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One More Week…

We are ONE WEEK away from our royal wedding of the year!!! They are royal because they are a son and daughter of the Almighty King! 👑

I have so many emotions, I’m extremely sensitive, and extremely irritable all at the same time lol! But I want to share a story…

A couple of weeks ago, Christian wasn’t feeling well. He had what everyone has had lately, a combination of congestion, sniffles and cough. He was getting ready to leave our house after a visit and went to get some toilet paper to blow his nose. When he was leaving, I ran and got him a new box of Kleenex – the “ultra soft” that I always have to buy. But he told me, “It’s okay Mom…Felicite already bought me some that I have at home.”

In that moment, I felt a lump in my throat – the feeling of someone else will now be taking care of my son, not me anymore. It’s an indescribable thing, not negative at all – more like a sweet gratitude that his wife is going to take care of him in the same way that I have. Felicite is so loving and nurturing, and I have such a full heart to know that she will be able to care for him when he’s sick, or when he needs emotional and spiritual uplifting and encouragement. I am so very thankful that this young woman is so balanced in the way that she can be humble, yet speak up when she needs to; she can be godly-submissive to let her husband lead without being a doormat; she can show her love and still know how to accept that same love; she is never harsh or dramatic or mean. In fact, she has loved my son even when he may not have been lovable. She has waited for him even during the uncertain months they spent apart. She has only loved him in her lifetime. And the best part is that she loves and serves Jesus in the same way he does. Since the day he proposed on March 5, 2023, she has looked forward to this day and has been over the moon excited to marry our son! It speaks volumes to me that she loves him so much. And I know they are going to make each other happy and be a power couple for Jesus by using their gifts to honor him together.

Christian & Felicite have laid the foundation of their relationship and now their marriage in Jesus Christ, and they have Him as the center of their lives. Just in that, they are breaking generational cycles, and they are starting a new generation of a godly marriage. They are saying “It Starts With Us,” and I know that we parents are elated!

These are all things that I have shared with both of them, and specifically her at her bachelorette dinner. I share them with you all because I promise to always pray for them individually and as a couple, and I pray for the same type of relationship and union for my other young adult children. I am forever thankful for God’s goodness and grace to mold our kids into who they are today despite the many mistakes we have made.

Galvan + Lopez 12/18/2023 🤍💍
(I’m calling them the Lován’s) 😂

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One More Cup of Coffee

Oh how I wish that I could hear
My mother’s voice, so loud and clear.

Mijo, can you make me one more cup of coffee,
Please put some sugar and some cream,
So when I go to bed, I’ll soon begin to dream.
And Son, I often wonder why,
In my dreams, I often cry of times that have gone by.
Times of fun and times of pleasure,
Of times I will always treasure.
It seems like only yesterday, you all were very young,
All of you were different, but I loved you all the same.
Sonny “El Prietito,” Bobby “El Guerito,” Ruben “El Gordito,” y Sylvia “La Cabesudita.”
My mind also takes me back to the husband I once had,
The man I loved, a man so strong, the may you all called “Dad.”
Your dad is gone but not forgotten, and when I leave
This world behind and join your father up above,
I know you’ll remember and never forget,
The words often spoken before going to bed…”One More Cup of Coffee.”

I wrote this poem
on December 13, 2022
In Memory of My Mom
Robert Robles, Sr.

Addicted to Jesus

Every few months, I will make it a point to take a break from attending my home church, RLC. Everyone there knows that I am always running around doing so much, and it’s extremely rare or not even existent that I am able to sit, be still, and get through a whole service to be ministered to without having to get up and do something. Don’t get me wrong – I love what I do here – but sometimes it catches up with me, and I start to feel like I’m drowning and don’t feel like I got anything out of being there. I rely 95% on my own time reading the Bible, listening to worship music, and spending time in prayer. I don’t get to do all that at my church with my own church family because I’m often “too busy.” So this month I told everyone that I was taking a whole week off so that I could visit another church on both Sunday and Wednesday. Everyone was told not to “bother” me with anything and it could all wait until I returned.

WELL…….that totally backfired on me! I realized that I should never schedule to have time off at the beginning or end of the month. I didn’t realize how much I really do and how important it is with scheduling ministries and creating graphics and social media content. Every single day this week, I have been working on “church stuff” and texting people for things. Everyone has been so supportive, and they keep telling me to stop working and stop doing church stuff! 😂 Well the final straw was yesterday when I found out that my son, Christian, was giving the message. There was no way I was going to miss that – so I had to hit the PAUSE button and go to RLC last night. And even though I had only missed Sunday, it felt like I had been gone a longer time – it felt so good to walk into my home and be welcomed by so many people who care. They were all telling me “what are you doing here? what about your break?” 🥲

After being there last night, it was sooooo worth it – such a powerful and anointed message given by one of God’s vessels, my son. And I came to a realization that I am addicted to Jesus and doing His work – and yes, church! I told our leadership group that I am a churchaholic! 🤣🤣🤣 And I let them know that I’m going to have to schedule some other week to be off, but in the middle of the month next time – so I’m coming back home on Sunday.

All this being said – look at the beautiful and emotional poem that my dad wrote for me after not seeing me there on Sunday. It’s one of the most cherished gifts I will always hold close to my heart. It’s often a double-edged sword doing ministry with my family, but I wouldn’t have it any other way besides being under my dad’s leadership and mentorship. 🥹❤🙏🙌

God Knew…

Robert & Gloria will be married for 57 years in June. And while many people often say phrases like “God put them together” or “they were created for one another,” their story truly exemplifies how God already knew what He was doing when bringing them together.

Robert and Gloria both had been engaged to marry other people. Gloria’s fiancé was killed in Vietnam, and Robert’s fiancé broke off their engagement. Speaking to them, he recalls exactly the way things happened. His passion was always playing baseball, and on top of working a full-time job, he was squeezing in any extra time to play in baseball leagues. Those would also lead to hanging out and drinking afterwards or going out to a bar when the game ended. His fiancé lived in a town nearby, so it wasn’t as convenient to spend time with her. It was something that needed to be intentional and planned out.

One day, he received a call from his fiancé, and she asked him to come over because her parents wanted to speak with him. When he arrived, her father was holding the box with the engagement ring. He sat Robert down and explained that they no longer thought it was a good idea to proceed with their wedding. He pointed out how little time he was spending with their daughter, who was planning to be his wife. Robert looked at his fiancé and asked if she agreed with this decision, and all she could do was heartbreakingly cry, being at a loss for words.

Robert left her house that day saddened; but he also couldn’t help but think that God was protecting this young lady from the life she would have had with him. He knew himself – and even though he was raised within a Christian family and knew of God, he realized that he wouldn’t have been a suitable husband for her in being a godly leader for their marriage and family. His thoughts were that God must have known and must have been looking out for this young lady.

Robert eventually met his future wife, Gloria. And sure enough, he put her through the hell that the previous fiancé would have endured with him. But by God’s grace, He rescued him from that destructive life, and he was now serving the Lord. Years later, he encountered someone from that small town who coincidentally knew his former fiancé. He was curious about her and inquired about her. It turns out that she also married someone else, but her life had taken some twists and turns. In her marriage, she suffered the death of a child, and she also sought out love outside of her marriage and fell into adultery.

When Robert heard about that, his thoughts went back to the day that he left her house for the last time and the thoughts he had as he drove away. All these years, he always thought that God protected her from him. But now looking back at the kind of angry and violent man he used to be, he now thanked God that He was protecting them both from each other. He knew that if she had been his wife and had committed adultery, he would’ve wound up in prison after the actions he would have likely taken.

We may not always understand God’s plans.
Many times we are brokenhearted and question His ways.
Many times we are disobedient and choose people we know aren’t good for us, and then we blame God when life isn’t so happy.

This story is a true example of how only God knows what our future holds and why He allows some things to happen and doesn’t allow others. We can’t see the bigger picture in the future, but He can.

By God’s grace, Robert & Gloria, who are my parents, will celebrate 57 years being married this June. The first 14 of those years were painful, destructive, and filled with anger & hate. By God’s grace, the last 43 have been a completely different story. On January 20, 1982, my dad gave his life to Jesus Christ; and on January 25, 1982, my mom did the same. They have never looked back or fallen back into their old ways. They haven’t been perfect, but they have set Jesus Christ as the foundation of their marriage, and they have lived out a love story in ministry to serve the Lord and serve people.

Gratitude

There’s no special “happy children’s day” today…just a very grateful mom who stayed up late reflecting on my life. I was thinking of how much I prayed for my kids throughout the years. I was thinking about how I was told I couldn’t have children and how hurt and betrayed I felt by my Dad in heaven. How I rebelled and made bad decisions because I was depressed.

I have always told my kids that we haven’t given them a good example of marriage – I tell them not to make the mistakes we’ve made.

They had a great upbringing and were shown so much love. But my kids have been through a lot and have seen a lot, heard a lot of turmoil when it came to their parents and marriage. With all they’ve seen in us, they could have easily gone a different path. They could have been angry with God and rebelled. But in their darkest days, they have never forgotten where the answer lies. They have made their own mistakes and have their own flaws – but I am so grateful that they have always come back to God. Nothing in my life makes me happier than seeing all 4 of them serving Jesus.

We may not always have it all together – but together we have it all… 🌎 ♥️💙💙💙🙏🏼

Train Up a Child

Sunday afternoon, my son, Brandon, sent me this clip. At first I told him that I totally agreed with Pastor Sammy; and then he reminded me that I did this to him back during the early pandemic when he was in his senior year and not doing well with his grades. I told him he couldn’t go anywhere, including the youth activity (FLAME) that he enjoyed most. Hey, desperate times called for desperate measures! LOL! But one of my pastor friends (Josh) had to call me to get me to allow Brandon to return to their youth group weekly gathering.

Parents read this closely – DO NOT EVER withhold church activities as a form of punishment to your kids. You might see it as you’re taking away what they enjoy; but you are making a huge mistake! I grew up in church culture and had a friend whose parents did this very often. And even at my younger age, I knew it was wrong.

If you keep holding your kids back from church, I guarantee you that one day, you will regret it, and you will wish your kids wanted to go to church.

I teach middle school students at church, and I can tell you how frustrating and discouraging it can be when I know the kids want to be there, but the parents don’t bring them. And yet they’ll make the sacrifices for sports and other activities. But I see some older kids who give their parents problems, and I think back to when they were younger and their parents were not consistent in bringing their children to church. Now they’re paying the consequences.

Proverbs 22:6

“Train up a child in the way he/she should go, and when he/she is old, they will not depart.”

I am a Proverbs 22:6 kid, and I am proof that they can come back….

DO NOT LET THEM STAY HOME & STOP USING THIS AS A FORM OF PUNISHMENT!

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

September is Alpocia Awareness Month, so I am sharing this story from a beautiful friend of mine, Bethany Castañeda. Bethany and her family were there for me and my own family during a time when we needed a lot of spiritual support, and we have become closer within those years. When I first read her story, I was deeply impacted to understand that our beauty is far greater than our exterior shell. I am so grateful that Bethany agreed to share her story on this platform. I hope that it helps someone out there who is battling within.

“Mrs. Castañeda, do you understand what I’m saying to you? Excuse me, Mrs. Castañeda...” That was all I was able to remember the day the doctor explained to me that I had an autoimmune disease called Alopecia Areata.

I stood there with tears running down my face, knowing that from that moment on, my life would drastically change. Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disease that attacks the person’s hair follicles. There are 3 forms of Alopecia. There is Alopecia Areata (patchy), Alopecia totalis (all hair from your head but still some on your body), and Alopecia Universalies (total body hair loss).

For years, I was able to cover up my bald spots – and then one day while combing my hair, a chunk fell out. I stood in the bathroom and cried because I knew there was no way I could hide that. I called my husband into the bathroom and showed him. He hugged me and gave me a kiss and told me how beautiful I was. I looked at him and laughed, and I thanked him for his kind words. That day, I was able to find a store in town that sold wigs. I purchased a wig and tried so hard to hide what was going on underneath it. At night, I would take off my wig; and each day that would pass, more and more hair was falling out. I didn’t want to shave it because I felt like I was letting the disease win.

It took about a month-and-a-half for all of my hair to fall off. It started on my head and worked its way around my body. I would look at myself everyday, seeing this blank canvas of what I felt made up “Bethany.” I lost myself. I lost my self worth. I lost what I thought “beautiful” was. I would tell other people how beautiful they were and how God values them. I would see other people’s spirits and see how precious they were. But for some reason, I couldn’t see it in myself. For 14 years, I hid myself under wigs. I had so much anxiety of being somewhere and my wig falling off I cringed at the thought of someone wanting to touch my head or play with my hair. I lived in constant fear. Being trapped in this emotional prison was the worst, until one day…

One day, I was in the shower crying. I cried out to the Lord and asked Him, “WHY ME???” All those years of having it, I never questioned Him. I just took it for what it was. It was a disease that I had no control over. But that day, I had enough…and I questioned Him and was so angry! He spoke to my spirit and said, “Why not you? Didn’t you pray to me and say, ‘Lord, use me.’ Didn’t you say ‘Have Your way with me’?” I answered, “Yes,” He said, “Then stop hiding, and let me actually use you. Take off your wig, and let me show you what I’m going to do to bring honor and glory to Myself through you. Be brave. Do not fear. This is your story that I am writing so that people will find me in the midst of it.” I cried in that shower for what seemed like forever; but it was in that moment that I felt the Lord wash all fear and gave me a strength I didn’t know I had.

I walked out of that bathroom completely restored and without my wig. I went over to my husband and daughters and told them that I was ready to show all of me to the world. They hugged me and were all so proud of me. That day, I wrote my first social media post about my disease and showed everyone my bald head. I received so much support from people all over.

Later that evening, I received a phone call from a very good friend of mine. She shared that she had been suffering with this same disease, and that she was ready to take her own life due to the depression she had. She said she had already written her letter and was planning how to execute it. She felt like she needed to get on Facebook and say her goodbyes. When she did, she saw my post and couldn’t believe that I had it. She immediately felt God’s love for her. She asked me about my story, and I told her how long I’ve been fighting this. She asked me, “Why did you choose today to speak out?” I said, “I think it was for you.” We both cried! I could see why God made me do it on that day. From that moment, I have not put a wig back on.

This is who I am.
I am a Child of God!
I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
I was created for a purpose.
I am full of JOY, for I know that I am in God’s will.
I stand here with my hands open wide, saying, “God use me, so others will come to know You.”
Can God heal me? YES!
Do I ask Him to? NO!

Isaiah 6:8
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Who shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, ‘Here am I. Send Me!‘” (NIV)

~ This story has been written by Bethany Castañeda. Bethany has been married for 21 years and has 3 beautiful daughters – ages 20, 17, and 15. She and her husband are raising them to be godly women who know their beauty is far deeper within. ~

Lasagna

Throughout many years, maybe since high school, I have always made a lasagna dish that I have received so many compliments. Most recently, several friends and family have asked for the recipe, so I have decided to include it in a new section of my blog – Joy in Food! I hope are able to try out this very simple recipe – ENJOY!

This is for a 9″x13″ size pan.

Cook 1 large box of lasagna noodles (whatever brand) as instructed on the box.  Make sure you add a little olive oil or vegetable oil to prevent the noodles from sticking to each other.  Cook 1.5 to 2 lbs. of ground beef and add your seasonings to preference of taste (salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion salt).  The amount of meat depends on how much meat you want in the lasagna.  Once the meat has been cooked, drain the grease and add one large jar of spaghetti sauce.  I use Prego (traditional).  Add a small amount of water to it just to make it go a little further and thin it out a bit.  Once the lasagna noodles and meat sauce are ready, you will start layering everything.  I always put a very thin layer of sauce (no meat) on the bottom to prevent the noodles from sticking to the tray.  Then begin layering the lasagna, starting with three noodles side by side.  Then add the meat sauce…..then add a combination of mozzarella cheese, mild cheddar cheese, and Italian 6-cheese blend.  I only buy 16 oz. of mozzarella; 8 oz. of mild cheddar; and 8 oz. of the Italian blend cheese.  Obviously the lasagna will have mostly mozzarella, since that is the main Italian cheese, and that is the one you have the most of.  Just sprinkle all three combinations generously, making sure mozzarella has the most.  After the cheese, just start over again with the noodles, the sauce, and the cheese again.  I usually come out with about five layers.  The box has about 18-20 noodles, so it’s up to you how many layers you want to add, depending on how far your ingredients last.  Sometimes I’ll even double up the noodles just so that they all get used.  I’ll double up on the bottom since it’s the foundation holding everything together.  Once you’ve completed the layers, then put it in the oven at 350° for about 10-15 minutes.  It’s only to melt the cheese and condense everything together, since everything is already cooked.

It Takes A Village

This month, I am sharing my personal experience in sharing a message (sermon) at church on Wednesday, March 30, 2022.

I’ve given a message before, but it has always been my personal story and how I went from a prodigal daughter to a Warrior for Christ.  When Pastor asked me to prepare for a message, I was a little stumped.  I didn’t really know how to find the right message.  I prayed that God would guide me and give me the right message.  All last week this was what kept tugging at my heart.  And all week long, I kept hearing things all around me that just kept pointing to this message, giving me confirmation that this was what God wanted me to share.  Then the night that I began compiling my notes and making my slides, I was severely attacked by the enemy, literally stopping in my tracks and literally feeling so inadequate and so unworthy to share this message this evening.  But that’s exactly what the enemy was trying to do – and I had to really pray and ask God for strength.  And I am standing here tonight in the most humble way.  My kids are now adults and they are far from perfect.  I have made so many mistakes – but the one thing I did right was to be consistent.  No matter what I was going through in my life, I never stopped bringing my kids to church.  And I am now seeing the fruits of that labor – all these lonely years feeling like a single parent with my little tribe walking in every Sunday and Wednesday.  My kids have stumbled, they have fallen, and they have had their own faith shaken up.  But by God’s grace, the 5 of us are still here and still standing.  And we are

Bent but not broken…
Shaken but not shattered…
Discouraged but not defeated

Message begins at approximately 34:00

February…

I haven’t made a lot of time to write this month. So much has been happening. And even though February is already a shorter month, it just seems to have gone by so fast.

This month, I was struck with COVID once again. I can only assume it was the newer omicron variant because it was mild and literally lasted 5 days, just as described. But even still, I give all glory to God for still being here. I don’t deserve His grace, but I thank Him for every breath that I take and literally every step I make. So many people are no longer here because of this horrible virus.

My hope is that it makes each of us even more aware of our limited time here on earth. My hope is that we will not take time or people for granted. During the time I was sick, my husband was out of town. When he returned, I couldn’t even allow him back to our home because I didn’t want him to get sick too. But in that time away from each other, I began to miss him in a way I didn’t expect. As much as he can get on my nerves, I did miss him. I missed our companionship, our intimacy, the little everyday things that we don’t even realize we can miss. We had to postpone plans for a little getaway because of sickness, death and funerals – and we finally get our time this week.

My prayer for myself is that I cherish him. I don’t always do that. I often get annoyed with him and sometimes wonder how we have lasted so long because we are so different. We don’t have this grand and romantic love story that puts us in the category of “it being in the stars” or a match “made in heaven.” But we still have our own love story. And no matter how crazy and dysfunctional it may seem at times, I am going to hold onto the little things because we never know when our last day might approach.