Last post for the 7 Posts in 7 Days Challenge

Today ends the 7 Post in 7 days challenge.  I do not have really much to write today.  We went to the zoo and I am exhausted.  Our family enjoys going to the zoo.  It is one of our favorite places to visit as a family.  We always have a great time.

I hope you all had a wonderful Sunday.  World Youth Day 2013 is over but can you believe 3 million pilgrim went to the WYD Mass.  It is just moving to watch.  God bless Pope Francis and all the pilgrims at WYD2013.  I am excited about the next WYD 2016 in Krakow, Poland!

Here are come pictures of the giraffes at the zoo.  There is a new baby giraffe at the zoo.  My daughters were excited to see the new baby giraffe.  ¡Hasta luego!

Baby Giraffe 

Catholic Home Altar

I wanted to share with you our new home altar.  It took me a few months to find a secretary desk through craigslist that we all liked and was in our budget.  But we finally found one a couple of months ago.  We placed our altar in our formal living room which is the room we pray.  

My Tîa Rosi brought us the picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe and candle from Guadalajara, Mexico.

One of the reasons I wanted a secretary desk is because it is high enough so little toddler hands cannot reach any statues or candle but low enough so they can see everything that is on the altar.  Plus there is enough room to store books or religious articles.  

Our dear friend Fr. Andrew who was here this past week blessed our new home altar.

So you see, you do not need much to make a home altar.  A home altar is a wonderful reminder not only for us adults but our children to see that God is everywhere, especially in our home.  A reminder to pray.  

¡Hasta luego! 

7 Quick Takes

--- 1 ---

The Seven post in seven days has helped me get back into the swing of blogging.  I am glad I join in the fun.  Only two more days!  What to blog about tomorrow?

--- 2 ---

I just started to read Wheat Belly, by William Davis, MD.  I have to say this book so far is an eye opener.  I recommend this book to anyone who is looking to eat healthier and go gluten free.  I bought the cookbook and I am looking forward to try some new recipes.  I will definitely be posting some recipes.

--- 3 ---

Our dear friend Fr. Andrew came to visit us this past week.  He blessed our new business location last Friday.  He blessed our business when we first opened up and now at our new location.  God is great!

--- 4 ---

My oldest daughter started taking violin lessons this summer.  She is really enjoying it.  I have to say she is doing a great job so far.  I was not sure if I should enroll her in piano or violin but I think the violin suits her.  She is a very patient and calm child.

I have to say having a child taking music lessons is work.  We have to practice at least 5 days a week for 20 minutes each practice.  This does not count her violin lesson with her teacher.  Thankfully we have time to practice when my youngest daughter naps.  I am not sure what we are going to do once my youngest stops taking a nap.  I guess we will cross that road when we get there.  Any suggestions?

These figures are outside her teacher's house.  Cute!

--- 5 ---

I have been trying to watch as much as I can of World Youth Day (WYD) 2013 on EWTN.  I wish I was in Rio.  It is moving to see all the pilgrims at WYD.  Pope Francis is just an amazing pope.  He really connect with the youth.  God bless him and all the pilgrims at WYD2013.

--- 6 ---

Please visit Catholic Vote 365 and make a pledge to make a difference.  What an awesome idea!  I made the pledge and so can you.  Tell your friends.  Let's make a difference!  

--- 7 ---

I can hear my little ones waking up.  I leave you with some inspiring words for all mothers.  Have a great weekend!  ¡Hasta luego!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Theme Thursday: Askew

This is my first Theme Thursday!  There are plenty of things askew in our home but I decided to go outside and take some askew pictures on this beautiful sunny day.

Our toddler slide is not in service.  I believe we have a nest of earwigs! No bueno.  

¡Hasta Luego! 

Five Favorites

I have to warn you this is my first Five Favorites post, so bear with me. 

~1~

One of my favorites things this week is the 7 post and 7 days challenge.  It is really keeping me on my toes.  Plus so many bloggers who have joined the challenge......there is so much to read!  Thank you Jen! 

~2~

One of my favorite moments today was taking my daughter to her violin lesson.  She really enjoys going to her violin lessons.

~3~

Did you have an item on your baby registry that you did not receive but you have always wanted? I did have an item that I did not receive and wanted, a baby carrier.  I know....but I guess my family is not a fan of the baby carrier.  My mom does not like it.  She is old school.  She used a rebozo.  I tried a rebozo but had a hard time with it.  So, I told myself when a baby carrier goes on sale and I mean a great deal, I will purchase it.  And that day came my friends, last week.  I purchased the ergobaby baby carrier.  I am one happy mama.

rebozo

My new baby carrier! 

~4~

Anyone a guacamole fan?  Do I have the recipe for you!  I have discovered Frontera's Guacamole Mix, from Rick Bayless.  All natural and no preservatives.  All you need is 3 avacados, fresh cilantro and Frontera's guacamole mix and you will have a tasty guacamole.  I have done this guacamole so many times and EVERY time it is a hit.  A must for all you guacamole fans.  You will thank me.   

~5~

One of my favorite red wines, every week, Alamos, Malbec.  Argentinian wine is just delicious.   

¡Hasta Luego! 

Baked Salmon Recipe--Gluten Free (Day 2 of Blogging Challenge)

I enjoy cooking but I would not say I am an iron chef.  My family enjoys my food so I guess I am doing something right.  But I am still a work in process.

A few posts ago I said I would share with you my baked salmon recipe.  So for day 2 of blogging challenge I have decided to post the recipe.  Here it is!  Finally.

What you will need:

• 4 Salmon Fillets 
• 4 tablespoons of olive oil
• 3 tomatoes chopped
• 2 chopped shallots
• 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon of dried oregano and thyme
• Foil for each salmon fillet

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Clean salmon and sprinkle olive oil, salt and pepper on each one.

In a bowl combine the tomatoes, shallots, lemon juice, oregano, thyme and 2 tablespoons of olive oil together.

Cut four pieces of foil for each fillet.  Drizzle olive oil on each piece of foil, place salmon on foil and wrap the ends of the foil (look at picture below).  Pour the tomato mixture evenly on each salmon.  

Once you poured the tomato mixture on each salmon, close the foil loosely and bake for about 25 minutes.  Bake until the salmon is cooked.  Once cooked, you can remove the salmon with a spatula and serve it on a plate.  

Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of the salmon on a plate.  We were hungry!  But it really is delicious.  I really do not like salmon that much because it can be dry but with the tomato mixture it comes out delicious and juicy.  Enjoy! 

7 Posts in 7 days, Oh my!

Yes, I have decided to join Jennifer in her 7 post in 7 days challenge.  I thought it would be great idea to join her in this challenge so I can stop procrastinating and start blogging again.

Life has been a little bit off schedule since my last post.  We have had family visit us from out of town, we moved our business to a new location, vacation and some sad news, my father was diagnosed with secondary bone cancer.  The good news is that his radiation treatment helped and he is feeling much better.  There is no cure for secondary bone cancer.  His spirits are down.  My parents live about an hour away from us but we do try to go visit him often.  If you could please keep my father in your prayers.  I would greatly appreciate it.

I have to say Jennifer picked a great week for the 7 day challenge, World Youth Day 2013!  A very exciting week for Catholics.  Make sure you stay tune with EWTN.   Have a great week!  See you mañana.

¡Hasta luego! 

  

Mediation Monday---Be The One To Comfort

For the pure can see and share the terrible suffering of Christ.  Be the one to comfort Him when He needs some one to comfort Him, especially where there is so much sin.

                                                                                                                    -Mother Teresa

Abortionist Kermit Gosnell By The Numbers

I am sure most of us already know about Kermit Gosnell.  If not, get informed and spread the word.  This a disheartening, ugly, tragic story about abortion which should be the top story of every news media.  Regardless of your views everyone should know of what this man did.  We must spread the word.  Now is the time to speak up!

"To ignore evil is to become an accomplice to it."- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

source: http://3801lancaster.com/

Meditation Monday---Love of God and Neighbor

Just think God creates human life in His own image for the same purpose for which He exist.  God exist to love us ----you and I and that little unborn child have been created for the same purpose: to love and to be loved.  That's why I believe that abortion is an act against God Himself because they are trying to get rid of the presence of God, of the image of God.
                                                                                                        -Mother Teresa

Meditation Monday --a pure heart

If you're all for Jesus, He will do great things.  How?  Because if your heart is pure, God will come and dwell there, because He has great attraction for a pure heart.  I read the other day---God was like "forced" ----Jesus was "anxious" to come down to Mary because she was so beautifully pure.  So, ask Mary to teach you to be pure so that Jesus will be able to come to your heart and make you holy.

                                                                                                 -Mother Teresa

Meditation Monday----cancer of the heart

A soul that is humble and sincere......will never stoop to criticism, which in spiritual life is called "cancer of the heart."  It eats up all the love of God, all the energy we have for God's interests.  It is also most infectious.  Let one sister start criticizing and in a short time we shall have two, four, eight, ten, following........

A truly generous soul must never stoop to criticism.  As a rule, people that criticize never do it openly, but go about doing it in a whisper.  That is a sin.  Today when you go before the Blessed Sacrament, ask Jesus to preserve you from the cancer of criticism.  Criticism is not a failure, not a human weakness----it is something that touches the heart.  Should we have given way to it at times, let us resolve to avoid it and beg Christ to preserve us.  To keep free of criticism, we must be humble.
                                                                     
                                                                                                                         -Mother Teresa

7 Quick Take (Vol 6)----Habemus Papam!

--- 1 ---

I think we will all remember what we were doing this past Wednesday when we heard, Habemus Papam!  I was preparing dinner for a dear friend who just had her third baby and I looked at the clock and thought, it's 1:30pm, I wonder if the smoke came out white.  So I went to check online at EWTN and sure enough the screen read Habemus Papam!  I ran to turn on my TV and tune in to EWTN.  I know you would all agree it was an exciting moment.  We have been praying for our new Pope for over a month now and when Pope Francis came out I was overcome with joy.  Thank you Lord for blessing us with such a humble Pope.

--- 2 ---

I really like our new Pope Francis.  I am excited!   I like the name he picked (one of my favorite saints), he is so humble and he walks the walk.  Here is a picture I came across of him as Archbishop washing the feet of a mother who just had her baby.

(picture source)

--- 3 ---

Here is another photo of him riding the bus as Archbishop in Argentina.

--- 4 ---

I came across this great picture of Pope Francis with the statue of St. Peter.  

(picture source)

--- 5 ---

Everyone in our family is excited about our new Pope Francis.  My dad was born in Spain but as a young man (age 16) most of his family moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina (side note...some of the pictures I have posted on this blog were taken in Argentina).  So you can imagine that when they announce that the Archbishop of Argentina, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was our new Pope Francis, we were overcome with emotion.  We were all very happy not because of our Argentinien background but for the Hispanic community.     

--- 6 ---

One thing is for sure, we must continue to pray for Pope Francis.  May the Holy Spirit guide Pope Francis as our new leader and protect him from all harm.  Blessed Mother, please intercede for Pope Francis.

--- 7 ---

Here is a wonderful video from Catholic Vote.  Take a look.

¡Hasta Luego! 

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Meditation Monday---How Jesus Felt

"One day a sister did something terrible.  I never said a word to her, but I waited......thinking she will come and say sorry.  But she did not come, so I went after her----but not response.  I found another reason to go to her.  Still no response.  I did not know how she could remain in that sinful state.  I felt sorry for her, so I understood how Jesus felt when we refuse Him.  But He is always waiting.  God's mercy is greater than our sins.  God has created me for greater things because He loves me."
                                                                                                       -Mother Teresa

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol 5)

--- 1 ---

I did not get the chance to write my 7 Quick takes last week because my youngest daughter (13 months) old was not feeling well and family comes first.  She had a low fever and diarrhea all because of two bottom molars that came out.  Yes, you read correctly.  She had two molars come out at the same time!   Her teeth have been coming out since she was 6 months old and there is no slowing down.  My poor little one had a hard time but she is much better now.

--- 2 ---

Have you heard about adoptacardinal.org? You can adopt a Cardinal which you will support him through prayer and intercession during the coming weeks before and during of the conclave.  All you need to do is provide your name and email address.  Once you provide your information they will give you the picture and name of the Cardinal.  I was given, Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa, Archbishop emeritus of Santiago de Chile.

Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa

picture provided by adoptacardinal.org

--- 3 ---

Side note.  Did you know that 70% of Chile's population are Catholics?  Si Señor.  In addition, the Government observes the following Catholic Holy Days as national holidays: Good Friday, Christmas, Feast of the Virgin of Carmen, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, the Feast of the Assumption, and All Saints Day.  Chile is my kind of country.  

--- 4 --

Last month I joined the Catholic Women's Book Club and this month we will be discussing the autobiography of Saint Therese if Lisieux, The Story of a Soul.  So far, it is a great book.  We can learn so much from the Saints.  The Saints are our brothers and sisters in Christ who have been there and done that and help you see how to get through it by their example.  We are truly blessed to have these recording of the Saints.

--- 5 ---

How is your Lent going?  I am doing ok.  I gave up social media like facebook for Lent and I am doing well with that and working on my prayer life.  I had some eye opening moment about myself during prayer.  I am thankful for the Holy Spirit making it clear to me on what I need to work on.  Sometimes it is a slap in the face but we all can use that once in a while.  Thankful for Lent.    

--- 6 ---

My husband and I started to go visit the Blessed Sacrament once a week a few months ago.  We take turns.  He goes one week, I go the next and so on and I have to say it is truly a blessing.  We both enjoy going and sometimes when it is his turn, I wish it was my turn.  But one week I was sick so he went for me and it was comforting to know that my husband was with Jesus praying for us and our family.  If you are thinking about visiting the Blessed Sacrament, go, Jesus is calling you.

--- 7 ---

I would like to announce that we are proud owners of the DVD, For the Greater Glory.  I know it has been on sale for a while know but we finally bought it.  If you have not seen this movie, you are missing out.  My husband really likes it.  He bought the DVD for us!  !Que Viva Christo Rey!  

¡Hasta Luego! 

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Meditation Monday

"Go before the Blessed Sacrament---He is there.  When we look at the Cross we know how much He loved us; when we look at the tabernacle, we know how much He loves us now. "Loved," past tense; "Loves," present tense.  Not only past tense, He loves us now.  He loves me tenderly."     -Mother Teresa
                                                                                                                   

Meditation Monday

"Jesus made it so easy for us to love one another.  If we only remember, whatever we do, we do it to him.

The fruit of Prayer is Faith
The fruit of Faith is Love
The fruit of Love is Service

Everything begins with prayer.  Bring the rosary into your family.  Where there is prayer, there is unity, there is peace, there is love.  I have seen that with our poor.  The joy of loving is the joy of sharing.
 
I would be very happy if you pray to Our Lady to share the joy of loving in your own home.  For where there is love, there will always be prayer."
                                               
                                                                                  -Mother Teresa

7 Quick Takes Friday--catch up edition

--- 1 ---

This 7 Quick Take Friday is definitely a let's catch up because my last 7 quick takes was back in November.  Gosh where did the time go.  Well since then both of my daughters had a birthday.  The oldest is three and our little one is now one.  We were sick with the stomach flue the week of Christmas and New Years.  We all caught the cold flu (Jan/Feb) which lasted about two weeks.  But we are all healthy now.

--- 2 ---

Speaking of health.  A few months ago I mentioned that I was going to make an appointment to see a new doctor regarding my headaches.  Well I did in December and I am glad I did.  She is a wonderful doctor.  I have to say that for the first time I feel like a doctor is listening to my concerns.  Why you might wonder.  Well all my life doctors have given me medication to deal with the pain instead of getting down to root of the problem.  My new doctor, Dr. G, did not give me any pain medicine, instead she is trying to figure out why I am getting these headaches.  She asked me so many questions that our session was almost two hours!  She asked me to go on a gluten and dairy free diet which I have and I have to say that the amount of headaches is less.  Significantly less!  Praise God! Not only do I have less headaches but I have more energy too!  

--- 3 ---

I have tried new gluten free recipes which I will start posting soon.  The difference is not bad at all.  When Dr. G told me to change our diet I was a little worried but there are so many great ingredients you can use for a gluten free diet.  Plus many food companies are jumping on the gluten free diet and are providing more gluten free alternatives.

Gluten free chocolate cake. Delicious!

Gluten free pasta with spinach. 

--- 4 ---

I hope you are all having a great Lent.  My daughters are too young to understand Lent but my oldest is old enough to understand the count down for Easter.  I printed out a free Lent calendar by Kimberlee at ponderinmyheart.com.  Thank you Kimberlee!  My daughter enjoys making an "x" on each day that goes by.

--- 5 ---

A book I am reading for Lent is A Mother's Rule of Life by Holly Pierlot.  I have to say that if you are a mother who is struggling (like myself) or needs some tweaking this book is for you.  This book is a great guide to the vocation of wife and motherhood.  I have been trying to set a routine/schedule for our family and this book has help me where tweaking was needed.  I am so thankful for veteran moms who share their own personal experiences for new moms like myself.

--- 6 ---

I finally started to work out!  I have been doing Pilates.  I made it a priority since Lent (so its only been a little bit over a week :-/ ) and I hope to continue after Lent.  Why?  Well, if I want to be a better wife and mother, I need to take care of myself which includes my body.  I release stress which in return will help me with my vocation.

--- 7 ---

I want to end by sharing with you all the 3-Minute Retreat by Loyola Press.  It is a great way to start the day with a three minute reflection, especially during Lent.  They also have it in español for my Spanish speaking friend.  

¡Hasta Luego! 

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Meditation Monday

"I shall keep the silence of the heart with greater care so that in the silence of my heart I hear His words of comfort and from the fullness of my heart I comfort Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poor."

                                                                                            -Mother Teresa

Another Catholic Cuisine Giveaway

I just read that Catholic Cuisine is having another great giveaway.  It is their new Cristeros Apron.  Do not miss out on your chance to win this beautiful apron.  The deadline is today, February 16 at Midnight (PST).  Just click on the picture below.  ¡Suerte! 

Meditation Monday

You can never be only all for Jesus if your love our Our Lady is not a living reality.  Come so close to Our Lady that she can take you to Jesus.  Avoid many distractions.  Be alone with Jesus and ask Our Lady over and over again, "Make me only all for Jesus."  Be holy like Jesus and Mary.  Think over it, pray over it.
                                                                                         -Mother Teresa

Meditation Monday

I want to start a segment called Meditation Monday which will feature an inspiring quote.  The majority of the quotes will be from someone who I deeply admire, Mother Teresa.  There is a collection of quotes from Mother Teresa in the book Where there is Love there is God.  It will be a great way for me to read the book and share some inspiring quotes with you to meditate on during the week.  I hope you join me on Meditation Monday.

"Meditation is talking to Jesus.  It is not just thinking, otherwise it is just like a philosopher, only thinking.  You must make that Word of God your own.  It is deep intimate conversation with Jesus.  You must hear Him and He must hear you."             
                                                                                          -Mother Teresa