Amigas

God has really blessed me with some amazing friends.
From near and far, they continue to be such gifts to me.

This past Easter weekend, my "originally from Brownsville,

but relocated to VA" friends came to visit.

(Estela, Dennisse & Claudia)

They brought gifts, laughter, near tears (of joy),
and what I can only describe as homey Mexicaness :)

They surprised me with a bride-to-be shower on the first night... complete with my own pink-lettered bride-2b hoodie...

The next morning we went to breakfast at Silver Diner and the shopping at Lynhaven mall...

Then we went home to watch Chester's movie (based on the prodigal son).

In the evening, the girls took me out to the Cheesecake Factory... and they even made me wear a veil! I actually got a lot of congratulations & smiles from random people :)

When we came back for a supposed scrabble match,

they marched in with pile of gifts from our target registry...

http://www.target.com/gp/registry/registry.html/ref=cm_cw_sr_1/601-7464358-1354555?ie=UTF8&type=wedding&id=1W131DMD3A7H7&jsebd=1

(which they encouraged us to start in the first place)
and their mom's even sent us gifts :) & apparently they think we still need to add to it... mom's are great!

It seemed to all be kitched themed and my roommate was also there to chime in with the "joy of cooking" ...

I got 3 cooking books so far, (my boss gave me one on monday) so I think I will learn some more for Ches...

Estela also got us a copy of "the Sacred Marriage"...

It is highly recommended, so I am very happy to have it in our library.

We can't wait to delve in.

We all went to easter service the next day
and were challenged to live life to the full...

It was wonderful to spend Resurrection Sunday with loved ones...

and just when Chester and I thought that they might be headed home,
they wanted a tour of Regent.

and when we came to the fountain,



we happened upon an easter basket...

Dennisse stepped away while we were giving the grand tour to hide easter eggs!

It was a special hunt for Chester and I!

and when we had gathered all the eggs, we went back to my apt.

Inside the eggs were little clues...

When we guessed, Claudia would hand us gifts...

They were different kitchen gadgets :)

How creative & cute is that!!! :)

Chester and I were so touched by their friendship and gestures of love.

What can I say?

God has given me some amazing friends both here in VA Beach & back home. :) :) :)

Thank God 4 Family

Family has been so awesome in helping this wedding come together...

This is our wedding car...
courtesy of Tio Nacho & Aunt Mine :)
Gracias Tios! Que Dios los siga bendiciendo :)

U.S. couple make beeline for 777 date

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070315/ts_alt_afp/afplifestyleusjuly_070315162014

More in Love

Chester and I just spent this past week basking in God's Love for us...

We both attended the "Grace & Glory" Conference that was held locally @ the Founder's Inn.

It was 4 days of sitting under the Father's Blessing and just learning to let everything go and let God come to us in greater measure.

I feel so full! and so hopeful for our future together...

When you are in God's presence worries fly away
You finally get persepective when you find yourselves in His loving hands
It's easier to forgive and give grace because you are so aware of how he has forgiven you and given you grace...

and this week has again confirmed how good it is for Chester and I to be together.

It was wonderful to be by his side as God spoke to us both individually and corporately...
It's a dream come true to have a fiancee that loves God with his all... and understands God's awesome heart as Father... we had such a blast together @ this conference :) (along with one of our very best friends too I might add)

Our relationship is about so much more than us... it is about God in us...

and us resting in God... just how our signature verse says...

"I am the vine, you are the branches;

he who abides in Me and I in him,

he bears much fruit,

for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5

We are meant to be like Him, to be a reflection of His life and love...

This past week was a wonderful time of abiding in God's love... I pray that the fruit of it would be with us for many years to come :)

Yay God!
The more we fall in love with him, the more we fall in love with each other! :)

Wedding Verse

"Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him to help you do it, and he will."
(Psalm 37:5)

I feel like this is definitely what I need to be doing about the wedding (and certainly the marriage).

I'm so glad that it's not just up to Chester and I... we can rely on God to help keep us together and on our family & friends to help us along the way...

Details keep falling into place and God is faithful...

and what truly matters is that at the end of the day I get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend :)