotion. Now they have to spend countless hours a day on patrol with each other.

Sam, an African-American minister, is an officer for the Memphis Police Department because his new church cannot afford to bring him on full time. His heart is torn between doing "the Lord's work" and the "worldly" job that allows him to pay the bills and feed his family. Now his new partner Mac is taking things out on him, and Sam has a crisis of faith. How can he as a representative of God, not only in the pulpit but in his daily life, hate his brother?

It confuses and hurts Sam that Mac’s hatred, distrust, and emotional detachment toward him are undeserved. Even when they are in pursuit of an armed gunman, Mac breaks protocol and goes it alone without Sam as backup.

Sam realizes that he acts “nice” towards Mac, but he knows his inner motivation is not love, so his niceness is of no lasting value. He considers quitting the force altogether and just trusting God to provide the money for his ministry, but he has no clear direction from God about whether he should leave. It takes a visit with his grandfather and a look at an old family document to shift Sam’s focus and start a chain reaction of grace.

The Grace Card may be a Christian movie, but it is one with great audacity. It does not tread lightly around issues of racism, forgiveness, and grace. This is a challenging movie for those on both sides of prejudice. It demonstrates that bitterness or wrong feelings toward anyone because of his or her ethnicity, personality, or beliefs is not acceptable behavior from a civilized human being, let alone a believer in God.

On the other side of the coin, it calls for those who have been wronged to forgive the offender and give grace, especially if the other person’s attitude is still seeped in sin and bitterness. If we only love those who like or love us, what use is our love to the world? We are called by Christ to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). However, most of the time we tend to respond in our flesh and return evil for evil.

The feel of this movie is authentic and simply perfect. Immediately, from the opening credits, you sense the Memphis blues feel in the air. The cinematography is beautiful and gritty, a mirror image of the city. The acting is a bit campy in parts, but Louis Gossett, Jr., as Sam's grandfather, gives the class and stability the movie needed to make it an excellent viewing choice. Watching the story unfold (with a few surprise twists!) was an enjoyable experience, leading me to strongly recommend it both for movie lovers and for those who love grace.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Five on Friday - Clean

1. What’s in need of a good cleaning?

My bedroom. The first thing, John and I need to do is put wood floor in there. Second, get rid of his dresser. I hate it. Third, get rid of my blinds and put curtains. Four, get a new sink. I hate my room!


2. What’s your idea of good, clean fun?

Picking up my plate in front of John, and licking it until is all clean. That's when you know the food you ate was delicious! and because it grosses John out. I do it intentionally.

3. How clean is your driving record?

100% w/out blemish as of today.

4. When did you last make a clean escape?

I don't remember when I last escape anything...I don't remember anything at all anymore, that's what babies do to your brain.

5. What are your feelings about dirty language?
 
When I hear people cursing left and right it makes me like they don't have any class or character. I confess I used to curse like a sailor but I quickly realized it made me look pretty bad and I turned off a lot of people because of it.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Life is a Love Story

Heartbroken without answers, you are gone and I seek answers that I can't find alone. You scarred me for life when all I was seeking was love and acceptance. You left without uttering a word and all I have is the scars you inflicted upon me. Did you ever love me? Did you ever accepted who I am? I'm struggling through anger seeking refuge in the arms of the Lord; my hope is that someday, I find peace and understanding.

--------------------------

You need Me. I need you.

My broken world needs you. Many a weary troubled heart needs you. Many a troubled heart will be gladdened by you, drawn nearer to Me by you both.

Health--Peace--Joy--Patience--Endurance, they all come from contact with Me.

Oh! it is a glorious way, the upward way, the wonderful discoveries, the tender intimacies, the amazing, almost incomprehensible, understanding.  Truly the Christian Life--Life with Me--is a Lovestory. Leave all to Me.

All you have missed you will find in Me, the Soul's Lover, the Soul's Friend, Father--Mother--Comrade--Brother. Try Me.

You cannot make too many demands upon Me--nor put too great a strain upon My Love and Forbearance.

Claim, claim, claim Healing--Power--Joy--Supply--what you will.