Date Night

Last night, we went to the Americana to see Steve Tyrell's concert. We had such a blast. We went with another couple from our church. Steve Tyrell is the one who sings the famous song, "Just the Way You Look Tonight" from the Father of the Bride movie. It was an awesome time! I love his music. His new album is amazing that I'm going to have to get it. The best part is that the concert was free!

As I've stated in one of my previous posts, we're doing an in depth study about the Sermon on the Mount at my church. The last two weeks, we've been studying Matthew 6.

1 Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in Heaven.

2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 "This, then, is how you should pray: ''Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' 14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Every time I read and study this chapter, it convicts me. It makes me check my heart on where I truly am when I give, when I pray and when I fast. The goal of this chapter is to show how to please our heavenly Father, not to please others and certainly not to please ourselves. I always strive to do things for God's glory, not because I want to be noticed by people. In our time now, the world sings praises of millionaires who give a few thousands but is silent concerning the humble ones who have taken from their necessities and given to the same cause. We should give to meet the need of the receiver NOT because we're expecting a reward. There's a reward for practicing righteousness but God wants to be the one to reward us (Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.) There's skeptical people who will say, "I thought that God loves people unconditionally and it doesn't depend on your works". What I have to say to this is--It's true, God loves us unconditionally. We're not saved by works BUT once we're saved, works (such as giving to the needy, loving others, forgiving etc.) should follow naturally.

Praying--I love, love, love to pray to my heavenly Father! Leo and I make it a point to pray together every day, to thank God and praise him. But there was a time when my prayers primarily consisted of my wants, needs, desires. I was also very good at bargaining and manipulating God. "God if you would just let me have this.....; God I never ask for much but if I could....." Don't get me wrong, we should go to God for all of our needs but praying should reveal a very tender relationship between God and a true worshiper. It should be a very natural and personal conversation between a child and a Father. Here in Los Angeles, the freeways are like parking lots at certain times of the day. I use this time to pray most of the time, especially on the 405. I love to just have a conversation with God and tell him all my thoughts. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. I used to have a tendency of praying over and over for the same things--what I think are pressing issues/needs. I thought the longer I pray, the more God will here me and he will really realize how important something is to me. We shouldn't have to do this. Just pray from the heart, have a communion with God. He already knows our needs even before we ask. When we pray, it shouldn't be a self-centered prayer. Instead, we should intercede for others.

Our pastor did a great job presenting how to pray, the Lord's prayer:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one

7 Forms of Prayer

1. Prayer is relational-shows the personal relationship with our Father. Ever wonder why the Lord's prayer started up with "Our Father in heaven"? There's so many ways to describe God like Almighty, Sovereign, etc. but "Our Father" best describes who our God is--he is our father. This reveals a very tender relationship between God and the true worshiper, and base the petition on the fact that the child speaks to the Father. God is sovereign and he is in control of everything.

2. Prayer is adoration- "hallowed be your name"; God is worthy or praise. Begin your prayer by magnifying God. Psalm 100:4 "Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name."

3. Prayer is declaration-"your kingdom come"

4. Prayer is proclamation-"your will be done on earth as it is in heaven"; I align my will with
yours.

5. Prayer is provision/supplication- "give us today our daily bread"

6. Prayer is liberation- "forgive us our debts, as we also have forgive our debtors"

7. Prayer is intercession-"lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one"

Pictures of what we've been up to:

I love these pics of the boys. LJ has been giving his baby brother more love each day. He has been consistently hugging and kissing Lucas. He's going to be a great big brother!



We spent the day with the Magsaysay's last week and we had so much fun! Raymond and Donna have three precious boys and LJ just enjoyed playing with them. We did the WII fit and swam. Donna, if you're reading this, thank you again! We had a blast and it was nice to spend time with you guys and we need to do it more often.

More Window Treatment Ideas

Ribbons

Sheer hair ribbons tied onto a simple pin adorn the breezy tieback panels. A similar look can be achieved using ribbons tied to copper wire.

Pin

A rhinestone pin sparkles in the sunlight streaming through the window. A linen cocktail napkin wraps the curtain panel to hold it in place. The pin secures and decorates the napkin.

Necklace

A long black beaded necklace ties around a curtain for a quick and pretty hold. A long gold chain or a strand of pearls can serve the same purpose. Dangle a locket or a special charm from the necklace for a romantic touch.

Jewelry

Curtain jewelry takes on new meaning with tiebacks fashioned from jeweled accessories. This necklace bauble adds pizzazz to the simple fabric tieback.

Nautical Rope

Rope tabs dock a nautical print fabric at this window. Fed through grommets and knotted, the ropes suspend the panel from boat cleats mounted to the wall.

3 Easy Tabs

Coordinating Knots

Whatever type of curtain or drapery you select, how you top it and tie it back can have a major impact on your design scheme.

Simple loops made from coordinating fabric hold this curtain panel in place. Square knots with draping tails sewn onto the bottom of the tabs put the ties into the spotlight.

Sewn Scallops

Many tabs are sewn on separately, but these rounded tabs are actually part of the curtain panel. To create the look, sew coordinating fabric pieces back-to-back, then fold the scalloped top of the panel over a rod and secure the tabs with buttons

One of my passions is home keeping/decorating. I get so giddy when I get a treasure for so little or no money at all. Hey, one woman's trash is another woman's treasure!

Over the weekend, I discovered that this world of blogging is truly so phenomenal! I mean, where have I been? There's so many women who are naturally gifted in the arena of decorating / home keeping. These women are so creative, talented and so willing to share ideas with their fellow bloggers. I went through so many blogs about decorating and I am now officially hooked! I was so excited that I am now making a list of projects for me to do this summer. Thanks a lot, ladies!

But really, check out these amazing women's blogs. They have fantastic projects for very little to no money at all. And because most of these women have children, there's tons of creative projects that require no sewing, meaning fast, takes very little time. Their homes are beautiful because they're warm and show the women's personalities. What gifted women you all are! Their blogs are located on my "Everything Home" section on the left side of my blog.

In honor of Nester (Nesting Place), I thought I'd post these projects I found about No Sew Window Treatments and Chair Cushions. I am going to be trying these projects soon. I am so excited. I just need to make a trip to the Fabric District and buy tons of fabrics.

Ribboned Romans

Confining the embellishment to the edges of this Roman shade keeps the look clean. As the shade is raised, the ribboned edges fall into graceful pleats. We combined several different widths and colors of ribbon. After planning the design, stretch the shade out on a flat surface and glue the ribbons around the outside edges one layer at a time. Allow the ribbons to extend an inch beyond the shade width so they can be folded over and glued to the back for a finished look.

Pleated Glory

Don't let the elegance of these shades discourage you, they're actually super simple to create. Lay out the ribbons first to plan the design, and then glue one layer down first before moving to the next layer.

Tip: Inspect ready-made draperies for crooked seams and fabric flaws before buying. These little imperfections will make embellishing more difficult and the results less professional-looking.

Rickrack Panels

Add drama to a room by hanging tab-top panels embellished with a grid of ribbon and rickrack. Choosing natural colors and textures keeps the boldness of the pattern in check. Measure carefully and plan ahead for proper ribbon placement. Each X design extends from side to side and repeats three times from top to bottom. Glue down all the caramel-color ribbon first, then center and glue on lengths of lime green rickrack. Finish by gluing a large button at each intersection.

Easy Embellishments

For a nicely finished edge, cut the ribbon 1 inch longer than needed, wrap it around the edge of the curtain, and glue it on the back. Finish the look with a button of your choice. We chose a wooden button to complement the camel-color ribbon.

Tip: Before adding embellishments, first press the draperies to remove all wrinkles and creases. Accurate positioning of ribbons and trims will be easier on a smooth surface.

Printed Roman Shade

To widen a Roman shade, cut lengths of striped fabric twice as wide as the desired trim width (ours are 8 inches), press in half the long way, then press the raw edges under 1/8 inch. Glue the pressed edges to the shade, one to the front and one to the back, overlapping slightly. Print letters one per page in your favorite font. For the silverware, check the Internet or clip art books for an image and enlarge it on a photocopier. Put the patterns under the shade and trace in pencil, then outline with black fabric marker and shade as needed. Hang shade and tack the trim to the window.

Fabric Marker Detail

For a perfectly centered and spaced word, start with the center letter, and then add the next one to the right, then to the left, and so on.

Tip: Many ready-made window treatments can be washed, either by hand or in the machine on the gentle cycle, and machine dried. If you are in doubt about the care, opt for hand washing.

Floor-Length Tab-Top Panels

Velvet ribbon in three sherbet shades turns plain white tab-top curtains into an elegant treatment. To create the look, lay out the panels and attach horizontal bands of ribbon with fabric glue. To make the ties at the top, cut the tabs off, then cut six evenly placed, 1-inch horizontal slits across each panel. Finish by cutting V shapes out of the ends of each tie.

Velvet Ribbon Detail

For a fresh and flirty treatment, use high-quality ribbon for bows with body and stripes that stand out.

Tip: Washable fabric glue will be strong enough to withstand a washing machine and will remain clear and flexible.

Space-Conserving Seating

Most apartment living rooms have space for a sofa, coffee table, and maybe a chair -- definitely not enough seating for hosting a group of friends. Solve the problem with fabric-covered cushions that make sitting on the floor not a big deal. When they're not needed, the cushions can be stacked and stowed.

-- Purchase foam cushions of the thickness and size you need.

-- Search remnant piles and discount stores for pretty fabric that matches your decor.

-- Wrap the fabric around the cushion and hot glue in place.

LJ and Lucas--Video Montages

As promised, here's the video montages of the boys! Making these videos made me realize even more that I have so much to be thankful for. I have two healthy boys who are growing up so fast, too fast it seems! Laarni, make sure you show this to mom, please. We love you guys.

By the way, make sure you turn off the music at the bottom of the page so you can hear the music that goes with the video montage.


Lucas' Video Montage:

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

LJ's Video Montage:

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

We are Called to Shine

You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
~Matthew 5:14-16

I'd been really enjoying reading the book of Matthew. We're actually doing an in depth study of the Sermon on the Mount at our church. Our pastors are doing excellent jobs of preaching about how to apply it in our lives (how to love God, love others and love life). When I came across this verse, it really made me think about what it truly means to me. As a believer and follower of Jesus, we ARE called to shine like a light because Jesus is light. Living in Los Angeles, it's so easy to lose sight of what's really important, living a life that glorifies God. In this city, so many people are involved with superficial things, getting the latest, greatest and biggest (biggest house, latest technology, greatest accomplishments) that glorifies themselves. There's so many people in this city that call themselves Christians but when you examine their lives, there's really no fruit of it at all. They don't place value on the sacredness of marriage. Their children are disrespectful, talking back to adults or talking to their parents as though they're the adults. Billboards for strip bars and adult venues are rampant. For the most part, people live fast, hurried lives, lives that are empty and always searching for something to fill it.

Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of great things about this city, also. And no, it's not just the weather. There's also plenty of people who are truly living their lives honoring and glorifying God. I guess I felt the need to mention the flaws first because they're what made me realize what the verse I mentioned above is truly all about.

As a Christian, I AM called to be light in this city. I know what God has done for me. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16. Everyday, I encounter people who are hurting, lost and in need of love. I was the same way before I gave my life to God- hurting, lost and in need of love. Growing up, there really was no stability in my life as far as a father figure. Because of this, I had many fears and doubts when it comes to men and marriage. But I learned that I have a heavenly Father who loves me, cherishes me, and reassures me. I never have to wonder about his truth for my life. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11.

Because of this truth, I'm called to share this good news to as many people as I can through the way I live my life, the way I love my husband, the way I raise my children and what I place importance on. I simply can't and I choose not to hide this truth.

Lord, I pray that you use me to shine my light on this city, to people I encounter everyday. Let my deeds shine out for all to see not for my glory but for your glory.

What's new with the boys?

We've had a very busy but fun week that I haven't posted the last few days. I know that I promised pics of the boys so I'm going to do even better! I've been working on video montages for LJ and Lucas so our family and friends can see for themselves the changes that have taken place with the boys. They both have grown so much. Also, I mentioned that the boys are now sleeping in the same room since last Thursday and I'm happy to say that it's going really well. Lucas wakes up once about 5:30am but quickly goes back to sleep once I tap him for a few minutes.

What's new with LJ?

Our first born has grown like a weed. He will be turning 3 this coming September 20th. I can't believe he will be 3! He is talking up a storm. His vocabulary amazes me everyday. He loves playing musical instruments. He loves the drums and guitars. Every Sunday, he goes up to the stage to see if he can play with the musical instruments. During praise and worship, he just stares at whoever is playing the drums or guitars. I tell you, this boy of ours has the gift of music. He is also VERY active. He loves sports! And guess who loves the fact that he loves sports?!?! He plays baseball and basketball with his dad everyday. As a matter of fact, he has a basketball hoop in his room that he plays with everyday. Which reminds me, maybe I should take it out. Does basketball hoop in the room foster for a nap environment? hhhmmm... Another thing he loves to do is drive his motorized truck. He is sooo good at it now. He can reverse, make u-turns, and he drives really fast. One thing I observed also is he is now remembering who he enjoys playing with. He would talk about his friends when we come home from playdates. One of his best friends is Sammy Rapier. These two look like twins because they both have curly hair and they both love hot wheels. They get so excited when they see each other. LJ constantly asks to go to "Sammy's house". When they get together, they play and fight like brothers.





Another adorable thing that is so touching to watch is how LJ loves to be like his father. He copies everything Leo does. He loves putting on Leo's shoes and hats! I think that's it for now. If I remember anything else, I'll post again.

P.S. One thing LJ loves to do is read his bible! We got him a children's bible that has both the old and new testament. We love it because each story contains about 3-5 sentences max. But we love the fact, that he begs for it every night. Seeds are being planted....

What's new with baby Lucas?

Our baby boy is now 4 months old and weighed 17 pounds at his doctor's visit 2 weeks ago. He is pure fun. He loves to giggle and makes these sounds that are just so infectious. I can just eat him up! I love that he recognizes I'm his mama. I love that all I have to do is look at him, give him a smile and he gives me one of his grins back. Can you tell this mama is totally smitten? He enjoys playing in his jumperoo. He looks so cute jumping up and down in that thing. He still hates being on his tummy but he's getting better everyday. He's been rolling over and enjoys being on his back and watching people around him. By the way, his hair is now growing back. It's still too early to tell if it's going to be curly like his brother's.






One of my favorite things to witness is how my boys interact with each other. LJ is showing Lucas more affection each day. He goes up to Lucas and hugs him, kisses him and plays with him. I still have to remind him to be gentle as I thought I heard him say to Lucas a few days ago, "I wrestle you, Lucas" the way his dad wrestles with him. I can't wait for my boys to play "rough" together. Did I really just say that?