Power of prayer?

I know I have posted before of Benjamin's prayers. He tells God his heart but today I didn't know if to cry or laugh...

He didn't want to do his math worksheet. We had been sitting here 20 min and he had gotten 2 addition facts out of 25 done. I was tired, he was tired. He said he wanted to go play. I wanted to go play too! I said "If you don't finish, I will have to tell dad that you didn't do your work when he asks." He did 5 more problems. He stopped and said he was distracted. I said "If you don't finish and dad asks about your school work, I can't lie." Dad doesn't always asks. He knew the risk. He looked at me, clasped his little hands together, closed his eyes, bowed his head and said "Jesus please don't let dad ask today".

We shall see... so much I could teach about this but instead I will let it play out. Let's see what God decides to teach instead.

San Diego

I am back.
I can hardly believe it myself. I always say I will come back and post and then I don't but today here I am!

At the end of January Jorge had a conference in San Diego, CA. He knew I always wanted to go there because of their zoo. I know there are other things to do in San Diego but all I really wanted to do was see that zoo. I love zoos and in the zoo world San Diego is always talked about as the biggest and best. And I wanted to go!

So for our 10th year anniversary Jorge took me to San Diego! We left the Saturday before his conference started on Tuesday. Dave and Nay kept the  kids (THANK YOU!) and I loved our first trip without the kids in over 7 years!

We left before sunrise... The kids were still sleeping. We gave them a kiss goodbye the night before. Benjamin was overjoyed that we were leaving, Adreana not so much but she was brave.

This was the view from our hotel! Home was getting ready to get hit by a storm and we were in paradise! The weather was perfect. The whole trip it stayed between the 65 and 75!

If you know Jorge, you know he can't stay put so that same day we decided what we should be doing and he let me pick animals! The first stop SEA WORLD. I felt a little guilty going there without the kids but it didn't last long...

On Sunday we started with a Brunch recommended by our hotel. It was fabulous! Jorge's favorite meal. They gave you sparkling cider and champagne, orange juice and coffee all included in your base price. And there was sea food. LOTS of sea food!

After this fabulous meal we headed out to the San Diego Zoo! It was all I imagined and more. Because we didn't have the kids I took pictures and pictures and no one was asking to leave. At the end there will be a link to the rest of the pictures I took that day but for now here are some...

On Monday we took a whole day to go to San Diego's Wild Animal Park. This was the one farthest from where we were staying and the one that left me in awe. It is huge and it is actually where the San Diego Zoo breeds their animals and does research. They opened it up to the public in the late 70s. They have animal encounters that I absolutely loved. Again just some of the pictures.

On Tuesday I was supposed to fly out but the flights got canceled because of the storm back home. So I stayed and ventured out back to the zoo all by myself. When Jorge and I bought the tickets we ended up getting a 5 day package because it ended up being $20 cheaper than getting 3 days. It was a blessing since I ended up using those extra days. This time not even Jorge was there to try and speed me up. I went to the gorillas and to see the baby hippo again. It reminded me of my before kids day when I would go to the zoo all by myself... Lots of pictures... Oh and by the way the yellow snake is a snake native to Honduras... it is venomous.. Glad I have never encountered it!

That evening we went with Luis to see the sunset and visit the Carillo monument. They were almost closing but not before we got to see how beautiful San Diego is.

I went Wednesday bright and early to the airport only to be turned back and rescheduled for Friday. Thankfully I caught Jorge before he went back to his conference and was able to keep the car. This day

I went back to Sea World. I got to see The Orca whales which we had missed the first time and even went to the Sesame street show... Got to love the bubbles! This was when I first REALLY missed the kids...

That evening we went to La Joya Cove to see the sunset. It was beautiful. Jorge and I sat on some rocks and just where. I think this might have been what I enjoyed the most. At la Joya tons of Sea Lions (or is it seals) gather and the honking was so surreal. Maybe my favorite evening!

Thursday being my last day I decided there was nothing I wanted to do more than stay at the hotel and be. So I did. I went for breakfast, I took a nap, I read an e-book, I watched some TV. I hadn't done so much of nothing without having a care in the world in so long at first it felt funny but I got used to it pretty soon. My only regret from the trip is not doing this earlier...

When Jorge got back he didn't want to do nothing so we set off to a State Park (I forgot the name will need to ask Jorge). I didn't know where we were going but we ended up hiking up a mountain (I was wearing shoes not tennis shoes! so yikes!). It was worth it though. It was again breath taking. Jorge also had to stop by Torrey Pines and walk around and get a picture to say he had been.

Getting out on Friday was CRAZY!!! The lines were huge and even though I made it back that same day (since we were on different flights to Dallas we ended up on different flights throughout). Jorge didn't make it back until Saturday. It was a crazy ending to the trip and I was soo ready to come home but it was a trip I won't soon forget. I keep hinting at Jorge that we must repeat soon!!

And for all the pictures I couldn't fit here... go check out the rest  here. Be warned there are LOTS! Lots of birds, ducks, flowers... so go see... :)!

Been taking pictures

The truth is the majority of the pictures I have taken lately are of our trips that I never did blog about but they are on my long to do list. Unfortunately for my family on my to do list came these first! Newborn pics and PALS (preschool VBS) pictures for the church walls. I love doing these especially because it gives me a thrill to see my pictures on the walls of the preschool. I am loving this years theme cooking... anyway here we go...


Rhett...

Jorge calls this one my artsy photo and says he doesn't get it but I just love that little nose. Beautiful. To see my favorite 2 though head on over to http://www.mfphotographybymaria.blogspot.com/ and take a look. I decided to upload some there cause I never do and maybe I should... hum...

He didn't do so great that is why there only seems to be the same poses. He wasn't wanting to sleep or be just cry... This has happened  to me lately.. Take a look...

And to make this post already longer than it is... Here are the 3 posters I have ready for church... Cute kids... These are my fave's (and I made the cupcake but will have to leave that for another post.

Love you all... my four faithful readers :)! You know who you are... I promise mom I will post Trip pictures soon... and Marianela I know I owe you a big upload it is also on my to do :)!