Kenya's new big girl bed

I'm sure you remember me talking about Kenya sleeping in her "big girl bed" which was really a mattress on the floor to get her ready for her big girl bed. You remember right??? Well I don't think I ever told yall the rest of the story so here goes.

When I (Vanessa) found out that Melody and Madison might not make it I got really attached to Kenya. Since Kenya was a few weeks old she has gone to sleep on her own in her own bed or the pac-in-play in our room. Anyways, the point is that we have never rocked her to sleep. This is something that I kinda regret but not really. The reason I regret it is I lost a lot of bonding time with Kenya the reason it was nice is because no matter where we were at I could lay her down and she would go to sleep on her own. It was great. So now back to my story.

After I found out about the twins I decided I wanted to start rocking Kenya to sleep because I didn't know if I would get the chance to do that with the girls and I really wanted some extra bonding time with Kenya. So that's what I did every nap and every night I would rock her to sleep. Let me just say that I LOVED IT. Well after we came home from the hospital I still enjoyed rocking her to sleep so I did until I was ready for her to go to sleep on her own. So of course that time came and guess what... She was having no part of that. I would read her a book, sing a few hymns to her, pray for her then try to walk away. Then Kenya would run to the door screaming "I WANT MY MOMMY!" It killed me. I tried to be tough but I just couldn't take it.

We ended up putting her back in her crib to re-train her to go to sleep on her own. So that worked of course. Oh I forgot to tell you we had ordered a "big girl toddler bed" for her but the parts were all bent and they wouldn't fit together so we sent it back.

After much talking it over with Jason we decided Ikea was the way to go. Their kids rooms are sooooo cute. We decided to get her bunk beds. I know you all think we are crazy but they are the cutter shorter little kid version of bunk beds. You can use her bed as just a twin bed by flipping it over, or it can be bunk beds by putting a norther mattress on the floor or you can do what we did which is use it as a loft bed and put her toys underneath. Now don't be worried, the bed doesn't even come up to my shoulder so it very short and she can get up an down all by herself with no problems. So with out drawing this out any longer here is Kenya's new big girl bed...

Oh I forgot to tell you all we also got her the canopy that goes on top it looks like there are stars on it. I love it!


Kenya's first night in her big girl bed didn't go so well I had to sleep with her. It's a twin bed so there was plenty of room. After that though she did great she lays down and goes right to sleep on her own after we pray and sing hymns.

I love this girl so much I can't believe how fast time flys by.

Our lives these past few weeks...

Hello blogging world! It has been so long since my (Vanessa's) last post. Well a few weeks anyway. I'm doing pretty good I will catch yall up on the past few weeks. Here it goes,...

After our friends had a miscarriage on February 27th I was devastated. I felt like I started mourning the loss of our babies after their baby died. I know that sounds strange so let me explain. I of course was devastated when our babies died but I never had a heavy heart. I was sad and I cried but I didn't ever feel like my heart weighed 1,000 tons and I wasn't sick to my stomach like I thought I would have been. But after our friends baby died it was instant. I got the heavy heart and the sick to my stomach feeling,... oh and the very fun cry wherever I was at about anything and everything. I was mourning the loss of our babies and their baby. It hurt so much but it was such a good place to be.

"Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad."
- Ecclesiastes 7:3

As I was in the middle of mourning the loss of our babies I told Jason I can not take anymore, If anything else happens I'm going to go crazy. I really meant that too. Then on March 3rd a very dear friend of mine (well, really she was like a big sister to me) Stephanie Malone died. She was 29, married with two sons, one is 4 years old and the other one is 7 months old. I couldn't believe it! I felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest. Stephanie was such an AMAZING woman she loved the Lord and I know that I would not be where I am today if it had not been for her and her husband Randy taking me under their wing when I was a teenager.

I never questioned God. I know that He is sovereign and that it was for His glory and for my good as Romans 8:28 says "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." I knew Gods ways are far better than mine but it still hurt. I'm so thankful that Stephanie loved the Lord. I know that I will see her again! I am able to mourn not as the world but with hope knowing that I will see her in Heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.)

So moving on it got a little easier as the days went on. Jason and I celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary on March 5th.

(more pics of our wedding here)

We went to PF Changs (which we do not do very often) and had a lovely dinner. (Just a side note if you ever go to PF Changs you HAVE to get the spring roll bananas for desert they are amazing!) It was so nice to get to spend time with my hubby and celebrate the gift that God had given us through marriage.

I LOVE being married to Jason! I couldn't have built a more perfect husband for myself. God knew what I needed in a husband, God knew what we would go through and He knew that Jason is the only one who I would want to go through any of it with! We have never had a year of marriage without great sorrow,...but it has always been mingled with great joy. I have never regretted any of the things God has brought us through. It has made me fall more and more in love with my husband seeing how he leads our family and seeing how he comforts me. It has strengthened our marriage.

I love you Jason and no matter what we go through I'm just so thankful that I have you to go through it with me!

So then on March 8th we found out that our dear friend of ours Samantha Bunch died. We couldn't believe it. We love her so much and can't believe she is gone. My favorite memory of Samantha was when I was pregnant with Kenya, Sammie was probably 16 she would always come up to me at church and say "Vanessa you haven't had that baby yet?" I would say "not yet" and then she would ALWAYS say "your HUGE I can't believe you haven't had that baby yet." Then I would always say "thanks Sam" It still makes me laugh to this day. Samantha will be greatly missed by a lot of people!

Then just two days later we found out that the Wright family delivered their conjoined twin girls Anna and Emma.

Their girls lived for an hour and forty five minutes which is such a blessing from the Lord because 50% of all conjoined twins are still born. I was so sad for their loss. I know exactly what they are going through and although the road ahead is not easy when they look back I know that they will feel blessed to have been able to have gone through what they went through.

Paige and Brandt we are praying for you guys we love yall very much!

So with out going into all the details of everyone who has died in our lives I just want to let yall know that I have had 9 people in the last year that are close to me die. Their ages range from a few weeks after conception to almost 80 years old. So that brings me to my next point,...

Jason and I talk a lot about the Lord and what it means to be born again. But if you have been reading this thinking, "Oh, I'm glad that worked for them" or, "I'm young, nothing is going to happen to me." I want you to understand that you are not promised tomorrow. The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27 "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment", Did you get that? it is appointed every man once to die. The Lord knows the day we will leave this Earth. He knew when our babies would die, He knew that Stephanie would die at 29 and that my step Dad's Mom would pass away after living a very full life of close to 80 years (if I'm remembering her age correctly). So the question is,... Do you know the Lord? Have you been born again? Do you know what it means to repent of your sins and fully trust in the Lord for your salvation? If you don't please click on this link don't waste any time do it now.

To God be the Glory.

Love,
Vanessa

Update on Anna and Emma (conjoined twins) II

This from their page:

Praising God... Our pastor Neil and his wife Vela were with
Paige and Brandt and said Anna and Emma were born at 8:01 am, the
babies are so beautiful, and their heartbeats are very weak. Sophie
was able to visit with Anna and Emma.

Anna and Emma passed away at 9:45 am.

Please keep Paige, Brandt, Sophie, and their family in your
prayers during this time.

Update on Anna and Emma (conjoined twins)

Hello Everyone I just wanted to update yall on Anna and Emma. This is taken from their cares page,

Dear friends of Paige and Brandt,

Paige and Brandt went to the doctors today and they are being admitted to the hospital tonight. Anna and Emma are expected to be delivered tomorrow morning at 7:30 am. At this time they are requesting no calls or visitors. They will
keep you updated and appreciate your prayers. Pray for the doctors and all the hospital care givers as they minister to Paige and Brandt. Pray for peace and the Lord’s comfort
for Paige and Brandt...

That was written yesterday so the girls should have been delivered this morning. I will let yall know if I get any more information. Please be praying for the Wright family I know that the Lord is comforting them.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

Tiny Treasures Tuesday - Jason's pile-o-leaves

Since my wife is laboring over the stove to make us some pizza (frozen pizza) ;) I'll do this post since I took the pics and created the scene.

Well, though it is almost springtime, I finally am getting around to raking. Long story short, the kids thought a big pile-o-leaves would be great fun to play in:

Oh the joys of just being a kids and ruining a adults hard work ;)

Soli Deo Gloria!

jason d.

Flash Back Friday - Sonogram Bad News

(Well, it is technically Saturday morning, but this isn't going to be a traditional "Flash Back Friday" anyways. This one will be a little more serious.)

Today we flash back to the most recent Friday,...yesterday.

As I was driving to my pastors house to prepare for that evenings worship service, I got a text from my wife informing me of some news from our very close personal friends (I won't disclose their names) who are expecting a child. The news was simply,...

"They can't find the heartbeat."

"No,...no,...no,....O God No!", I said, as tears began to well up in my eyes all I could do is start crying out to God for them, "Lord please let that medical equipment be wrong, let that little baby inside her be healthy, with a heartbeat,...O GOD PLEASE!"

At that point, like a flood, all the emotions came back of all those sonograms we had when the doctors could only tell us that our twins Melody & Madison would not live.

Another text message from my wife,...

"She is waiting to have a sonogram."

Again, I relived so many emotions of times we would have a checkup, expecting this time for the news to get better in some way,...but every time the news from the doctors would get worse and worse. Woe upon woe. I remember the frustration and hopelessness that wanted to build up as time went on. I am thankful that is led to trust more and more in God, knowing that humans could do nothing to help, so I had to fully trust in God.

As I was practicing a worship song for that night, another text,...

"She had a miscarriage."

Devastated, I dropped my guitar, I thought of my close friends and what they must be feeling right now. I didn't know if I should call them and tell them I knew how they were feeling, or should I just leave them alone and let them mourn. I was afraid of saying anything stupid or wrong. Thankfully there was 3 other Christians with me, they stopped what they were doing and we each prayed for this couple, many times with tears and pain in our voice, then sang songs of worship to the God of all comfort, the God who works all things (even things like this) together for the good, for those that love God, and are called according to His purpose. A God who gives and takes away, and it all comes from His loving hand.

I was brought great comfort when we got to church last night and had worship. I picked songs that brought me great comfort during my trial, song that I needed to hear still as I was reliving so many emotions I thought I had been finished going through. Emotions I had from losing two children.

With all that was going on in my head, I had a very hard time focusing on my pastors message last night. But I remember him saying that we are just one moment away from a life changing event. How true this is,...and in light of this he encouraged us that need to be prepared for anything that might come our way,...especially tragedy.

Friends (this specific couple), I am so so so sorry for your loss, and am thankful that you are Christians who hope in God. I pray this trial, appointed by God, would cause you to cling closer to each other and closer to God. We weep and mourn with you,...with a living hope. Crying out together to our great God who is and will ultimately make all things right. He will wipe each tear away,...

Friends (blogging world), what is your hope in? What will you do when you are just going through your everyday life and you get a call, or a message that some life changing devastating event has happened? We are just one moment away from a life changing moment. We ourselves are just one moment away from death,...have you prepared for that? We are just one heartbeat away from standing face to face with the one true God, one moment away from judgment. How will you do on that day? Are you good enough to go to Heaven? Will you be found Innocent or guilty? What will you tell Him on that day?

Soundtrack for Suffering

It has been hard for me to talk openly about some things that brought me comfort during our last pregnancy when I was pretty much guaranteed by every doc that my twins would die. During most of the pregnancy I was very concerned for my wife and my family and spent alot of time making sure they were OK and that things were taken care of at home. This typically kept me busy enough to not dwell to much on the death of my twin girls.

But what about the moments when I was doing my hour long drive to work? Or at work? Or my drive back home from work? For my quiet time alone at home. It was during those times that I found more and more comfort from our great God. The primary way was through His Word, the Bible. Resting in His sovereignty, His providence, His care, ect,... but there were times I could not read the Bible, and I turned to songs that spoke of these great truths of the Bible that I had been studying.

One of the CDs I fell in love with during this time of difficult trial was "Come Weary Saints" by Sovereign Grace Music. It talked opening and bluntly about some of the hardest things in Scripture, and it brought me great comfort being daily reminded through song that God is indeed on the thrown,... in good and in bad.


My favorite song on that CD is currently being given away for free by the author of it. DOWNLOAD IT HERE! Below is a exert from his blog about this particular song:

_________________________________________

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes.

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. (Job 2.7-10)

It’s easy to praise God in prosperity. But what do we do when we’re suffering? Job shows us that we should trust God at all times, not just in good times. I recently tried to capture this in a song:

AS LONG AS YOU ARE GLORIFIED

SHALL I TAKE FROM YOUR HAND YOUR BLESSINGS
YET NOT WELCOME ANY PAIN?
SHALL I THANK YOU FOR DAYS OF SUNSHINE
YET GRUMBLE IN DAYS OF RAIN?
SHALL I LOVE YOU IN TIMES OF PLENTY
THEN LEAVE YOU IN DAYS OF DROUGHT?
SHALL I TRUST WHEN I REAP A HARVEST
BUT WHEN WINTER WINDS BLOW, THEN DOUBT?

O, LET YOUR WILL BE DONE IN ME
IN YOUR LOVE I WILL ABIDE
O, I LONG FOR NOTHING ELSE AS LONG
AS YOU ARE GLORIFIED

ARE YOU GOOD ONLY WHEN I PROSPER?
AND TRUE ONLY WHEN I’M FILLED?
ARE YOU KING ONLY WHEN I’M CAREFREE?
AND GOD ONLY WHEN I’M WELL?
YOU ARE GOOD WHEN I’M POOR AND NEEDY
YOU’RE TRUE WHEN I’M PARCHED AND DRY
YOU STILL REIGN IN THE DEEPEST VALLEY
YOU’RE STILL GOD IN THE DARKEST NIGHT

O, LET YOUR WILL BE DONE IN ME
IN YOUR LOVE I WILL ABIDE
O, I LONG FOR NOTHING ELSE AS LONG
AS YOU ARE GLORIFIED

SO QUIET MY RESTLESS HEART, QUIET MY RESTLESS HEART
QUIET MY RESTLESS HEART, IN YOU.

Isn’t it amazing how the gospel so changes us that what matters most is the glory of Jesus, and not our own comfort? Let us be a people who overflow with praise and thanks, not only when we receive blessing from his hand, but when we receive hardship from his hand, trusting that even then he is working for our good and his glory.

NOTE: Sovereign Grace Music has graciously agreed to let us give away this song for free. DOWNLOAD IT HERE.

(Lyrics from the CD “Come Weary Saints”, copyright Sovereign Grace Music)

_________________________________________

Also note for the rest of this month (Feb) Sovereign Grace is selling this CD for only $6 (as well as all their other worship CDs) I highly suggest takin advantage of this. Also, you can get another song off of this excellent CD for free from here.


Soli Deo Gloria!


jason d.

I Repent,...

Hello everyone it has been a while since I have really wrote a good post from the heart. After all this is my online journal. So here it goes,...I'm going to be brutality honest.

I LOVE the blogging world! I really mean that I truly love writing blogs, checking other peoples blogs, finding more blogs to check off of other peoples blogs, and then talking to my family about all the blogs I have been reading like they are real life. It's sick, really it is.

I have only recently come to realize that the blogging worlds has become a HUGE idle in my life. Let me explain what I mean by that. Instead of cleaning, praying, reading my Bible, spending time with my family,...I'm not! Instead I'm at the computer reading and writing blogs. Now don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with the blogging world and being a part of that world, the problem for me is that it has become the number one spot in my life above my family and most importantly above God. Blogging in and of itself is not a sin but for me it has become VERY sinful. Not because of anything I'm writing or reading but because it is consuming ALL of my time and I love doing it more that ANYTHING else and I really mean that.

In Luke 10:27 Jesus says “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." I truly have not been doing this. I have spent hours and hours and hours on the computer only to go to bed too tired to read my Bible. Or been on the computer so long that a whole day goes by where I don't even play with Kenya. I was reading a blog yesterday and Dee came and sat beside me instead of closing the computer and talking to her I pushed her away and told her I was almost done. When Jason comes home normally I am just finishing up reading or writing a blog and instead of closing the computer to tell my Hubby how much I love him and how much I missed him while he was at work I end up telling him I am almost done. I really didn't want to admit any of these things but I think it's good for you to all see how bad it has gotten so you understand me when I say enough is enough.

I REPENT I repent of spending all my time on the computer instead of loving my family and loving God above all else. I will no longer put the computer in front of my family I love them way to much to push them away for this blogging world that I enjoy so much. I will no longer put it in front of God either. He is number one in my life not this silly computer.

I will still write blogs and check blogs it will just not be my top priority anymore. I would love it if you all continued on this journey with my family. Checking in to see the latest, but I'm removing all the pressure I have put on myself to have "the most amazing blog ever". All I can do is be me and share my family with you.

I want to thank you all for being there to support us during my pregnancy and after the girls were born. I really have made a lot of friends through blogging. I want you all to know that I love you all very much. I will continue to pray for you and your families. We are so blessed!

Love,
Vanessa Delgado

Flash Back Friday - Kenya's 2nd Birthday

Well for today's Flash Back Friday we are going back to October 16, 2008. Kenya's 2nd birthday. (Ok, again, I know it wasn't that long ago but I haven't done it yet so here goes.)

Kenya was all into the Disney Princess' and Buzz Light Year so we decided to go the girly route and have a princess party.

She loved the bounce house.
Notice there are more adults than kids in there what does it all mean?

No party is complete with out a pinata. Kenya was a little scared if it so she didn't hit it but she enjoyed watching all the other kids hit it.

Kenya had so much fun opening all of her gifts. I think it took over an hour for her to open them because she did it by herself. I was fun for me to watch her! Look at that belly :)

Kenya loves this Buzz Light Year toy she got and she plays with it all the time!

Happy Second Birthday Kenya sorry it took 4 months to post about your birthday!

Love,
Mommy

What do YOU do with the kids all day? GIVEAWAY!

Congrats to Lauren, winner of the giveaway!
Email me your address and I will mail it ASAP.
Email me @ vkdelgado@hotmail.com

__________

To answer my sweet blogging friend noahandlylasmommi's question, "What do you do with the kids all day?" Here is the answer...
I would love to say that I keep them all on a schedule every day and do lot's of school work with the kids but that just isn't the case everyday. I will say that when I stick to a schedule and have things organized for the kids to do the kids and I have a much better and easier day because they are not just running around all day playing and fighting.

Here are a few ideas of things you can do with them:

1. Circle time is one of the kids favorite times of the day. They each get a baby blanket to sit on (baby blankets are just the right size) and they have to sit on that blanket the whole time. We start out by praying, then I read the Bible to them. I read them scripture from an adult Bible not a kids one, then explain to them what we just read. Kids are never too young to understand the truth of God's word.

2. For their school time I pick one letter, shape, color and number to review for the month. learningpage.com is a great website you can go to and get lots of free worksheets.
Get some posters, flash cards or just make your own with letters, numbers, shapes and colors on them. The kids love learning with them.

3. The kids love having dance parties I put on a CD turn the music up and they have a blast dancing and jumping all around. This is also great for bad weather days they get rid of a lot of energy. Our favorite kids CD to listen to is made by Sovereign Grace Music it's called Awesome God it's all worship songs for children. I love the CD because it's pure theology. If you click on the words Awesome God it will take you to the site where you can listen to the songs and buy the CD if you want (it is only $6, just for the rest of this month!)


I'm also giving one Awesome God CD away. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me your favorite activity to do with your kids, or your friends kids, or your families kids, or really just any fun idea you have to do with kids, and you will be entered to win. The winner will be chosen by random.org I will close the comments Friday morning. So check back Friday morning to see if you won.


4. They also like playing with all Kenya's different instruments. If you don have any you can make some. Two paper plates filled with dried beans makes a great shaker.

5. For their school time I pick one letter, shape, color and number to review for the month. learningpage.com is a great website you can go to and get lots of free worksheets.

Don't forget to leave your comment for a chance to win our giveaway!