Lately, I have found that Christianity is not very popular. I mean, in the past, I've known it wasn't because of the droves of so-called "friends" that dropped me like a hot potato when they heard me mention anything related to Jesus or church or my faith even.
I go to the store with my Little Princess and find that we get stares (because of how we dress) as though we've grown two heads. It's funny to a certain extent and I believe that as time goes by and we get closer to the return of Jesus, it will only get worse. I live life as simple as I possibly can. Although we live in a nice house situated in a good neighborhood, we, by no means, live a life of luxury.
Our family is blessed that I am able to stay home and take care of my family by doing what needs to be done. I enjoy marketing my products and meeting new people on a regular basis. I don't have many friends that are close but the handful that I do have are very special to me.
One day I know that all of this will be worth it. I see my daughter growing up in an environment where she has learned that the most up-to-date fashions are not necessities and that to dress modestly shows others that she has self-respect.
I am amazed by how many men, though they call themselves Christian, are so lost when it comes to respecting women. It just boggles my mind to know that these people are out there and it makes me sad.
There's this particular Christian Forum that I visit where this guy thinks he knows so much more than others and he judges and disrespects the rules of said forum and nobody does anything about it. He's annoying more than anything. I kind of feel sorry for him because he spends what seems like hours on that forum criticizing and sticking his nose where it doesn't belong. It's sad that someone has so much time on their hands that they have to be so mean to others just to make himself feel better. He needs a lot of prayer. It's a sign of the times, I guess. It's people like him that give true Christians a bad name.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
I have to write about this!
Years ago, when my Little Princess was but a wee baby, she had this skin condition which her pediatrician called "baby acne." I didn't believe it. He told us she would outgrow it. As the days and weeks went by, I noticed the skin on her face was getting worse.
A lady from my job told me about this awesome company that markets all kinds of natural stuff and she suggested I try the Gold Bar. She gave me a bar and although I was a bit hesitant to use this on my baby's tender skin, I carefully lathered up the soap and washed her face with it on a wash cloth. In the days that followed, I noticed her skin was getting clearer and softer. I kept using it and told the doctor about it on her next check-up.
That was 11 years ago and I'm still using these awesome products. My daughter also suffers from ADHD and nothing has helped like the vitamins she's taking from this company and it is all natural, that's the best part. I joined just to get the discount and it wasn't until a few weeks ago when a friend of mine pointed out the money-making potential with this fabulous company. I'm seeing it from a different point of view and really want to help others be able to live a healthier life and make an excellent income in the process. The way I look at it is, these are items we all have to purchase anyway at the local stores; why not make them healthy alternatives that will benefit our whole family? It only makes sense.
You can find out more by visiting Here and if you have any questions that I may help you with, please do not hesitate to contact me. I would be more than happy to help you get on your way to a healthier happier you.
A lady from my job told me about this awesome company that markets all kinds of natural stuff and she suggested I try the Gold Bar. She gave me a bar and although I was a bit hesitant to use this on my baby's tender skin, I carefully lathered up the soap and washed her face with it on a wash cloth. In the days that followed, I noticed her skin was getting clearer and softer. I kept using it and told the doctor about it on her next check-up.
That was 11 years ago and I'm still using these awesome products. My daughter also suffers from ADHD and nothing has helped like the vitamins she's taking from this company and it is all natural, that's the best part. I joined just to get the discount and it wasn't until a few weeks ago when a friend of mine pointed out the money-making potential with this fabulous company. I'm seeing it from a different point of view and really want to help others be able to live a healthier life and make an excellent income in the process. The way I look at it is, these are items we all have to purchase anyway at the local stores; why not make them healthy alternatives that will benefit our whole family? It only makes sense.
You can find out more by visiting Here and if you have any questions that I may help you with, please do not hesitate to contact me. I would be more than happy to help you get on your way to a healthier happier you.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Fundraiser w/Chicken Enchiladas!!
Well, the church I attend asked me if I could make chicken enchilada dinners for the children's ministry. Of course, I said yes. Granted, I will not be making any money off this as they will supply all the ingredients/trays/pans, etc. I guess it will be a good way to get others to try my famous enchiladas. LOL!
So many people are losing their jobs right now that I knew I had to help with the fundraising at church. It's for a good cause. I know it will be a lot of work for me since I have to start cooking at least a whole day ahead of when they need the food for since I will be making beans and rice as well.
So many people are losing their jobs right now that I knew I had to help with the fundraising at church. It's for a good cause. I know it will be a lot of work for me since I have to start cooking at least a whole day ahead of when they need the food for since I will be making beans and rice as well.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
It's been a month....or six!
Wow, it has been a long time since I've been here. Life gets in the way sometimes and I can't come on here as often as I want.
The teenager-type will be going off to college sooner than I thought and I've been pondering the catering business idea that a few people have suggested. I guess I could get into making the Miracle cake and the chicken enchiladas to start off. I am not sure I want to take on more than I can chew at this time (no pun intended). I could also make Rico's rum cake; now that would travel really well.
The enchiladas are hard work though. Oh, I've prayed on the Miracle cake and I will be giving the church a nice donation for every cake that I sell. Our church needs a miracle. So many people lost their jobs and our pastor mentioned that our light bill for last month was $2500.00!! Of course it is summer in Texas. I've been praying about it and I feel I've been led to do this to help others.
My Miracle cake is just a simple pineapple cake with an amazing pudding topping that people just love. Everybody in my family requests this cake for their birthdays, anniversaries or other special occasions. I really enjoy making them too.
People in other parts of the country have asked if I will ship this cake but I'm not sure it will ship well with the topping being pudding and it must be kept cold. Also, there are pineapple slices on top so I don't think it would be a good idea to ship, who knows, maybe someone with more cake-baking/shipping experience than myself can enlighten me.
For the past several days I've been getting up at 5 am for no apparent reason. I've been going on 5 hours sleep at most. I've not been wasting that time though. I've been praying every day about everything and everybody. God knows why.
You guys all have a blessed day. I know I will.
The teenager-type will be going off to college sooner than I thought and I've been pondering the catering business idea that a few people have suggested. I guess I could get into making the Miracle cake and the chicken enchiladas to start off. I am not sure I want to take on more than I can chew at this time (no pun intended). I could also make Rico's rum cake; now that would travel really well.
The enchiladas are hard work though. Oh, I've prayed on the Miracle cake and I will be giving the church a nice donation for every cake that I sell. Our church needs a miracle. So many people lost their jobs and our pastor mentioned that our light bill for last month was $2500.00!! Of course it is summer in Texas. I've been praying about it and I feel I've been led to do this to help others.
My Miracle cake is just a simple pineapple cake with an amazing pudding topping that people just love. Everybody in my family requests this cake for their birthdays, anniversaries or other special occasions. I really enjoy making them too.
People in other parts of the country have asked if I will ship this cake but I'm not sure it will ship well with the topping being pudding and it must be kept cold. Also, there are pineapple slices on top so I don't think it would be a good idea to ship, who knows, maybe someone with more cake-baking/shipping experience than myself can enlighten me.
For the past several days I've been getting up at 5 am for no apparent reason. I've been going on 5 hours sleep at most. I've not been wasting that time though. I've been praying every day about everything and everybody. God knows why.
You guys all have a blessed day. I know I will.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Christian Academy education
When school resumed after the Christmas holiday, my husband and I decided to put our little Princess in a private school. A Christian school where she could get a good education, make friends and have a wonderful time. I researched, visited and talked to several different places and their respective staff. I finally had it picked out. A small Christian academy that was a perfect fit for us. I was happy, my daughter was semi-happy and it was close to our house and the best part: they had room for her! Wow, were we lucky.
So, I'm there and I'm signing the papers to get Little Princess enrolled. I pay the fees and tuition and I mention that I may be looking for a job when he asks me why Little Princess is no longer going to be homeschooled. He told me that they really needed a part-time teacher/sub if I was interested. I, never in a million years, would've even remotely considered taking a teaching position so was totally shocked when I heard myself say, "Sure, that would be a great experience!" As soon as the words were out of my thick head I regretted saying them. I thought to myself...what in the world did you get yourself into now, you ditz!
So, I'm there and I'm signing the papers to get Little Princess enrolled. I pay the fees and tuition and I mention that I may be looking for a job when he asks me why Little Princess is no longer going to be homeschooled. He told me that they really needed a part-time teacher/sub if I was interested. I, never in a million years, would've even remotely considered taking a teaching position so was totally shocked when I heard myself say, "Sure, that would be a great experience!" As soon as the words were out of my thick head I regretted saying them. I thought to myself...what in the world did you get yourself into now, you ditz!
He took my word right then and there. I couldn't back out. Then I thought, well, at least I'll be able to see what type of environment my Little Princess would be getting that wonderful Christian education in and I didn't give it a second thought. I figured, what the heck, I'm not doing anything anyway.
I started the same day my daughter started school. I was a little bit uneasy that there were several different grade levels in one classroom. They hired me to fill in for one of the teachers that was out on Mondays. I agreed to that. Several days later, they wanted me to come in on Wednesdays as well so the kids could have other activities available to them. I agreed. My husband didn't like that idea too much. I convinced him the kids needed me. They did. Desperately.
The next time I went in I noticed that the kids were for the most part just needing encouragement and attention, lots of it. I built them up. They were, for lack of a better word, lost. Hungry for attention. They had low self-esteem. Those were the good qualities. More than half of the children, I later discovered, had ADHD, Dyslexia, or some other form of learning disability. I figured that was probably the reason their parents had put them in a private school. More one-on-one instruction. Special needs being catered to in a Christian environment. I knew I had made the right decision when the children started laying their heads on my arms so I could say words of encouragement and reassurance to them.
At first I thought this was a wonderful place for my daughter to be in as she loved going there. She enjoyed being around other kids her age more than anything. I quickly realized that she loved it so much because the curriculum she was given was so far behind from what I was teaching her when I homeschooled her. She tested so high on her diagnostic test that they only had her doing for subjects. Leaving out two subjects because she tested 4 levels above her grade level was just not what I wanted to see.
As the days went on I saw this same pattern with a few other students in my class. They were done with all their school work by 11 am. The rest of the day, they sat there bored and picking on each other, talking or playing. Remember, I'm only a sub so I can't really change anything. I did, however, approach the school director about my concerns. I pointed out that the kids should not, in my opinion, have all that free time on their hands. He felt the same way but said he had no control over the rules that had been set in place by the pastor's wife who was now gone from the school due to terminal cancer.
It annoyed me. I continued to play by their rules. After all, I'm only a sub. The kids all told me how happy they were that I was there because I really enjoyed helping them. One little boy told me, "Mrs. Rico, I like you because you always have a smile on your face. You walk in first thing in the morning and you are smiling. We ask you for help and you smile and help us all the same." I think I floated about 3 feet off the floor all day long. Humbled is what I was.
One day after school, the principal called me to tell me that the pastor's daughter had told him that I must not wear eye makeup any more. I got upset. Now, granted, I don't wear heavy eye makeup at all and the other teachers didn't even notice I had any on at all so I have no idea why this woman said that. Anwyay, I got ticked off and I told the principal that I wouldn't be controlled like that.
I was miffed. I would show them. I would tell them where to get off. How dare they expect me to look all dead and pale. I have dark hair and a very pale complexion. If I were to wear no eye makeup whatsoever, I'd risk someone calling 911 on me thinking I'm dying. Seriously. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't wear anything other than face powder and barely there eyeliner and mascara. Just enough to mask the ghost-like appearance. No eyeshadow, no blush, no lipstick, no lip liner. I do wear chapstick or lip gloss but nothing like blood red color on my lips. It's just not me.
In my head I had already prepared the little speech I was going to give them before I quit. Shoot, who did she think she was telling the principal to tell me not to wear eyemakeup. I'd show her.
The weekend came and I pondered the situation. I cooked for my family. I pondered. I did my daily family things and I continued to ponder. Monday morning I showed up with no eye makeup on. I looked frightful but I did as I was told. In coming to the conclusion that the kids were more important to me than looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, I realized that what I looked like didn't matter any more. Being there for those kids that needed so much help was now my first priority.
Two weeks ago, I found out that our principal/director was going to be resigning. When I questioned his motive, he responded with something that totally shocked me and just broke my heart. The school that I thought was going to be where my daughter would graduate from was far from what I had envisioned. Apparently, a random drug testing that had been done on the high school kids had come back positive for cocaine on several of the boys. When the pastor was told about this he chose to continue with the basketball games and only suspended the guilty parties for a week. Although the kids were failing academically, the games were not cancelled and the principal told them he would be leaving because he would not be held responsible for something like that.
I immediately started planning on taking my daughter elsewhere or just to homeschool until the end of the school year and looking at other schools between now and the new school year in the Fall. What I found out next is like a nightmare from the very bowels of the inner city schools in the slums. Nothing could have shocked me more.
The next time I went in I noticed that the kids were for the most part just needing encouragement and attention, lots of it. I built them up. They were, for lack of a better word, lost. Hungry for attention. They had low self-esteem. Those were the good qualities. More than half of the children, I later discovered, had ADHD, Dyslexia, or some other form of learning disability. I figured that was probably the reason their parents had put them in a private school. More one-on-one instruction. Special needs being catered to in a Christian environment. I knew I had made the right decision when the children started laying their heads on my arms so I could say words of encouragement and reassurance to them.
At first I thought this was a wonderful place for my daughter to be in as she loved going there. She enjoyed being around other kids her age more than anything. I quickly realized that she loved it so much because the curriculum she was given was so far behind from what I was teaching her when I homeschooled her. She tested so high on her diagnostic test that they only had her doing for subjects. Leaving out two subjects because she tested 4 levels above her grade level was just not what I wanted to see.
As the days went on I saw this same pattern with a few other students in my class. They were done with all their school work by 11 am. The rest of the day, they sat there bored and picking on each other, talking or playing. Remember, I'm only a sub so I can't really change anything. I did, however, approach the school director about my concerns. I pointed out that the kids should not, in my opinion, have all that free time on their hands. He felt the same way but said he had no control over the rules that had been set in place by the pastor's wife who was now gone from the school due to terminal cancer.
It annoyed me. I continued to play by their rules. After all, I'm only a sub. The kids all told me how happy they were that I was there because I really enjoyed helping them. One little boy told me, "Mrs. Rico, I like you because you always have a smile on your face. You walk in first thing in the morning and you are smiling. We ask you for help and you smile and help us all the same." I think I floated about 3 feet off the floor all day long. Humbled is what I was.
One day after school, the principal called me to tell me that the pastor's daughter had told him that I must not wear eye makeup any more. I got upset. Now, granted, I don't wear heavy eye makeup at all and the other teachers didn't even notice I had any on at all so I have no idea why this woman said that. Anwyay, I got ticked off and I told the principal that I wouldn't be controlled like that.
I was miffed. I would show them. I would tell them where to get off. How dare they expect me to look all dead and pale. I have dark hair and a very pale complexion. If I were to wear no eye makeup whatsoever, I'd risk someone calling 911 on me thinking I'm dying. Seriously. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't wear anything other than face powder and barely there eyeliner and mascara. Just enough to mask the ghost-like appearance. No eyeshadow, no blush, no lipstick, no lip liner. I do wear chapstick or lip gloss but nothing like blood red color on my lips. It's just not me.
In my head I had already prepared the little speech I was going to give them before I quit. Shoot, who did she think she was telling the principal to tell me not to wear eyemakeup. I'd show her.
The weekend came and I pondered the situation. I cooked for my family. I pondered. I did my daily family things and I continued to ponder. Monday morning I showed up with no eye makeup on. I looked frightful but I did as I was told. In coming to the conclusion that the kids were more important to me than looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, I realized that what I looked like didn't matter any more. Being there for those kids that needed so much help was now my first priority.
Two weeks ago, I found out that our principal/director was going to be resigning. When I questioned his motive, he responded with something that totally shocked me and just broke my heart. The school that I thought was going to be where my daughter would graduate from was far from what I had envisioned. Apparently, a random drug testing that had been done on the high school kids had come back positive for cocaine on several of the boys. When the pastor was told about this he chose to continue with the basketball games and only suspended the guilty parties for a week. Although the kids were failing academically, the games were not cancelled and the principal told them he would be leaving because he would not be held responsible for something like that.
I immediately started planning on taking my daughter elsewhere or just to homeschool until the end of the school year and looking at other schools between now and the new school year in the Fall. What I found out next is like a nightmare from the very bowels of the inner city schools in the slums. Nothing could have shocked me more.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
I didn't forget
After thinking long and hard about finishing up the happenings that took place in my house back in the late Summer of 2008; I decided against it. For those of you that wanted to read "the rest of the story", you can email me and I will summarize it for you and let you know what happened.
Sorry for disappointing but I'd rather move on to more positive things. I will, of course, continue blogging as of tomorrow. On a regular basis. I really enjoy doing this but with the holidays and my birthday and all those fun days; well, I've been so busy.
I have some great news to write about as well. I'm bursting with energy and just happy that the Lord is ever merciful and kind to me.
Sorry for disappointing but I'd rather move on to more positive things. I will, of course, continue blogging as of tomorrow. On a regular basis. I really enjoy doing this but with the holidays and my birthday and all those fun days; well, I've been so busy.
I have some great news to write about as well. I'm bursting with energy and just happy that the Lord is ever merciful and kind to me.
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