Week ending...................................

These last few days we were at a conference . GACHP (Global Association of Christian Hospitality Professionals) We have been involved in these conferences for years but this one I didn't know If I wanted to go because I thought I needed to stay because of work.Well, I was truly blessed and was very happy I chose to come The speakers ,the worship and the classes were just what I needed. Eddy of course was involved with the conference so he was busy but we were able to spend a little time together( that's always nice)

I was able to reconnect with old friends that I haven't seen in a while.

I am ready to come back to work , I am encouraged, revived and rejuvenated and ready to tackle anything that comes my way...........




I came home and to end the weekend I got to have the pleasure of Gabriel's company. He spent the night Saturday and I have him today. Elias, mommy and daddy live here so I get to see Elias everyday. Although Tasha lives very close I don't see Gabriel as much as I would like. I'll take it when I can get it. Time is precious and I do know that.

When I had my girls everything was a blurr. In case you all don't know by now I have twin girls and they are very precious to me...

When we had them I only remember limited things. The first year went by so fast I don't remember a lot of things... Whenever I got to spend time with one the other would want something or wake up so needless to say quality time was hard with them. Don't get me wrong, I would not change ANYTHING about having my girls. . Could you imagine Three??/Shoot me now!!!lol God only gives what you can handle so he figured I could only handle Nicole and Natasha.


I am looking forward to this because when I don't have Elias I have Gabriel, how can life get any better than this????????

here
are some new pictures for you to enjoy (-:

Gabriel Daniel Castillo and Elias Anthony Guadamuz GIGI AND PAPPA E loves you!!!!!!!

Father's Day

I want to say that I love you daddy and I miss you. My father is in heaven now but he is thought about often. Of course today but not just because it's Father's Day but because of the man he was. I am 52 years old and I still call him daddy.My father adopted all of us (3 children) when I was 9.
My biological father left us when I was 3 years old. My mother never talked bad about my father( I hate to even refer him as that) She thought it was best we find out for ourselves . When we got older we started to ask questions and my mother finally had to tell us. My mom met daddy when I was 8. I have always respected my mom because she always said she would never let any of us kids meet the man she would date until it was serious and she had a ring on her finger. . That is exactly what she did. When they got engaged we met him and she indeed asked us If we were ok with it. Of course we were and they got married. I always thought of him as my real dad. As YOU all know just because you give birth to someone doesn't make them your mother or father. I would say my biological father was a sperm donar. A real parent is the one you grow up with, the one that gives you unconditional love the kind that is going to be there for you NO MATTER WHAT>. My father was that and much more. many people would look at us and say we look just alike. That put a smile on his face. I was proud!!!

He loved my girls like he gave birth to them. He couldn't love them anymore as if they were his.He would always say I was the holding cell and they were his. The girls saw him as a saint. If something needed to be taken care of ask PaPa he can do anything. I wish he could have been here to see our grand babies, he would have been proud!!!!As he got older he lost patience but not with the girls. In his eyes they were pure GOLD!!!!! So, you see why I thought my daddy was special. I could go on and on but I couldn't let this day go without saying I love you daddy and we all miss you.
Love you and miss you terribly, Maureen

Snap Shots

I am talking to myself as I am posting this. At work I see so many different things and we (I) tend to make snap judgements or as Eddy would say "SNAP SHOTS". I don't like it when some people want to judge me but I guess I can be accused of the same thing.I walk by the cafe and see something that should be done so I want to say something but I have to remember I don't know the whole story so, I refrain from saying something. I wait and when I hear what has happened I am glad I didn't say anything (that is what I refer to when I say "SNAP SHOT".
This brings me to my next example, this person doesn't really know me but makes all these assumptions on what she has heard from one or two persons that knew me from 30 years ago( I would like to say I have changed over the years and even grew up quite a bit)and just because her life hasn't gone the way SHE THINKS IT OUGHT TO GO she says a lot of nasty comments and malicious things that she knows nothing of. I can do one of two things I can go down to her level and be like her or choose not to do anything and be the bigger person and let God deal with her. I choose the latter.I am far from perfect but I am trying to live my life as God wants me to. Now, like I have said in the past I make plenty of mistakes but that is how I am learning. I am a work in progress. The things I have done in the past are there in the past. I have asked God to forgive me and he has. I don't intentionally set out to hurt people I try to do what I can to be obedient to what God wants me to do. I stumble from time to time but God is always there to pick me back up. So I am not going to respond to whatever it is you want to throw at me but you will have HIM to answer to one of these days. I do sleep well at night and
do not at all feel any guilt!!!! Everything happens for a reason. So this is another SNAP SHOT, you think you know it but there is always two sides to everything. I am learning to wait and listen, not to be quick to respond and to try and get the information I need to deal with what is in front of me. Always , Always pray before responding.

Gigi

Nothing Can Hold Me Back

I have this is my kitchen window so I want to share

No ocean can hold it back.
No river can overtake it.
No army can defeat it
No law can stop it.
No disease can cripple it.
No force on earth is more powerful or effective than the "Power of Prayer"

I believe this more than ever
I have had a sneeze or so, I have made a bad choice or so , but with prayer it has brought me through more than I wish to share. I will not let ANYONE PERSON get me down. I may have a pity party or two but it doesn't last because I DO PRAY!!!! You should too and it might help.

On a lighter side look at the pictures that my daughter just took our newest edition

Is this the cutest face you have ever seen???? Cousins, they love each other

And yes that is me passed out with my little sweetheart. life doesn't get any better than this!!!!!

Until next time
have a Blessed Day!!
Gigi

Memorial Day

Today was a good day. Actually, this was a great weekend. We finally had our long awaited garage sale . Tasha has been after me for a long time . She did good, proud of you girl. Really didn't think she would last as long as she did but she was there till the bitter end...........Nikki did her part and watched the boys so we were able to be out there all morning.


Sunday Eddy and I were together all day and today we were with our family. This is what it's all about.






We celebrate Memorial Day to honor the men and women who have fought for us. It doesn't seem right that we are having such a good time at their expense.My father served 21 years in the Navy and my oldest brother Stephen served 21 years in the Marines.

We had a great time Memorial Day. We went to the hotel and all of us were out by the pool playing and having a great time . This was Gabriel's first pool experience. He didn't like it at first but quickly adjusted.

. I got to spend time with my babies so it was a PERFECT day for me. God has truly blessed us with a wonderful family. We have our issues like everyone but all in all we love each other and are there for each other. I know If I needed my family for anything they would be there in a heart beat. Eddy is my hero whom I adore, of course our babies, the highlight of my day............... Need I say more , they are going to grow up to be the best looking little men around!!!!!

This day has come to an end and we are home now. This is a perfect ending to a perfect
weekend, it's quiet and peaceful (no one but Eddy and me are home) and I am sitting here reflecting on the weekend. Since the babies have been born we have been able to spend more time together. We (I ) appreciate our time with our girls and their new families.I know one day they might have to move away but I enjoying what I have RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW....Thank You LORD!!!!!!!!


So.....Thank You Stephen, Daddy and all the other men and women who have served for all of us, Thank You.............



Hope everyone had a safe and wonderful day. Bye for now, Gigi

Moving Day

Have I told you how much I dislike to move????Well I do! In a perfect world things would always stay the same and I would never have to pack up boxes and things would be neat and tidy. We all know (at least those of you who really know me) my life is nothing like normal and nothing like neat and tidy. I am really frustrated right now but when I finally get packed up moved out and get settled in I will be OK. Just had to get this out. AHHHHH I feel better.
Until next time.........

"Love One Another"

I heard this devotion today so I thought I would bless you with it;


Love is an indefinite thing to most of us; we don't know what we mean when we talk about love. Love is the loftiest preference of one person to another, and spiritually Jesus demands that this sovereign preference be for Himself. Initially, when "the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit", it is easy to put Jesus first. But then we must practice the things mentioned in 2 Peter 1 to see them worked out in our lives.


The first thing God does is forcibly remove any insincerity, pride, and vanity from my life. And the Holy Spirit reveals to me that God loved me not because I was lovable, but because it was His nature to do so.Now He commands me to show the same love to others by saying," love one another as I have loved you". He is saying " I will bring a number of people around you whom you cannot respect, but you must exhibit My love to them, just as I have exhibited it to you." This kind of love is not a patronizing love for the unlovable-it is His love, and it will not be evidenced in us overnight. Some of us may have tried to force it, but we were soon tired and frustrated.

"The lord......is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish...."(2Peter 3:9). I should look within and remember how wonderfully He has dealt with me. The knowledge that God has loved me beyond all limits will compel me to go into the world to love others in the same way . I may get irritated because I have to live with an unusually difficult person. But just think how disagreeable I have been with God! Am I prepared to be identified so closely with the Lord Jesus that His life and His sweetness will be continually poured out through Me? Neither natural love nor God's divine love will remain and grow in me unless it is nurtured. Love is spontaneous, but it has to be maintained through discipline.



My Utmost For His Hightest

Oswald Chambers





It's not always easy to love people when they are hateful or mean spirited but we do because we are instructed by God. Thankfully enough my God forgives me and he reminds me daily of what I need to do. I don't have to like certain people but I do love because HE FIRST LOVED US!!!!!!



This is a good devotion for me to read daily. I am far from perfect, made plenty of mistakes but I know I am forgiven how about you?????

Mother's Day

So today as you all know is Mother's Day. We had such an awesome day!!! We started the day off by going to service and watching Gabriel being dedicated. After service we got to go eat brunch. The day was perfect. I was able to spend time with Eddy, Nicole, Natasha and our boys. The best part of the whole day was we were together. Spending time as a family. Our lives are sooo crazy with new jobs and our ever growing family so when days like this happen we don't take the moment for granted.Here are some pictures of our day. As you can see we have a lot to be thankful for. I thank my God daily for this family he has blessed me with!!!!

Mississippi

Mom and I went on our road trip and drove to Mississippi. We had a nice trip. I don't get to see mom as much as I would like so it was nice to be with her. We made it in record time but unfortunately I wasn't able to stay for Erin's graduation most important thing is I got to see Erin. I was excited to see Erin and can't wait to see her baby. We don't live that far away so I hope my grandchildren and Samantha will be able to grow up together. Anthony(my brother) bought a cabin and we are going to plan reunions and vacations out there. Through the years our families have gotten together and have had a great time. Now, a new generation and many more memories to create!!!

Mother's Day is tomorrow and I can't wait. Little Man is getting dedicated and we are going to spend the day together. Perfect Day, to be with MY family is what it's all about. I love that both my girls are in the same zip code. I don't take it for granted , I feel for my mom cause she has her kids all over the United States at least at this time I have my family intact and we are all together. God has truly blessed us. So until next time Good Night and Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms out there!!!!!!

People in our lives

This Sunday two big events are taking place, Mother's Day and Baby Dedication. This Sunday we are honoring all the mom's. This is my favorite job, to be Nicole and Natasha's mom. I know they are 21 and they are now mom's themselves but with this particular job this one never goes away (thankfully). I want to be close enough just in case they need me . Tasha has Gabriel who is almost 4 months and Nicole has Elias who is a 3 weeks today. Now as a grandmother I truly appreciate all of the stuff my mom had to put up with when I was a girl. I had my moments but my mother loved me regardless of what I did or didn't do.

Gabriel is going to Baby Dedication this Sunday



You are probably wondering what that is?? Many Christian Churches practice Baby Dedication instead of infant baptism. It is A ceremony in which believing parents, and sometimes entire families, make a commitment before the Lord to submit a child to God's will and to raise that child to according to God's Word and God's ways.



Parents responsibilities involved in Baby Dedication:



Christian parents who dedicate a child are making a promise to the Lord to do everything within their power to raise the child in a godly way.

1 Samuel 1:26- 28 (niv)


I pray for our children, I pray they will allow God to work in their lives and in their children's lives. This is an exciting time for both girls and a stressful time. I just hope they enjoy this time with their boys. When I had them needless to say the first year was a blurr. I just hope they DON'T let stress take over. Life has a way of doing that, I hope they know we are here to be a support and anything else they need from us. When it all comes down to it that's all we have is each other. Nicole and Natasha your Mom and Dad love you more than life!!!!!!Don't ever forget that..........................................

Happy Mother's Day