Pupusas

I made pupusas the other night and they were... WONDERFUL!! I was so proud of myself because I have been trying to make them for a while and always it was a complete fail. Until Sunday. They were an epic success! So epic that Joshua ate them all before I even finished. Eh. And Gabriel loved them too. Which is also a huge success cuz he's a picky eater.

I just wanted to share my wonderful success but sadly they were eaten so quickly that I didn't take any pictures. I made some for my family the next day and my parents LOVED them! But my dad could probably have eaten the dozen I made in the first batch. They are not as difficult to make as I thought they would be. The recipe is rather easy. Or at least because I didn't have much I had no choice. Either way, it was absolutely delicious and I am excited to make more.

I am going to figure out how to make the curtido, because a pupusa isn't complete without it. Also I need a good salsa de tomate (thank you veronica!) recipe so I can make that too. People always tell me, oh lala its easy just throw all these random ingredients together. Y'all need to understand that it has taken me a LONG while to figure out to cook without burning something. We still have issues with the burning but not as much. I will keep you posted when I figure out how to make the rest but til then, my pupusas are YUMMY!!!

I'm finally listening

I'd like to share an interesting experience I had a week ago. For the past few months, probably since March, Josh has been asking me to quit my jobs. Now if you know me, you'd know that I love my jobs. I love working at the PCC. It has been a wonderful experience and I was so saddened to put in my 2 weeks a few weeks ago. Today was my last day and although I will be around here I will still miss dancing on the canoes every day.

Two Thursdays ago, I had gone to the temple. Josh had been on my case all week about quitting my gas station job. The Saturday before I had agreed to work 2 extra days including the Saturday I was already scheduled for. Going the temple I asked for guidance. I asked to know whether or not I should quit. I wanted a absolute yes or no. I knew it would be a test of faith and I challenged my God saying "Lord help my faith". If I am supposed to quit let Joshua know and I will quit. I got my answer all right.

The Tuesday before I had trained a new worker. A young man came in asking if we were hiring. I told him I wasn't sure but that we might be because a few people had just quit and I was planning on quitting also. In my mind I thought, I will regret this. I wasn't sure why I had said it or what would happen next but I got my answer on Friday. I was scheduled to work and train the same lady but when I went in another girl was there and she said she would be working. I called our manager and she said that the girl was working and that I could go home. I was ESTATIC! I didn't want to miss a Friday with my family so off we went.

A few minutes later standing in the Foodland line waiting to pay for my groceries I noticed a letter in my pay. I had been "released". My prayers were answered. I was fired. Humbled, humiliated and a bit embarrassed I shared the story with my husband and he simply just laughed. He was right, and I had been wrong. I am thankful for this simple but amazing experience and I hope that I will continue in listening to the promptings of the spirit and the guidance of my priesthood worthy husband. It has taken me a few years to understand and "listen" to the "still small voice". And I hope to NEVER challenge my God to help my faith like that again. He is always listening and forever guiding. Now I know and I will not forget.  

New Beginnings

We are FINALLY in our own place! For a while now I've been asking Joshua for us to move out and we had our differences and arguments and blah blah blah. But now, after a while, we are officially on our own :) We are currently living in TVA right next to BYUH. We absolutely LOVE IT! Gabriel just asks to go to "his house". If I accidentally refer to my moms house as home he quickly corrects me and says "gamma's house lala", it's SO CUTE! We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath with a living room and kitchen. It's on the second floor so I have to do quite a bit of climbing. My only complaint is that the parking is too far. Other than that it's just great. It's furnished with 3 beds, 2 dressers, 2 small drawers, a couch, table with 4 chairs, a refrigerator, a phone and a desk. The phone and cable is paid for as well as the internet. And it's CHEAP! Cheap for hawaii that is.

But I cannot say that it has happened with no trials. It's been a little tough on us financially. And my faith will be GREATLY tried. I have quit both of my jobs at the request of my husband. He's actually been asking me for a few months now and I am on my last week of work. I am sad but also excited to just be home with my kids. It will take great faith in trying to make it financially. If Joshua has been impressed for me to stay home then I will honor the covenants that I have made in the temple and follow. I am so proud of him and so proud of us. I know that the Lord has had a hand in ALL things in our lives. He has allowed these trials for us to face so that we may grow stronger. I know some of them were our own faults and we have paid the price. I hope that in the future we will learn to head the promptings of the spirit and learn to pray in thanks for all things. I am grateful for this opportunity and grateful for the life I have been given. Wish us luck cuz we surely will need it! But with God on my side, who is there to make afraid!? Til next time, thanks for reading!

xoxox,

lala

Eternity

April 21, 2012 was the day that eternity began for our little family. I feel so privileged and honored to be part of the gospel and of Christ's true church. I cannot express my love and gratitude enough of the Savior. It was so wonderful to be able to seal myself and our little family to Josh. Small and private as it may have been, it was absolutely PERFECT. The presence was just amazing. My babies looked so beautiful in their white attire and they were just so wonderful. Baby Melena'a was sleeping, Gabriel and Gissela were both so good. It felt like everything just worked out perfectly!

We began with a morning session. We tried to do initiatory but they were so busy! I was able to do one name with Olga but Joshua and Jon weren't able to. When we got to the session my uncle joined us. Because my dad wasn't able to make it, I was so grateful that he was able to be there to represent him. After the session we had to wait a while for our kids and for our room and I was just so anxious the whole time! I had almost fallen asleep during the session because we hardly got any sleep the night before, but as time got closer I couldn't seem to sit still! I was just too excited!!

Our sealer was amazing. He explained the whole purpose of all the ordinances and never has it been so well explained and I now understand the meaning of all of them. He gave us such great advice. My favorite being, "Now the temple does not mean there will be no trials, it almost guarantees it. But it does provide the necessary protection, guidance and help that you will  need to be able to face them." And also, "this does end at just you (pointing to me) being sealed to him (pointing to Josh). It also seals you to Him (pointing up). It is a 3 part marriage." It gave me great comfort to know that regardless of the things Joshua and I will face, if we are faithful and keeping the sacred covenants we made, we will be guided and protected along the way. I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and for the opportunity to seal our family to Him. I'm a blessed beyond measure and I know that the only way to thank Him will be through my faithfulness. I hope that the day that I return I will be able to stand before Him blameless and unspotted from the world. Thank you to all those who joined us on our special day and for those who couldn't make it, we still love you all :)