Hello readers! (All two of you? lol)
So I updated the Bio section yesterday and also posted about welcoming Addison, but a lot has happened between October of last year and now, October 2016, so I figured another post would do.
In October 2015 Robert officially changed jobs and has now been with YFC (Youth for Christ) for a whole year. In August he received his first certification (woohoo!) in addition to several trainings throughout the year. The highlight/most impactful time each year with the students is summer camp and he was able to attend both middle and high school camps this summer. God is definitely moving! Send me your email or mailing address if you would like to receive periodic newsletters throughout the year. That is the best way to stay updated on what God is doing through Robert with YFC.
In June 2016 we celebrated 2 years of being in our house. We feel so grateful to have a house to call home and make our own after renting for the first several years of marriage. Home ownership has its ups and downs (doesn't everything in life?) but we love it! Robert is quite the handy man now and it is quite nice to be able to rely on him for minor repairs and projects around the house.
In August 2016 we celebrated six years of marriage. Looking back to August 2010, we could not have imagined where we would be today. A cross-country move. Job changes. Buying a house. More job changes. Having a baby. In hindsight, I think it's better that God doesn't reveal our futures to us all at once. How many of us would NOT take a step forward if we knew what was ahead? One of the things that has served us well in our marriage is to not get too set on the future. Yes, we dream and make plans, but always knowing that God is in control and ultimately His will be done. This could mean that the future is different than what we imagined it to be, but that is not a bad thing!
In September 2016 we then welcomed our first child into the world! We know that life will never be the same and, although part of me somewhat mourns the loss of the time Robert and I had with just the two of us, we are so in love with Addison and wouldn't trade this time for anything. It truly is a miracle to experience pregnancy and childbirth - to know your child both in utero and ex utero is incredible! For example, Addie would get the hiccups at least once a day in the womb. If they lasted more than 2 minutes, she would get incredibly squirmy. The same behavior applies now that she is here - she does not like having the hiccups! As her mommy, I stare at her in awe that I got to carry her inside me and then birth her. As for her daddy, he is over the moon! Watching him be a daddy makes me love him even more and I can see that God meant for him to be a daddy to a little girl. I can't wait to see the relationship the two of them have as she grows!
So, needless to say, the coming months are full of excitement and anticipation. First Halloween, first Thanksgiving, first Christmas...Addison may not be old enough to appreciate the sentiment, but mommy and daddy are crazy excited! Especially for Christmas! So, stay tuned for pictures and stories as the parenting journey/adventure gets under way....
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Monday, October 24, 2016
Did someone say Baby?
Well, another year has passed us by and yet again I did not make good on my goal to keep this blog updated. Of course, it will only be the more difficult now. Why, you ask? Well, let me tell you! On September 20, 2016 our lives were forever changed by a few pounds. Seven pounds fourteen ounces, to be exact!
The last five weeks have been a whirlwind of diaper changes, feedings, and swaddling. Our hearts are overwhelmed with this new love that cannot be fathomed until the moment arrives. Addie is a sweet baby who loves to be snuggled (no complaints from mom and dad about that!). She sleeps fairly well for us at night and keeps us busy during the day. She is loved by so many already, both family and friends.
Here are a few photos from Addison's first weeks...
May we introduce Addison Marie Saldana...
The last five weeks have been a whirlwind of diaper changes, feedings, and swaddling. Our hearts are overwhelmed with this new love that cannot be fathomed until the moment arrives. Addie is a sweet baby who loves to be snuggled (no complaints from mom and dad about that!). She sleeps fairly well for us at night and keeps us busy during the day. She is loved by so many already, both family and friends.
Here are a few photos from Addison's first weeks...
About 24 hours old in the hospital
A few days old at home
4.5 weeks, going out to dinner with daddy, mommy, and Auntie Ashley!
Changing too quickly!
It's fair to say that any future blog posts will revolve around our sweet Addison. We are slightly obsessed as our lives have so drastically changed, and for the better! We pray that God gives us the wisdom to raise her to follow Him!
Old Bio
It has been quite some time since I updated the Bio portion of our blog. The former content is posted below for posterity and the Bio itself has now been updated. Can't believe how much has changed! Check out my recent posts for our latest adventures!
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"We are a young couple who just celebrated their one year anniversary in their new home in Florida. We recently embarked on a new adventure, packing up all our belongings and driving across the country to the Sunshine State. We left behind our family and friends in the Golden State of California to begin a new life in a new place where God has opened doors for new adventures and opportunities for our family’s future. This blog is our way of staying connected with our loved ones back home. (And yes, CA is still home because that’s where our hearts are!) We are quickly learning to love our new abode and the surrounding community, though, and we are excited to keep exploring God’s creation around us!"
Hard to imagine that this was the right description a year ago...now I sit here in our "new" apartment (that we moved into 5 months ago lol) and I'm reflecting on how our life has changed. Crazy how time flies! We have been in Florida for 17 months already! Although our life has not changed drastically, there are changes nonetheless...our current apartment is a little bigger than the last one, making it feel more homey and less apartment-y; we have added a family member, Remi, who is a 4 month old rambunctious brown tabby kitty (we got her at 9 wks old). Our apartment is a two story town home style and it feels more like a house, which is what we were hoping to find because we will probably be here for about two years. Our goal is that our next move will be into a house!
In reflection, a year ago we were struggling to find a home church. I know we discussed the options with some of you as we were searching. We were discovering that most churches with young people were so focused on growing their numbers and appealing to the masses that they appeared to be compromising their doctrine! That did not cut it for us and we kept pushing forward with our quest. Our patience paid off and we have now settled in at a local church, Woodland Community Church. It is somewhat large and it is taking time to get connected, but we feel this is where God has directed us. The church has solid teachings and has many contemporary characteristics, but they have not compromised the solid biblical foundation on which the church was built. We are excited to get involved and start volunteering and serving alongside our fellow church members (they call them ministry partners).
Job-wise, we are both with the same companies we have been with...Robert has been blessed with continued upward movement with his company. He is excited about his current position, despite the many challenges it brings each day! I am also excited about the growth opportunities within my company (I've been with them since Jan 2012) as it is quickly growing and expanding.
I suppose that pretty much sums up where we are at, currently. Oh yeah, we already celebrated our two year anniversary! We are taking it one day at a time, focusing on the blessings God has given us. This time here in FL has been such a blessing itself and Robert and I will both vouch for how it has strengthened us as a couple. We are learning to make our own way as a team, with God as our foundation and leader.
Hard to imagine that this was the right description a year ago...now I sit here in our "new" apartment (that we moved into 5 months ago lol) and I'm reflecting on how our life has changed. Crazy how time flies! We have been in Florida for 17 months already! Although our life has not changed drastically, there are changes nonetheless...our current apartment is a little bigger than the last one, making it feel more homey and less apartment-y; we have added a family member, Remi, who is a 4 month old rambunctious brown tabby kitty (we got her at 9 wks old). Our apartment is a two story town home style and it feels more like a house, which is what we were hoping to find because we will probably be here for about two years. Our goal is that our next move will be into a house!
In reflection, a year ago we were struggling to find a home church. I know we discussed the options with some of you as we were searching. We were discovering that most churches with young people were so focused on growing their numbers and appealing to the masses that they appeared to be compromising their doctrine! That did not cut it for us and we kept pushing forward with our quest. Our patience paid off and we have now settled in at a local church, Woodland Community Church. It is somewhat large and it is taking time to get connected, but we feel this is where God has directed us. The church has solid teachings and has many contemporary characteristics, but they have not compromised the solid biblical foundation on which the church was built. We are excited to get involved and start volunteering and serving alongside our fellow church members (they call them ministry partners).
Job-wise, we are both with the same companies we have been with...Robert has been blessed with continued upward movement with his company. He is excited about his current position, despite the many challenges it brings each day! I am also excited about the growth opportunities within my company (I've been with them since Jan 2012) as it is quickly growing and expanding.
I suppose that pretty much sums up where we are at, currently. Oh yeah, we already celebrated our two year anniversary! We are taking it one day at a time, focusing on the blessings God has given us. This time here in FL has been such a blessing itself and Robert and I will both vouch for how it has strengthened us as a couple. We are learning to make our own way as a team, with God as our foundation and leader.
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