From Gold Hoops to Chicken Coops

This past week has been crazy in the world of sports, especially football.   Did you know that since this past Super Bowl 27 players have been arrested ? Three were just last week.  It's just crazy.  What's going on fellas? I mean seriously.  I get it.  Football is an extremely aggressive sport.  But why can't they leave all that crazy on the field?  When did it get like this?  Are there any classy players out there? I'm sure there are. Do you know who comes to mind when I think of classy football players? Rosie Grier .  Do you know him? My mom is always talking about him. He is a defensive lineman who played for the NY Giants from 1955-1962.  He also played with the Rams from 1963-67.  He would later become a body guard for Robert Kennedy.  Although he was not guarding Kennedy on the day of his assassination,  he was the one that took the gun from the assassin.   He was guarding Mrs. Kennedy that day.  There is your history lesson for the day.    He is not only kn

I've never been a loyal sports team fan like my brothers.  We were born and breed in NY.  My mom is a METS fan, my one brother Yankees, Knicks and Giants and my youngest brother strangely enough is a Broncos fan.  I'm more like my dad when it comes to sports.  My dad enjoys any sport that has a Puerto Rican on the team.  " ¿ Ve ese ah í ? ¡Él es boricua!" You see that guy there? He's Puerto Rican.  And that's pretty much how I have followed and enjoyed sports ever since.  I love hearing their stories and how they grew to love the sport they played, whether it be on the island or a local worn down ball field or court on the block.  More recently I have been following tennis thanks to Monica Puig.  Being the mother of two boys I decided to really get into sports, for their sakes of course.  There are  two stations on in our crazyvan, KLOVE and ESPN .   I love listening to The Herd .  Colin Cowherd is just right up my alley.  My kids laugh at Steven A. Smith ,

Keeping track of my Joys was something I thought I would be able to easily blog about.  But it really is just one more thing on my to do list.  But I vow to continue and not get lazy with it.  This is more for me than it is for you.  It's a way for me to sit down, ponder and thank the Lord for His gifts and mercies.  I could easily sit down and complain about it all but I'm reminded to count it joy.  Last week was a reminder of that.   I was reminded that the world's pain can always be used for God's glory, if I allow it.  40. Memories (even the painful ones.  the Lord can be glorified.  One day they won't hurt as much.) 41. A confidant.  I'm so blessed with the people the Lord has placed in my life.  Even the ones He has taken out. 42. Date with my boys. 43. A very generous and loving friend. 44. A sick day at home. 45. The blessings of new babies (not here ;-P ) 46. Little boys that one day will turn into men. One day these little feet will g

For the past couple of weeks I have been feverishly making little hearts.  My goal this year was to make my home a happy home.  One full of handmade things.  One that my children will always remember.  I have been heavy into crochet lately.  Mostly because of how quick and convenient it is to make.  I tried making snowflakes this past Christmas but ran out of time.  But I promised myself I would have something done in time for Valentine's day. And so... ta da!  I was making this everywhere I went, the doctors, the library, as a passenger in a car, in bed ( I never crochet in bed because I immediately fall asleep).  These were going to be done no matter what. I made tons and gave tons away.  I actually can't stop making them.  They make me super happy.  I found the original pattern over at Sarahndipities .  It was a lovely pattern but I did change it up bit.  (Round 3 and the garland directions are from Sarahndipities). Here's the pattern I reworked if you're intere

Last week I had a super hectic schedule.  I had to drive into the city several times a day for a couple of days, attempt to homeschool, work and organize my house. Not all of those happened all the time.  Especially the organize my house part.  I just found out that I suffer from a very debilitating disorder.  ADCD, Attention Deficit Cleaning Disorder. This means that although I think I'm cleaning/organizing, I am actually appearing to be a horder.  It's just awful! And super exhausting.  For the record, I'm an amazing organizer, just not in my house.  But I'm working on it. When I was 25 years old, and still living with my momma, my bestie Jenna had to come over and teach me how to clean my room.  It was a mess.  I'll never forget it.  But she did give me great pointers.  "Start here.  And don't go anywhere else until you finish here.  Then work your way around the room."  She followed me around the room until I got it lol.  She's given me tons

First I want to start with a big Happy Birthday to Cary Grant! Isn't he just dreamy? I plan on watching his movies all weekend! Things to be Joyful for: 15. Wolverine paying us a visit. 16. A snowy day at home. 17. New snow boots. 18. Will power. 19. Lazy day of learning in bed. 20. Encouragement from an unsuspecting place. 21. An accountability partner. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” - James 1:2-3 

I look forward to writing about the joys of the week.  It helps me to keep a look out for the good as opposed to bad.  There are so many things to be joyful about, if we could just keep our eyes and hearts open to it. I hope you are able to keep count of the joys in your life. 7. A loving husband 8. Lunch with an honest and loving friend 9. The end of colored rice (pa'la basura) 10. My little yarn club 11. A media free day and brothers playing together 12. Macarons 13. The return of Downton Abby 14. A loving family who give my children crazy gifts Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” - James 1:2-3

Week 1 Following on the heels of the British blogs I have been obsessed with, I mean following, I've decided to document the joy in my life.  The things that I am grateful for during my weeks.  It's so easy to forget the joys in our lives and fall into the traps of all the things we think we are missing. Thank you Victoria , and don't give up on your blog!  Most of the other blogs are calling it "52 Weeks of Happy".  I have decided on Joy. You see, happiness is an emotion.  It's fleeting.  It's usually driven by materialism... I would be happy if I had a bigger house.  I would be happy if I had a new car or the latest gadget. I may never get those things, so does that mean that I will never be happy? Probably.  But Joy! Now that's something I can always have.  Because I have Christ, I can count it all joy, even the hard stuff. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces

2012 was an adventurous year for us around here.  We moved.  Grew more as a family (with a few bumps here and there).  Began our journey to home education.  Watched broken hearts be mended.  2012 was the year  I really tried to listen when the Lord spoke (with more than a few bumps here and there). My prayer for 2013 is that I listen to His promptings more and follow in obedience.  I hope to listen to the voices of my children's hearts and not the needs of this world.  I hope to be a better wife.  I pray for broken hearts to be made new.  I pray for the lost, that they seek Him, for He is the only one that can lead them home.  And I pray for you.  Whatever that need may be.  I pray for the things that the Lord has prepared for me. But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” ~1 Corinthians 2:9-10 Blessings,  S. Vanessa