Friday, December 31, 2010

Hello 2011! It sure is good to see you

2010 has been one of the most challenging years in my life. Challenge is an amazing thing. Challenge defined is: a call to engage in strength. Reflecting on this past year there have been so many valleys compared to last year. 2009 was a year of mountain tops for me it seemed... but 2010 has been a year of many valleys. But you know what? I am so thankful! I am THANKFUL for the valleys. As i prayed this morning this song came to me and I'm sure
most of you know it by heart:

Through it All
I've had many tears and sorrows,
I've had questions for tomorrow,
There've been times I didn't know right from wrong:
But in every situation God gave blessed consolation
That my trials come to only make me strong.

I've been to lots of places,
And I've seen a lot of faces,
There've been times I felt so all alone;
But in my lonely hours,
Yes, those precious lonely hours,
Jesus let me know that I was His own.

I thank God for the mountains,
And I thank Him for the valleys,
I thank Him for the storms
He brought me through;
For if I'd never had a problem
I wouldn't know that He could solve them,
I'd never know what faith in God could do

Through it all, through it all,
I've learned to trust in Jesus,
I've learned to trust in God;
Through it all, through it all,
I've learned to depend upon His Word.

Singing this song at the top of my lungs... If i never had a problem- i wouldn't know that God could solve them... now THAT makes sense.

So Goodbye 2010. Thank you for the challenge. I am leaving you much stronger!

I'm ready for a new year... some new valleys, some new mountain tops, some new problems and some more problems solved.

Hello 2011! It sure is good to see you!

Merry Christmas 2010

Hi Everyone! I just wanted to share with you some of the memories we made this year. We have been having the time of our lives with family.

Jayden helping Daddy untangle the Christmas Lights :)

Everyone decorating the tree
Jayden had more fun taking stuff off rather than putting it on.
The finished product
Christmas Eve is always spent with my Dads Family in San Luis. Its always so good to see everyone
Another Christmas Tradition: Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve. This is such a special service for all of us at my Gramma Ruths Church. Singing by candlelight is the highlight of my entire year!
Jayden of course loved this part too. I'm pretty sure he didn't take his eye off the flame the entire time :)

Christmas with my Moms Family :) Here's Papa with Kaylee
and Gramma with Kaylee
and Jayden was spoiled by his Great Papa
and here is me roasting chestnuts over an open fire.... :) LOL! This was for my hubby who was listening to that song... "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..." He asked me what it meant. So i remember roasting chestnuts with my papa when i was little so i said - hey, why not now... so we went to the store an hour before it closed and bought some chestnuts... pretty awesome

Christmas Day at my Mom and Dads with Auntie Hannie and Uncle Jerry
Giving Sissy tons of Christmas Mornin' Love :)
Gotta love his smile
Sissy chewin' on Auntie
Little Misses...
Merry Christmas to all... Hope you had a wonderful time with family and friends.

Much Love,
The Gonzales Family

Christmas Outreach

So before all the Christmas Chaos began- we had all of our neighbors over for an Open House Christmas Party. This was such a great way to reach out and get to know all of the people in our little complex. There was a ton of baking to do and tamale making that i thought would never end! Seriously! So here are a few pics. I didn't get too many of the people because i was pretty busy in the kitchen and with my two kiddos. Enjoy.


Gingerbread Rice Krispie Treats
Homemade everything :) Chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cookies, vanilla candy crunch, apple pie, cherry pie... etc....

Homemade Chocolate Cream Pie with Homemade Peanut Butter Bon Bons... omw.





Tamales were AMAZING!
Homemade Salsa.... oh ya


Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Christmas Time Is Here....

Happiness.... and Cheer....
ESPECIALLY AT THE GONZALES HOUSEHOLD!

Me and Hubby recently treated ourselves to a trip to Disneyland (with no kiddos). We had such a good time together...


Our Children look nothing alike right now... one dark... one light...
i have no idea whats going on here.....

My Princess!


My Doofus!


And a Happy 19th Bday to My Sissy :)
Kendra Linea