Blessings!

I read in a book by Richard G. Scott that we should record our spiritual experiences so that we will always remember them. The reason for this blog is for me to record my experiences in life, spiritual and not spiritual so that I can remember them.

I have been thinking about this experience and how sacred it was to me and didn't know if I should share it or not. I have decided to share it.  I had a beautiful spiritual experience at church on Sunday the 23rd of October and I don't want to forget it.  I have been trying really hard to concentrate in the Sacrament. While I sing the Sacrament hymn I try to think of the words on the hymn. I have been trying hard to think of the Savior and His atonement. I have also been trying to focus more on the talks and now that Conner is older and listens better and doesn't interrupt me while I am trying to listen, it is so much easier to pay attention. There were great talks given on this particular Sunday. The talks ended a little early and although Brent was not conducting he felt he needed to get up and bear his testimony.  Because Brent is the Bishop, Conner and I sit in the front of the chapel, right in front of Brent so that we can see each other and be close. He has always been a very good speaker and this time was no exception. His words were so beautiful and it touched my soul deeply. When he sat down I just looked at him and this feeling of love came over me, it was as if my spirit was looking into his spirit. I think for a minute I got a glimpse of how Heavenly Father loved Brent because the love I felt was intense. It is so hard to put into words how I felt. As I was looking at him he looked over at me and he just started crying, we both felt this wonderful feeling of love as we sang the closing hymn "Love at Home". I don't know what I did so that Heavenly Father would bless me with such a wonderful husband.  It is such a blessing for me when I see him magnify his calling of Bishop and put his heart and soul into doing what Heavenly Father has asked him to do. Being Bishop and Bishop's wife is not easy. We sacrifice a lot of our time, many days we only see each other for a few minutes. When we are asked to do things that stretch us beyond our ability it is when we grow the most. The thing that we are asked to do may not be easy but when we do it, Heavenly Father is there to help us and then He pours out His blessings upon us. We are not perfect by any means, we will never attain perfection here on this earth but we can always try to do our best. I say this with all humility and not to make ourselves feel better than anyone. I know that God loves me and Brent, I felt it. I have no doubt of that. I am thankful for these experiences because they help me know that we are not alone and that Heavenly Father is there for us. I look back and think of that 21 year old Maria, widowed, single mother, scared of the future, of being alone, thinking the blessings spoken of in my Patriarchal blessing and doubting that they would ever happen.  Heavenly Father had a better plan for me. It is through those trials that if we are patient and wait on the Lord's timing, blessings do come. I am eternally grateful to my Heavenly Father for my husband, to me, he came into my life and saved me.

Denver was born.

Our newest grandson Denver was born on November 3, 2016. He weighed 9 lbs. 8 oz. and was 21 1/4 inches long.  We are happy he is a healthy baby. We love him so much and we are grateful Heavenly Father have blessed us with such beautiful grandchildren.

Fun times!

The youth of our ward at the temple to do baptisms. 

Spending time with my uncles and my cousins. Tio Carlos, Tio Tito (Vicente), my cousins Esther Marie, Lydia Esther and Kiki (Alberto)

Happy day for Conner!

On October 24th was Conner's last day of Occupational therapy. This past summer was his last time with Speech therapy. He had been in Speech therapy since he was 7 and Occupational therapy since he was 8. We are so happy he is done. He has improved so much in his social skills and his muscle tone. He is very strong now.

Conner all ready for school. This was the first day he tied his own tie. We are so happy!

Painting furniture

For a long time now I have needed to paint Parker's nightstand to match the bed frame that we bought him but I was too afraid to mess it up. It wasn't until this past summer that I heard of chalk paint for furniture and how easy it supposedly was to use. It took me a long time to get the courage to do it. So around the second week in October I tried it and I was very happy with the results. It was easy so I decided to paint Conner's desk also. I really like the black color. We bought Conner a bigger bed and organized his bedroom. We hung his art that he painted at school and one that he did at a church activity. I am very happy with how his bedroom turned out.

Our life lately:

I have been so busy lately!! I have been wanting to update my blog but I just didn't seem to find the time. Finally today I had some free time to blog.

We had our first parent-teacher conference. On that day the students dress up in their formal uniform so here is Conner looking handsome.

With Mrs. Anderson his homeroom teacher

Brent's cousin Kathryn came to our church one Sunday without knowing it was our Ward. Fun surprise!

Conner learned to make these Chocolate snow balls at school and made them at home for us.

Conner petsat Cici for the Peterson family while they were on vacation. Cici escaped one day because Conner thought the door to the cage was closed but he had forgotten to lock it. We looked for her all day but cold not find her. At night Brent said the family prayer and asked that she might be found. A few seconds later Brent found her under the table in the kitchen. Our prayer was answered!!! Such wonderful experience for us and for Conner to see that prayers are answered and God loves us and remembers us. 

General conference, Conner taking notes and looking at the General Authorities pictures with facts on them. He has been doing this for a few years now.

The picture on our TV of Hurricane Matthew on its way to our house.

Making dinner and juicing prior to the hurricane, just in case we were without power.

Hurricane Matthew. Our pool screen was damaged, we paid $1200 in repairs, we are thankful that that was all the damage we had. 

Parker and his BYU roommates being silly.

Update! My birthday, Scouts, Ward activity, meeting my cousin for the first time!

Pack meeting in August for Conner.

Conner got Third place in the pinewood derby

 We had a fun Ward activity. Pancake breakfast and water games for the kids and also Bingo.

Notes for the missionaries serving from our Ward

I have doing some decorating and updating, nothing too big just simple things.

My bedroom vanity.

I upholstered the stool for my vanity. It was a green fabric that was totally outdated.

 We painted the half bath in gray.

I met my second cousin, Allysan Mcguire Gonzalez. She lives in Orlando but we had never met. Her mother Haydee and my dad are first cousins.

 Every year I wear a new birthday outfit to church. This one I got at the BYU bookstore.

Birthday lunch with my friends Natty and Johanna at Brent's office. Natty is Brent's secretary and because she is so busy on the 15th of September we had to have lunch at the office. We had my favorite, Panera!

 My 51st birthday.

 We went to dinner and Conner actually ate a steak and fries and he even had banana cream pie for the first time.