Mugshots 241.365

No, no, no... I did not have my picture taken in jail today.

Sorry if you were curious to see what I looked like at my worst (since that is what mug shots seem to be).

Today in Mono's office they celebrated Brian's birthday.

Whenever someone has a birthday in their office, they all go out for lunch to celebrate.

Today was Brian's day.

And he made a great choice.

I didn't go with them, but since I was stuck at the house, with no car and no food, Mono was kind enough to bring me lunch from Mugshots.

 It was soooo good and I already want to go back!

I had a chicken sandwich. It was bits of chicken, with grilled onions and peppers, lettuce, tomato and melted cheese.

Oh yummmm!

Happy Birthday Brian!

A Humble and Honest Heart

For a while now I have been wanting to have a time set aside each morning to quietly read my Bible and maybe even take some notes.

It's not something I should be putting off, even for one day.

But I have put it off... for more than one day.

A few days back, I went to grab my Bible off the bookshelf and it was gone.

For the life of me, I cannot place where it could be.

I guess that is what happens when it is so long between uses.

I have a really nice small one, but it is not the one I like to use for daily reading.

It's leather, small and very tiny print.

I have still not located my paperback.

I looked with my parents Bibles, and it's not there either.

So I am on the hunt for a new one.

Another problem I have when I take my Bible out to read, is I don't always know what I am supposed to be getting out of certain passages. 

My little mind doesn't always wrap around Christ's Word as it should. 

So I was trying to find one that is still Catholic and traditional, yet I could work with it better. 

Mono's Mom suggested the Navarre Bibles. 

Unfortunately they come in many different volumes so I am starting with the one that I could grab off my Dad's shelf.

It's the Letters of Saint Paul. 

It's super thick, the size of my regular Bible... And this is just one piece.

But I am going to read my way through it, soak up every bit that I can, and then move on to another volume.

How does that sound? 

Do you take time each day to set aside time for Christ?

Do you have any good tips for making time in this busy and crazy world?

I set aside time to go to Mass daily (or as close to daily as possible), but I know that's not enough.

He gives me so much.

He loves me so much.

And I need to do more, be more and love more in return.

I'm hoping this is a good, fresh start.

Please keep this little blogger in your prayers so I can grow more in love with Him each day.

Happy Santo Mono! 239.365

Agustin is a family name in Mono's family and today is the feast day of St. Augustine.

Every year on August 28th, we celebrate Mono's santo or feast day.

Tonight my aunt, uncle and cousins came over for a big crepe bar feast! 

One of Mono's favorite foods is crepes so I thought this would be a fun treat.

I cut up 3 types of fresh fruit (bananas, strawberries and peaches), bought a can of cherry pie filling (for my uncle who loves that), made white chocolate sauce, cream cheese mousse, cinnamon whipped cream, had cottage cheese and a cheddar cheese sauce, nutella, brown sugar and cinnamon, and powdered sugar.

There were a couple more toppings I had wanted to prepare, but time was not on my side.

It was such an enjoyable evening. Simple but lovely.

Happy Santo my Monito!

Thank you Irene! 237.365

Cupcakes do make me happy...

And so does this visit from my cousin!

 Mark goes to school on the East Coast. He was evacuated and had no where to go... home was on the East Coast as well.

So, in the blink of an eye, we found out Irene was sending him safely in our direction!

Thank you so much Irene!

 Mark had never been down here for a visit before, so we spent the day driving him around to see the area. We stopped to get cupcakes at the Dreamcakes Truck! 

Yuummmmmm!

I never say no to cupcakes!

I know we are going to have a great time having Mark here visiting!

It's certainly off to a good start!

From K to F in 37 Days! 236.365

There are a lot of changes heading my way. 

That's expected when you get married and move away.

                                A big and noticeable one will be the changing of my last name.

It'll be a fun one, but will take a lot of work.

I want to do it with as much ease and style as possible. 

As for the style part... I'm only going to be able to enjoy having this purse with my initials for a few more weeks.
And then, goodbye M(A)K!
Hello MAF!
Though we won't be saying goodbye to this MK.
She will be staying with me. :)

I have also made a small purchase. 

I bought myself a self-inking return address stamp!

I've wanted one for a long time, years really, but never got one.

I write a lot of notes, will have a ton of thank you cards going out after our wedding, will always have bills to pay, etc... so this will be fun and time-saving!

But for now, as excited as I am for the days of being Mrs. Mono, I'm going to enjoy the remaining MAK days!

The Story Behind The Blanket And The Day He Won My Heart 235.365

This blanket has found it's special place in our new home. 

Here is the story behind the blanket that I love so dearly.

 

I will never forget this day... or his entrance into my life.

 Mono's family became mine nearly right from the very start. I had met his Mom and Grandma already, but never my dear Bello, his grandfather...my grandfather. I am not sure anyone has ever made quite the entrance into my life as Bello did. I'm also pretty sure there will never be another one like it.

He flew his plane into town. Mom, Dad, Mono, Mami and Bella all drove with me (I was so excited) to the little airport to greet the arriving white and red plane. Bello landed and I saw him standing there and I ran across the runway (all was safe) and gave him a huge hug! He presented me with a gift...

 Yes, that gift was my blanket. It is so special to me. He didn't even know this, but growing up, I was very close to my Grandma. At Gram's house she always had crocheted blankets on the couch. I loved them dearly. After she died, those blankets found new homes... and none of them were able to make it my way. Those blankets meant something to me and I wished so much just for one more of those afghans.

So when Bello came to meet me for the very first time (that alone won my heart) and gave me an afghan, my heart was filled! It was almost like my Grandma sending me a little gift through my new grandparents. I know if Gram and Grandpa were alive, they would have become dearest of friends with Bello and Bella. I just know it!

Bello and Bella have both touched my heart and my life in so many ways. More than they even know. I miss my Grandma and Grandpa so, so much, and I never thought anything could ever come close to filling that void. And my Nana and Popa live far away and are unable to visit us so far away. Grandparents are so dear to me (ask Mono!) and though no one can replace Grandma and Grandpa... or bring Nana and Popa closer so we could visit more... Bello and Bella have sure filled a void with great joy and immense love. 

They are not Mono's grandparents anymore, but our grandparents and I am so blessed to be able to call them mine. 

So my blanket from Bello and Bella is now sitting on our couch in our new home, waiting for us to move in so I can cuddle up with it.

He's Hoooooommmmeee!!!!!!

Mono is HOME! And I am one very, very happy girl!

10 days overseas is far too long.

He had a wonderful trip and I can't wait for him to show me all his pictures and tell me all the stories!

I made this sign (and two others, but this one came to the airport) and held it up for him to see. (It didn't come out well on camera, but it said Adios Espana - with the proper Spanish markings on the letters... and then it said Hello USA!) I think my insanely large smile distracted him from the sign. haha- 

I probably had the biggest smile ever.

Mono flew home with another guy for work. 

I think he was just as excited for the sign!

So he took our picture!

Thanks Jorge!

So my Mon is back and all is well with the world... at least my little world.