Created to be ... a handywoman?

Do you clench at the idea of power tools, nails ,screws and hard labor as being part of your lady duties?
Are you unacquainted with the tools in your garage? Do you think a stud finder is some lucky lady that has an eye for good looking guys? if your response is yes to all the above, we are in trouble my friend!
Growing up without a dad or brothers in the house, my sisters and I learned early in life that if you couldn't fix it nobody would. To make matters worse I didn't have the luxury of having "tools" per say,we were poor back in Colombia and couldn't afford even the basics of instruments: rocks or pieces of wood did the job for a hammer, anything with a point like knives served as screwdrivers both flat and Phillips.We never owned a power drill but yet in the middle of this cave-like environment I learned to take machines apart to see how they worked, I became a fan of owner's manuals( they are essential reading to me) and I got used to tackle jobs that normally girls wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole.
Personally I think guys like a woman who can fend for herself in some areas and is not afraid of getting dirty. As a matter of fact after I met my husband, he found me one day mixing concrete up on top of my roof in the process of installing a TV antenna. He jokes telling me that was one of the signs that I was THE ONE for him.

I'm all for feminine stuff, to be lady -like and know your way around the kitchen. Covering all the basics from cleaning to cooking, ironing to mending socks, knitting, scrapbooking, teaching, tending to children, I believe women are capable of amazing things! When it comes to home improvement though, I'm afraid many are in the dark.

After all why bother? I have my man to do that kind of job! But wait a minute: What if hubby is away at work and your house is flooding and you don't know where the main shut off valve is? or how about if there's a power outage and you don't know how to reset your utility box? or switch a power breaker back on? Will you spend the rest of the day without electricity until hubby comes home? How about those times when your honey -do list is soooo long ,your husband doesn't have time to hang that picture or repair that leaky faucet? Will you endure the wait?

I don't think a little knowledge of basic DIY would hurt any woman, if anything it would be of great benefit. I happen to have a husband that is very good at getting to my honey -do list very quickly, but there are times when he's at work and I get to do jobs I believe I can do on my own and this makes him very proud of me. I heard a very wise lady say: Don't complain to your husband about the leaky faucet, go ahead and fix it yourself! She goes a little further as to say that women need to know basic mechanics and how to change oil in a car and replace a tire. It's a matter of survival!

But how? you say. Well, when you go to the home improvement store grab a book of basic DIY. Ask questions, Watch a DIY show on TV, not just the ones about pretty designs but the one where they teach you how to replace a toilet ( my favorite shows are This Old house and Ask This old House). By the way, another way to learn is tackling a job with hubby, watch while he works or figure it out together and the best part: you save money doing it yourselves.

My husband and I have replaced a toilet, faucets, light fixtures, ceiling fans; installed a garage door opener and many more together, I read the manual and we brainstorm the plan together, he does most of the manual work but at the end we both have the satisfaction of a job well done.

I believe God has created us to be help meets for our husbands not just in the things that pertain to the "women's work" of the household but also to be partners in working along side of them to improve and beautify our homes. So , give it a try and get the power tools out! you are in for a treat!

Love Letters from Abba Father...

You are my chosen one

My precious daughter,

Today I'll meet you, today I'll hear your voice. I almost can't bear the wait. How sweet is to embrace you, I long for the music of your voice, for the cool of the night when I come to talk to you; when your eyes light up at the sight of my presence. Nothing can spoil the moment, time is standing still , I run to our encounter...

My heart ached when I reached our meeting place and you were no longer there , you went away, your feet ran after men's approval and desire , you went through life thirsty and lonely , giving away pieces of your soul, wishing that someone would tell you how much they loved you and how beautiful you were to them, I'm the only one who can express genuine, unconditional love and care for you. I left a void inside of you that only I can fit into, I'm the only one who can satisfy you. I recognize your beauty because I created you and I look not to the outside but I look into your heart. How beautiful you are to me!

I clothed you with my love and my favor . I invited you to my table. Next to me is where you belong . I bask on your praise. Your worth is far above rubies.

As my daughter you have the key to my heart, I gave you thousands of clues in my Word on how to please me and countless rewards I have in store for you when you obey me.

I've given you my all, for you I left the heavens, for you I endured pain and shame, I hung unto that cross just to make you mine . Any day I would do it all over again. Give me your heart my precious one. I long to walk beside you , I already know everything about you but I want you to know me better. You are my chosen one, I chose you ...

Why I don't own a pair of Stilletos...

Simple: They don't fit my line of work. Construction workers wear boots that have a metal point so if something heavy drops on their toes, they are not crushed in the process. Doctors and nurses wear clogs for comfort and sanitary reasons. My footwear is a mix between barefooted, flip flops or slippers, with the occasional formal shoe. You just can't run after a toddler on high heels. I have nothing against prettying up for a night on the town with hubby; high heels and stilettos aren't just my cup of tea. Maybe is because of what they represent to me; the world of fashion and glamour that is shoved down our throats daily by media all around. A world that is all about me, myself and I.

Big corporate jobs and fast paced lifestyles. A world that leaves the everyday mom looking like an ancient museum artifact. I recently realized that I am among a breed of endangered species kind of mommies. Those who opted to raise large families for God. The ones that simply don't fit the standard of today's society's 1.5 children families. We are like that piece of the puzzle that shows up when you're done and wonder :where did this come from? A rare but very precious group of individuals who have decided to lay it all down for the cause of Christ, yet are by no means perfect or holier than others.

There's something particular about this individuals though, they're the ones who silently but firmly are shaping the next generation, passing on the life skills their children will need to have successful marriages and families. They 're the ones that are not worried about fitting into beauty contests but yet they are beautiful in all sorts of ways. They make tough choices when it comes to money and how to spend it but they rather have more school books than a big plasma TV. They don't mind not driving the latest sports car but over sized converted vans; they choose to ignore the crude comments and voices of criticism from others that don't understand their decision of obedience, but walk chin facing up knowing their reward is waiting for them at the end of the narrow road.

Let me be clear that if your family size is small by nature or by choice I am not judging you in any way. This decision is elective and personal and I'm in no way imposing it on anyone.

I thank God that He has given my husband a heart that loves children and from the very beginning has been leading us on this journey with the necessary faith to welcome each of our little ones. As a personal testimony I would share that if finances is what is stopping you from following your heart in respect of children, let your heart not be troubled. I believe God provides for every child as it comes in to your family. A not so long time ago we were living in a tiny two bedroom apartment in a basement with three children and one on the way, it was tough but I'm glad we didn't look at this situation and decided to wait until we had the whole American dream complete before we could start having our children. Now we live in a beautiful house and own our business, with six children and open hearts for more in the future.

The other day we went out to dinner with our family to an Italian restaurant and as soon as they heard there was 8 people in our party they started to prepare the"big group" room, they reserve it for big groups only ,there was only one in the entire place and guess what? It was ours, we felt treated like royalty in this home style room all for us. There are benefits to having a large family, one of my favorites is when we travel, they don't let us wait with the rest of the people,they rush us to the front of the line. Family discounts, among other things, but the richest benefit I find it to be the opportunity to share your faith with others that look with unbelief at your family and wonder how can you afford it or handle it for that matter?.

If you are one of my fellow quiver full warrior moms, take heart, The Lord has called you to raise a godly generation, and He will not leave you alone or ashamed. Is it easy? No way!! But as I've discovered over the years when I look at the fruits I have in my children, the reward of your labor is sweet.

Lo, Children are a blessing from the Lord, the fruit of the womb His reward. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. Psalm 127

Kids Do the Darndest Things!

Let me know if you're with me on this one:

The other day my three year old son saw me adding egg shells to my flower pots, he asked me why and I answered that they help the flowers grow really pretty; say no more mom! Well ,yesterday, while trying to nap (notice I did not say while napping) I woke up to the sound of commotion and found out he had taken a whole brand new 12 egg carton, broke the eggs in the kitchen sink and counter and then had taken all the shells and placed them in the pots. This and other particular episodes in my history as a mom made me realize I need to make a written recollection to make sure I don't forget them (some others I blocked them out already).

Like the time when my daughter decided to serve herself cereal in a mixing bowl emptying a whole bag of cereal and half a gallon of milk into it... priceless.

Or how about when one of my sons decided it would be a good idea to play with the contents of his dirty diaper...sweet memory.

Or the time the same three year old went ahead and gave himself and his sister a haircut while I was running errands in the car.

My memory goes back to all of this moments of amazing "discoveries"( I mean when I actually discover what had happened) and I can't recall happy feelings at the moment but I know that they made me a mother, that woman that no matter what you do loves you unconditionally.

There were some lessons learned along these series of unfortunate events like: never leave a two year old alone with your make-up bag; or when things get pretty quiet in the next room ,there might be trouble brewing; among my favorite lessons are those of crime and punishment and sometimes forgiveness and compassion. They gave me an opportunity to reassess my weak points and prepare for future scenarios. But my number one by far is to never stop praying for angels that would watch over my children. I can't be in all places at all times but I trust God is bigger to send angels that would break their falls and would keep them out of trouble. I know there is an army of them standing by around here.

Beautiful in His eyes...

Letters from Abba Father...
My daughter,
While I was creating the universe, you were in my thoughts , while I was speaking this world into being ,you were already in the blueprint of my mind; though I made every creature amazing in itself and every other wonder to reflect my majesty, I reserved the best of my design for you, my own image to reflect my heart of love: I chose to put the twinkling of the stars in your eyes, I imagined every line in your face like the mountains and valleys that I made, I gave you eyes that can see me, ears to hear my voice, a mouth that would praise me , hands that I could hold, feet that would run to me, a heart that will love me eternally and a spirit that will long for my presence; I created you for me ,I created you beautiful indeed , not like this world defines its beauty but by the sweetness of your gentle spirit.
I also made you with a purpose and a destiny,my desire is to fullfill my will in your life and bring you to the place I designed you for, You are precious to me.

As you can attest, time makes youth and beauty fade away but yet what remains is unfading deep inside of you, that part of me that your eyes can't see. I wish for a moment that you could see yourself they way I do; that every time you look at your reflection in the mirror and are tempted to be discontent with what's in front of you ,you would remember that I made you uniquely special , there's no one in the whole world that compares to you . You are my daughter , you are beautiful in my eyes.

Proverbs 31:30 Song of Songs 4: 1

Finding joy in unexpected places

It's past midnight and I find myself doing my bedtime rounds: fold the laundry, put the last load in the dryer, turn on the dishwasher, last wipe and pick up around the kitchen counter, I grab my water bottle and up the stairs I go, turning in for the night; tomorrow I'll do it all over again...

It seems like there could be little to no joy found in these mundane tasks of the everyday life.
Another dirty diaper to change, changing clothes on a child just minutes after you got them showered and dressed ?! or wiping messes that seem to appear out of nowhere like magic. Why even bother to clean the floor? It's going to get messy again ! Sometimes as I'm doing it I think to myself , didn't I just do this a while ago?

I confess there are days when the mere thought of doing these menial things make me wish I could stay in bed all day but my sense of responsibility doesn't allow me to. I also wrestle with rejoicing throughout these chores that seem repetitive and at times meaningless. I guess the main questions are:

Is God interested in these tasks? and could there be a way to find joy while doing them? .

First of all, the things we mothers do in our home for our families is our service to them and to The Lord. We are servants! God has appointed us to be the deliverers of His love to our children and love in its purest form is demonstrated through service. " As unto the Lord" to me means as if Jesus is the recipient of my service.
Philippians 2 :5-7 We need to have the same attitude Jesus had toward service.

Philippians 2:3 says Do nothing out of selfish ambition

Here are some ways we can exercise servanthood and experience joy at the same time:

• Enjoying a baby's smile while changing a diaper


• Memorizing Scripture or praying while washing dishes


• Listening to a preaching tape or singing along a worship song while folding laundry or mopping the floor.


• Helping a child with homework while cooking


• Listen to a child read to you or read to her while nursing the baby


• Make cleaning a family business, let the children in on the fun


• Reminding yourself: I'm doing this as unto The Lord!

Something that keeps coming to my mind when I'm tempted to grumble about the "new" mess to be cleaned or the fifth time I have to refill a cup of milk, is that God has designed this to make me a servant, to get out of my selfish mode and bring me to a complete surrender of my will. Dying to the right to take a nap when I need it or have "me"time every now and then. I have to chose to die daily to my own desire to have it my way.

But it's not all about sadness or dying to rights, there is joy! . There is joy when I get a smile and an unexpected thank you in return , a hug, or a beautiful painting with MOM written all over it , or fresh picked dandelions,or the good feeling you get at the end of the day when you know that even as inadequate or imperfect you think you are as a mother, your children were taken care of and nurtured by none other than you. Today I was not feeling like myself, maybe coming down with a cold but I stretched myself to be there for my children , we read books, made some crafts, finished school work, watched a movie and cuddled together, I can sleep in peace knowing I did my best to serve them and my Lord.

Natural Remedies, thing of the past?

When I was a child we used to live with my grandmother ,and many years after we moved out I spent many school breaks with her; back in that time the emergency room seem to be a forbidden place reserved only for those occasions when you were bleeding to death or " there was something really wrong with you". The rest of the time my grandma would walked to the side of the house where she had plants of all sorts, if I had an ear ache she would reached for an oregano leaf then she will crush it to get the oil out, warm it up a little and then she would moisten a cotton ball with the warm oil and she would place it outside my ear or she would put a couple of drops inside, it never failed! The pain would be gone in minutes.
Toothaches, headaches, all kinds of aches and fevers were no match for my Grammy and her garden.
I wonder why we seem to run without fear to the ER at the first sign of illness. Don't get me wrong I'm very glad for all the state of the art equipment and the skilled staff that is ready for you in case of trauma, but I've found that in many cases , specially with children's ailments, there are options for healing when we go back to simple things as essential oils and herbs.

I'll be listing the "natural" tip of the day on this blog where I would like to share with you some of my trial and error (tried and true) remedies.

Warning: I'm not a doctor and if your condition is serious you should run to the ER.