We had a nice day in Charlottesville yesterday. That is where my grandma Sarah was buried. A lot of the Williams ancestors are buried there...in a beautiful cemetery near Monticello. We ate at Michie's Tavern and took a walk around which is where we found that very friendly cat. It was very cold!

for all us cat lovers!!

one long week

Well...more sad news to report...my grandmother Sarah passed away. When I got home from Lynn's funeral, I had a message that she had passed away that morning. Thankfully, we had just gone to visit her the week before. She had alzheimer's for a long time and hadn't known who we were for several years. I decided to make a scrapbook with some pictures I had and a few I had picked up at her house. It helped me to remember all of the fun things we had done together growing up...things I had long forgotten since she had gotten Alzheimer's. I am amazed at how content she was with her life...she lived in the same house for sixty some years, didn't travel much, did pretty much the same routine most days, had the same furniture from when they bought the house...etc. I never heard her complain of wanting more, and I know they could have gotten it if they wanted it. I just think that is amazing, and I miss the person she was before she got Alzheimer's.
Juan Pablo has been sick for about four days. Coughing, some fever...etc. He has had to go to work because of his training that he can't miss, but other than that, he comes homes and sleeps. It looks like Joaquin might have caught it today.
I have also been getting ready for the Toy and Clothing consignment sale that happens twice a year here. Since I don't have much stuff...we are putting in my friend's stuff and it all has to be tagged and itemized, but I'm sure she will be glad to get rid of it.
The pictures are of Joaquin's gymnastics class. He loved it the first time, wasn't too thrilled the second, and had said "it makes him tired" recently. Isn't that the idea?
Oh....he said the funniest thing the other day. He has been very interested in growing recently...trying to eat all his food so he'll be big. So the other night he said,
"I'm bigger than mommy...I'm bigger than daddy...I'm bigger than sissy................I'm bigger than myself!"
We just died laughing!

rememberance

I am so sad to report that a friend from my MOPS group, Lynn Dillingham, passed away this week, after battling cancer. Some of you were following her brave fight and others might not have known about it. She was a daughter, wife, sister, friend, as well as a mom to two beautiful children, Lyndsey and Peyton. I cannot help but think of my own mom at this time. How sad we all were to be left behind, but also filled with the peace of knowing she is in heaven. Lynn was of the same spirit as my mom....she was a proclaimer of the Word...teaching us...counseling us...a messenger to us all... and a friend...following in the steps of Jesus and encouraging others to do the same. A poem that my mom liked came to mind as I am thinking of Lynn, and I've copied it here:

FELLOWSHIP OF THE UNASHAMED

"I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line.
"I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.
"My past is redeemed; my present makes sense; my future is secure."
"I'm finished and done with low living, smooth knees, mundane talking, cheap living."
"I no longer need prosperity, position, promotions, or popularity."
"I no longer have to be right, first, recognized, praised or rewarded."
"I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power."
"My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear."
"I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed."
"I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ."
"I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, and preach till all know."
"When He comes for His own my banner will be clear."

I saw a rainbow in the sky the day I found out she had passed away (some other MOPS moms had seen it too). It made me smile. I still miss my mom a lot. But there are rememberances of her all around. Juan Pablo bought me Chanel No5 for Christmas and that remimds me of her. Isabela's hair in the morning smells EXACTLY like my mom's did. And her favorite sayings and Bible verses pop out now and then...helping me to be a better person.

I know in time the same will happen for Lynn's family and friends....but for now please keep them uplifted in prayer.

feed the birds

We spent a beautiful day at the park yesterday....not looking forward to the "deadly storms" they say are headed our way today. We were at Sunday Park in our old Brandermill neighborhood. It really is beautiful, with the open water and trees all around. The geese and ducks were hungry...but we had gone without bread. Next time! That dock it the water picture is just COVERED in bird poop! Pictures are so deceiving, aren't they?

american idol

Joaquin and Isabela did a great job singing in front of the church for the first time!! We filmed it and took pictures, but both missed the hilarious show Joaquin put on between songs....he had the whole church laughing. He played air guitar and busted some moves...surely gotten from Juan Pablo...then he sung the entire second song like Stevie Wonder with his eyes closed and head moving. It was pretty funny! Of course, everyone congratulated him afterwards for his great performance...it was quite memorable. And Isabela was surprisingly LOUD. Since we've had that karaoke machine, she's been practicing alot .... making up words to her made up songs. Thanks Kate!

house hunting

Now that Juan Pablo has a job, we have started to look for a house. We haven't gotten a realtor yet (still not sure if we should) but we've been internet researching. And I've thrown a new wrench into the problem. At first, we were just looking around the area where we have always lived in Midlothian. Our church is there, which we love and go to several times during the week, plus we know the schools are good and there are activities close by like indoor soccer and dance. The bad side is it is far from JP's job (like a 30 minute commute) and the prices are pretty high. Then for some reason I clicked on a house on the northside of Richmond. Those are the older houses with the huge front porches and distinct architecture inside...which is the style I love. I think they are called four square or manor houses. And the trend has been for people to buy these and gut them and make them BEAUTIFUL on the inside, plus some have nice yards with big old trees in them. Plus they don't even build them like that anymore. The price is considerably less than Midlothian (almost $100,000 in some cases) and it would be a short commute for JP plus if either of us go back to school at VCU, we'd be close to that too. There is a great elementary school in the city called Fox, or they might have to attend a private school...which I think would be affordable if we spent less on the house. So now, I can't even decide where to look, or what to look for. Should I consider:
*house structure (love the old manors vs. cookie-cutter vinyls)?
*elementary school district (which tend to always be better than middle or high)?
*school districts through high school (which we could always move for some reason or another before then)?
*commute vs. church?

I would love some input!

boring old blog

I have given in...become what you without young children despise....the minivan mom. AND I LOVE IT!! We got a great deal from a friend on an older minivan and have been driving it around ever since...our poor old Acura is just sitting in the parking lot. The kids love it, I love it (although Juan Pablo feels as thought he gets no respect on the street driving that around).
Other news...Juan Pablo will start back at his old VCU job in a week. He is excited about that.
Isabela started ballet/tap...she talked about it for a week, danced around in her new leotard for days, and then sat on the floor in the dance studio for thirty minutes playing with her shoe while the other kids danced around. I couldn't believe it! She did participate in the tap part of the class, but I'm hoping this week she will do the whole class.
Sorry the blog is so boring now! Any ideas (besides going back to Bolivia?)