The Herrera Family

Starting Over

2012-02-11T15:08:00.000-07:00

I've decided to cut out our homeschool blog and just keep up with our family blog since they really go hand in hand any ways. So I thought I start off with a quick update on all of us.

Eddie-
What can I say more than I am one blessed woman to be married to such an amazing man. A man who is so dedicated in all areas of his life. He is a man of God, a loving and respectful husband and father, and a man dedicated to his job and protecting our country. He really is an amazing man. He loves his job and we love having him home with us all the time. He is learning to become a handyman as he fixes stuff around our house.

Ethan-
Our little man turned 10 on December 24th and man is he growing into a wondeful young man. He has such a heart for people it's truely something amazing to see and it couldn't make us prouder to be his parents. This year we ventured into homeschooling and although it has brought our family closer I'm not so sure it's working out for us. We plan to finish out the year and then figure out this summer what is best for all of us. Ethan is very much into building things out of Legos and he is actually very good at it and has great imagination and creativity. He has recently learned to skate board and is having fun learning new tricks and stuff, even if me, his mom has no clue why the tricks are so cool. He is very much a 10 year old boy and is trying to find his place in this world, but really is a great kid who always makes us laugh.

Lauren-
Our little princess turned 5 this year and is growing into such a young lady, a sometimes sassy young lady but a beautiful sweet one at that. In August of 2011 she was diagnosed with Epilepsy, it has been a rough adjustment and a long road for her and us. She has had to learn that she has limitations to things she can and can not due in order to protect her from causing herself to have a seizure or to protect herself from injuries if she should have one. Following these limitations hasn't been easy but she is adjusting to them and becoming more aware of if she is going to have a seizure. She was put on a medicine and for about 2 months it seemed to have been working but then things changed and she stopped responding to the medicine. Recent test results show she is having frequent seizure spikes. This was hard news to swallow but we have changed her medicine and are praying this is the right one. Despite her condition she hasn't allowed it to define her or slow her down. She is still my adventurist and loves doing new things and learning new things. She loves to sing and dance and is such a social butterfly. She has also been doing homeschool but doesn't stop talking about going to a real school next year. She is such a joy in our life.

Me-
It's been a rough year for me with so much change. I have grown so much thanks to my Lord and Savior who refuses to leave me where I am. He has taught me so much through all we have dealt with, with Lauren. He continues to use everything, the good and the bad to grow me up and closer to him. I am so grateful to have a Heavenly Father who loves me so much. Homeschooling the kids this year has given me the chance to grow closer to the kids and to learn who they are in a way I've never known them, I am truely grateful for this time we have shared growing closer as a family. Although I have enjoyed this time with them I'm not sure if this is what is going to be best for us to continue next year, but I'm praying about it and seeking God's guidence and direction. For now I will enjoy finishing out the school year with my kids. Even though this has been a rough year I give God all the glory because he hasn't left my side during any of it and infact he has been there holding me up and moving me forward and for that I'm so grateful.

Aries-
She is the newest member of our family. She is a 9 month Bullmastiff and is huge, but such a snuggle bug. She really is a great dog and is adjusting well in our home. She loves us all so very much and always want to be around us. She is very smart and doing well with the training Ed is working with her on. We love having her and look forward to her growing with our family.

Well that is our update although it wasn't as quick as I thought it would be...LOL

Parenting

2011-03-08T18:18:00.000-07:00

In the Bible there are verses that use the word "rod" in the context of discipline, and the Bible uses the "rod" as a picture to help show us how to discipline our children and to help us understand the importance of our job. So figuratively we are shepherds of our little ones, and we need to carry our shepherd's staff, our rod. It's a sign of authority, and God has given parents authority over their children. And just as it is crucial that a shepherd not lay aside his rod, it is crucial that parents not lay aside the rod of authority and discipline. This does not mean, though, that we are to hit our children -- on the contrary. A good shepherd does not hit his sheep with the rod, but rather reserves hitting for the predators who attack his sheep. In like manner, we as parents should not use the "rod" to hit our children, but rather we are to protect them, guide them, and defend them.

I have always been confused on if I should hit my children as a way to discipline them. I will admit for some time I thought spanking was the way I should discipline but only because that's what most of us are taught to do. In the many times I used spanking to discipline it always felt wrong. I didn't understand nor get how inflicting pain on my child would correct them, and as I began to observe my children I realized it didn't discipline them but instead it made them afraid of me and because they were afraid they would behave better for a time. I also learned that spanking wasn't teaching them anything but to hit when they got angry at what someone did to them, or if someone didn't listen to them. I found my self spanking my kids and saying hitting is wrong and it hurts. So I started questioning myself why it was OK for me to hit them when they did wrong but it wasn't OK for them to hit someone else when they thought that other kid was doing wrong. They were only doing what they were taught. I began to pray for direction and wisdom on how to go about discipline in a Godly way. After some prayer a good friend (I will leave her name out ) of mine began to talk to me in a gentle way on spanking. She referred me to a wonderful site called gentle christian mothers and I began to learn new things. I then read a book called Biblical Parenting and it changed my views on parenting and spanking. I haven't spanked my kids in over a year and instead I have been using the same discipline on them as God uses on me, grace and mercy. The change in discipline wasn't easy and I would slip up at times, but I learned to ask my children for forgiveness when I did spank and told them that hitting them was wrong and I am working on changing that. I realized very fast that in those moments I taught my children something important and that is that we all make mistakes and doing something new takes work and if we fail the right thing to do is admit we are wrong and ask for forgiveness. I've learned that I am not my children's boss, but that I am their teacher, their comforter and their protector. I am not here to rule them but instead guide them and teach them how to be good Christian's with a heart to love, forgive, give mercy and grace to others as our heavenly father gives to us.

Discipling without spanking has taken a lot of work on my part but it's been the best change I've made as a parent.

In Awe!!!

2011-02-24T16:44:00.000-07:00

For so long Edgar and I have struggled with our finances and have lived pay check to pay check always worried what we would do if an emergency happened. About 3 years ago we started the Dave Ramsey program and have slowly dug ourself out of debt and have learned how to live within our means. It was a very hard adjustment and is still sometimes challenging when I want to buy the stuff I just want but don't need. I'm so grateful to God and Dave Ramsey and for the friends and family who have prayed for us and encouraged us, for we are now living comfortable. That doesn't mean we have lots of money it just means we have become good stewards over our finances and now live in peace about our future. We were able to buy our first home and now we are able to buy stuff to fix up our home. God has blessed us beyond measure for learning and following this program. I was sitting back today thanking God for where we are today. I can say for the first time we are very happy with where are life is right now and I look forward to all the great things that are to come. God is so so faithful and has provided for us every step of the way. Edgar and I would not be the couple we are today without trusting and leaning on our Lord and savior!

Trying to keep up

2011-01-29T15:05:00.000-07:00

Well it's almost been a year since I've updated our blog and I'm sorry for those who keep up with us through it. I will do my best to do a weekly update not that anything exciting happens to us that much..LOL

We have been living in El Paso, Texas since August. Although it has been an adjustment for all of us we are settling in and loving this new chapter in our life. We bought our first, home a beautiful spanish style home. It's a work in process but it's ours and it feels great to own it. We love our neighborhood and the area we live in and really feel at home here. God has been blessing us beyond our dreams, what an AMAZING God we serve. We have found a great church home and have jumped right in and feel like we are part of the family.

Eddie is loving his new job and is doing well. We love being able to see him every day. We are now finally the family we wanted to be. He is loving being apart of our life every day and being there for his children. He is working hard researching and teaching himself how to do all the remodling of our home and is doing a great job at it. Ethan, Lauren and I are so blessed!

Ethan is growing every day and is trying to find his place as a young man and not as a child. He has worked so hard in school to catch up to where the kids are here, sadly he was behind their standards, but he is now where he needs to be and at the top of his class. His teacher and classmates all love him and say he is the life of the class. He is also finding his place with Christ. I love watching our son make choices for God and as God would have him. He has such a heart to serve and is very compassionate for people. We look forward to all God has in store for him and watching him serve and love God.

Princess Lauren has gotten so big. She is loving being 4 but not liking some of the new changes we are working on with her like going to sleep without one of us siiting with her till she falls asleep, but she is getting better at it every night. She talks so much, makes us laugh and changes every day. She is so ready to start school and loves to learn. She is so girly but will play like one of the boys no problem. She is such a daddies girl and is so spoiled by Eddie. She wants so much to do all the things her big brother does. She loves her brother and loves to bother him also. She is growing closer to God and understanding more and more just how much he loves her. It feels so good to hear her singing songs to our Lord and praying to him for everyone she loves. Her and and I have learned how to be with each other every day and our bond has grown so much. She loves doing everything with me. The first thing she asks every morning is what store we going to today..LOL This girl LOVES to shop especially if its for her. Daddy is in trouble.

I'm doing very well and loving being a stay at home mom although I am rarely home. I stay busy with MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) and with my friends I've met through there as well as church. In October I finished my first half marathon over the Franklin Mountains, it was such an amazing experiance for me. This marathon pushed me past my self limints and taught me to lean on God to get through it and in return God showed me I can do anything through him. I will never forget the feeling when I crossed that finish line and the best part was my husband and kids where there cheering me on, man what a rush. My new adventure with Christ is leading a connect group at church and I'm praying and believing for big things for the people in my group and for myself. I have fallen more in love with God and I'm so excited to serve his people and see all he has for me and my family.

That's our update and like I said I'll try to post once a week and share what is going on.

UPDATE!!!!!!!!

2010-04-08T19:39:00.000-06:00

Wow it has been way to long since I've updated our blog. I am going to try and keep up with now that we will be moving to El Paso Texas.

The Herrera family will be moving to El Paso Texas on August 13, 201o. Eddie will begin his new adventure of flying for the government and we will be able to be the family we have wanted to be for the past 4 years. Eddie will be leaving for El Paso on May 7, 2010 and then will go to the academy on June 3, 2010. The kids and I will stay here in Louisiana until he gets out of the academy in August. We are so excited to move and can't wait for this new chapter of our lives to begin.

Ethan our little man has gotten so big over the last few years. He is so smart and has made the honor roll all three quarters this year and we are positive he will make again in the fourth quarter. He has gotten into playing soccer and is very natural at it. He is planning on continuing with soccer and wants to also learn the guitar once we get to Texas. He is a little nervous about moving and I don't blame him we have so many loving friends here who have become our second family. He has such an out going personality I know he will make friends fast in Texas. He is getting very tall as well, his head comes right to my shoulders now, soon he will be taller than me. Its been amazing watching him grow to love and know the Lord. He has accepted Christ into his heart and has also been baptised in the Holy Spirit. I love to hear him sing out loud to his favorite Christian singer Toby Mac. We are over joyed and so very proud of him.

Lauren our sweet spirited princess has changed so much. She is now 3 years old but will tell you she is five...LOL!!! She makes us laugh with all the new things she is doing and saying. She can be a bit sassy sometimes but at her age its still cute. She is learning so much every day. She is a big fan of watching iCarly and can even sing the intro song. She loves to play out side. I recently cut off four inches of hair and she loves it. The cut has made her go from looking like a baby to a little girl. She is growing up so fast. She's very into dancing and will dance any where and every where and asks us all the time when she gets to go to dance class. She too loves the Lord. She is the one to say the blessing at our meals, and she loves to pray every night. Her favorite song is he's got the hole world in his hands and man is it cute to listen to her sing it. It melts my heart to see her praise the Lord. She knows we are moving to Texas but I know she doesn't understand fully what that means, but none the less she asks every day when she gets to go to her new house. We are so very proud of the little lady or as she would say girl she is growing into.

As for Ed and I we are just preparing our family for our up coming move and can't wait to be the family we have worked so hard to be the last four years.

Yummy Gelato

2009-07-18T21:30:00.000-06:00

We went out to try and new Gelto place that opened up in Baton Rouge. We had a great time and enjoyed our gelato. Lauren loved sitting at a table fit just for her. She made me laugh when she come to my table with an empty gelato cup and said "I no like it mommy" LOL. Lauren and her friend Barrette (Bear) had fun sharing with each other

Beach Fun!!!!

2009-07-18T21:20:00.000-06:00

Last weekend we had a great idea of taking a day trip to Mississippi to have fun on the beach. We had a great time. Ethan and his friend Noah had so much fun they didn't get out of the water until it was time to go home. Lauren kept getting in and out of the water but had fun playing in the sand. Eddie had fun with his kids and I rosted in the sun but the sunburn was so worth it because I needed some color...LOL

Rockstar Lauren

2009-06-02T20:19:00.001-06:00

These are the cool girl sunglasses that her mima sent her. She loves them so much and I happen to think she looks like a little rockstar wearing them.

Update!!!!

2009-06-02T19:49:00.000-06:00

Wow life has been so crazy busy I have gotten bad a posting updates. Here is a quick run through of whats been going on.

Ethan is officialy a 2nd grader...Yup my baby boy is almost 8 years old and going into the second grade...Tears!!! We are so very proud of Ethan and his accomplishments this year. Ethan finished out the school year holding straight "A's" all year long and holding a 4.0 gpa all year long. He has grown so much this year and has learned so much. As his mom I am happy and excited to continue to watch him grow and learn and explore his worl but as his mom I am also sadden at the thought of how much he has grown and when I look back and think about the baby he was I long for him to stay my little man forever but I know thats not how life is. God is moving in his life and I can already see God's work in him. He has a servents heart and is always wanting to do good for others, through prayers or helping them out. I am so proud to be his mommy.

Lauren is changing so much every day. She is slowing turning into a sassy little girl. She loves to sing and loves to talk. In fact some times you just wished she could stay quite for just a few minutes. She is loving the summer and the hot days since we are now able to go to swimmin pool as she calls it. She loves to wear her baby suit again this is what she calls it. She is a little water bug. She continues to learn so much and is able to speak so much clearer and amazes me with the words she knows. Her mima sent her some sunglasses and they are her new favorite thing, she is always wearing them or taking them every where with her. She melts our hearts like a little girl should. I love to see her with her daddy because she knows all the ways to keep her daddy wraped around her little fingers, he hates to admit that he is a softy when it comes to her. It's so sweet to hear her try and say prayers at meals or at bed time and I love when she randomly says thank you Jesus. I know God is always speaking to hear to her and is already at work in her life and I'm so thankful he chose us to lead her.

Pudding face

2009-03-21T19:03:00.000-06:00

The other day when we got home from work and school Lauren asked for a pudding snack. I knew she really liked pudding but her face said she LOVES pudding...LOL she had it all over her face and thought it was funny and asked me to take her picture so I did. Isn't she the cutest pudding face girl you've ever seen.

Friday night Pizza night

2009-03-21T18:41:00.000-06:00

Every other week when Eddie comes home we like to have a make your own pizza night on Friday. We buy all the toppings we each want and then I buy already made dough balls from our local Italian restaurant for dirt cheap. The kids each get their own 10' pizza and Ed and I share the 16' pizza we all have pizza the way we want it with spending time with each other and having fun for less money than ordering pizza not to mention we all get to fix it just the way we want. The kids love rolling out their dough and putting all their toppings on all by them selves. We love Friday night pizza at our house.

Its Been too long!!!!

2009-03-15T15:51:00.000-06:00

So its been too long since I last posted anything, please forgive me life has been crazy for the Herrera Family. Eddie started working EMS with the same company and he works nights some weeks and days other weeks, he is really enjoying it. We still miss him like crazy when he isn't home but we know God has something good in store for our family this year and we are all so excited to see what it is, so please believe with us until it comes to pass. I have started a new adventure in my life selling Pampered Chef, I am loving the time I get away to be alone and the fact that its helping us make a little extra money not to mention I love the product. If your interested in hosting or party or just buying products please let me know. Ethan is doing really well in school he is one of the top kids in his class and has made a 4.0 GPA throughout the whole year he is really smart and does really well in school, we couldn't be more prouder of him, now if can only get him to stop talking so much in class...LOL. He has gotten so tall and has started playing soccer this year and is really good at it and he is loving it.

These are some pics from his first game, his team won 4-0 they all played really well as a team. Lauren is doing well and getting bigger every day. She is talking a lot and is now potty trained. She loves to explore and try and say new things she makes us laugh a lot. We love to sit back and just watch her doing new things. She is doing really well at school/daycare and has learned so much, she can sing her ABC's count to almost 10 with skipping a few numbers and sings lots of songs, the Happy Birthday song his her favorite she sings it all the time in fact she loves to sing has has a really cute voice maybe will have a famous singer in our family. She is very girlie and loves to play with her new kitchen, babies, purses and talk on her play phones. She has become a daddies girl and really misses him when he is away at work. Both of them are the best part of us, God has truly blessed us with beautiful smart kids. I look forward to watching them grow, and pray that God will bless them and use them for the good of his kingdom.

As a family we are active in our church, I am a leader of a ministries called Touch Team, we are a group of people who go out into our community and love on the people with free gifts such as cold water on a hot day, snow balls to kids at the local park and taking food to peoples homes. For the past year God has laid it on my heart to reach out to an apartment complex that has very low income families living it, in fact every time I drive by it I wonder how it is for those parents to have to live there with their children but then I watch the kids running and playing without a care in the world and it make me stop and think how awesome God is for helping those kids only see what they need to see to be happy and then it makes me grateful for all I have in my life. Any ways God has finally made it all come together and on April 4th we will be spending most of the day at this apartment complex feeding the families, playing games with the kids giving them snow cones and having moon bounce balloons for them to play on. I'm so excited to hang out with all of them and just love on them. God is so good and although it was hard waiting for a year to be able to reach out to them I know God's timing is always best.

We love and miss all of you and hope you can come and visit soon.

Lauren and Emily's 2nd birthday party

2009-01-16T17:07:00.001-07:00

Lauren and Emily are best friends and decided this year it would be fun to have their birthday parties together. The girls had their party at a place called The Little Gym, they had a blast and so did all their friends. Here are some pics from their party. Oh yeah the cute Dora cakes were made by Lisa, she did such a good job and they tasted so good, she is such a sweet heart for all her hard work on them.

Christmas 2008

2008-12-31T15:00:00.000-07:00

Christmas was so perfect this year since Eddie was home with us to celebrate, its been three years since we've been able to spend Christmas together. The kids such a great job waiting till 4:30pm when Eddie got home to open their presents, yes we made them wait. Ethan got a scooter and and some soccer gear and found out he gets to play soccer this year. Lauren had a blast opening her gifts, I think she liked unwrapping more then the gift inside. She really loved her Dora phone and book that Auntie Lisa and the family gave her. Here are some pictures.

We had a SNOW Day!!!!!

2008-12-12T12:15:00.001-07:00

On thursday morning we woke up to a Blessing from God, it SNOWED in South Louisiana and it was so much fun. Have been to the snow, played in snow but have never seen it snow like I did yesterday. This was a new experiance for both me and my kids and we all loved it and enjoyed every minute of it and made a lifetime of memories of our fun filled snow day. Lauren on the other hand much rather have loved it from the window inside the warm house...LOL Enjoy our pictures. Thank you God for letting us have such a fun filled snow day.

A visit with the Montoya Family

2008-12-10T20:51:00.000-07:00

For the week of Thanksgiving we had the honor of having my sister Lisa and my brother in-law Robert and their three boys Eric, Alec and Evan come and visit us. We all had so much fun together and everyone got along really well. My sister and I made our first thanksgiving dinner alone together, as in alone I mean without my grandma and mom and aunts doing all the cooking. We found this new recipe for the turkey and tried it out and can I say it was the best turkey ever. We also made an apple and pumpkin pie and those came out great. All the food was so good. We all had a good meal and a great time, it makes me long to have her closer to me. I miss my sister and my family but on the other hand we have met some wonderful people here who have become our family and I would be sad to have to leave them and the place we now call home. Louisiana may be a backwoods state but I love it here. Here are a few pics.

Mid week blues.....

2008-12-08T10:23:00.000-07:00

This is so crazy that I'm posting this but truth needs to be told. You would think that after 9 years of dealing with a husband who is home again, gone again and three years of a 7 on 7 off schedule I would be use to being alone but truth is I'm not. Its funny how it always hits me mid week and for a day or two I'm lonely, sad, depressed and angry with God and the world and Eddie for making me be a single mom and wife every other week. I find myself asking God why someone who wants to be with her husband every day can't and why those who don't want to be with their husbands are. As strange as it sounds Eddie is my best friend and I love spending every moment I can with him. Its so hard to pretend I have it all together when I don't and the truth is I HATE that he leaves us every other week, I hate to see my kids hurt and cry and ask for their daddy and I hate that I have to hold it all in for all of our sakes including Ed's because he doesn't like it any more than us. I have faith and know with my heart of heart that one day God is going to let us be a normal family but I'm finding it harder and harder to be patient and it seems like just when that job is going to happen something else gets in the way. Please pray and believe with us that soon that job will come along that will allow us to be a normal family. Its funny because by tomorrow all this will pass and I will be on the count down to thursday when he gets home.

Harvest Fest 2008

2008-11-14T14:15:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to share some pics of the kids from Harvest Fest. Ethan was Wolverine from XMen and Lauren was Tinker Bell. They both had so much fun playing all the games.

We are so Proud

2008-10-22T16:29:00.001-06:00

On monday Ethan came home with an award for Outstanding Academic Achievement, he has a 4.0 GPA. He is also top 3 in his class. We are so proud of how well he does in school. Great job buddy.

Ethan and Lauren 10/11/08

2008-10-13T12:29:00.000-06:00

One of my co-workers friend is learning how to be a photographer and did a photo session for us at one of the Baton Rouge Garden parks on saturday. Here are some of their pics. She did a great job and we were so blessed to have her take these of the kids.

Lauren's 1st School Picture

2008-10-02T20:20:00.000-06:00

Although Lauren is not a fan of the big photography cameras and wouldn't smile I absolutely love this picture of her. Our baby girl has changed into a beautiful little girl right before our eyes. I hope you enjoy seeing this picture of her as much as I enjoy staring at it.

Fun at the Zoo

2008-10-01T05:37:00.000-06:00

On Saturday I decide it would be a great day for the kids and I to go to the Zoo. Since its so hot out here over the summer we don't go out very often. Our friends Emily and Travis also came with us. We went about lunch time so we first stoped off at the park near the zoo and had a picnic lunch then we went on to the zoo. It was such a fun day, Ethan and Lauren really love seeing all the animals and Ethan is now at the age where he wants to read about them too. Lauren is crazy over the animals at the zoo and would get mad between exhibits when she could see any. We had a great day together the on;y thing that was missing was daddy.

Our Beautiful Princess

2008-09-15T21:20:00.000-06:00

I took these pictures of Lauren on sunday 9-14-08. She looked so cute that morning and I wanted to share with you all how big and BEAUTIFUL she has gotten over the last 20 months, Yup she is 20 months old only 4 months until our Princess is 2 years old.

Look who's potty training

2008-09-15T21:15:00.001-06:00

Ok so I know if she was old enough to realize I put these pics on the blog she would totaly hate me, LOL..... but I couldn't help sharing with you guys how cute she looks on the potty. Our little girl is growing up to fast. I can't get over how fast her 2nd birthday is coming.

Their so sweet when they sleep

2008-09-15T21:02:00.001-06:00

On friday morning 9-12-08 I woke up for work only to find these to beautiful kids sleeping in my bed with me, well I brought Lauren but some how Ethan snuck in with us...LOL I had to take pics of them.

Ethan and Lauren

2008-09-10T15:06:00.000-06:00

Just some pics of the kids

We survived Gustav

2008-09-10T13:00:00.000-06:00

These past 2 weeks have been really long for us. Things are finaly getting back to normal since hurricane Gustav made land fall. The kids and I were so blessed to be taken in by some friends from church, Randy and Rachel thank you from the bottom of our hearts for opening your home to us and keeping us safe and fed may God Bless you ten times more for all you have done for our family, we love you all so much. Here are some pics from damage

We are back!!!!!!!

2008-08-22T15:00:00.000-06:00

Ok so I have been having some problems with someone or something hacking into all my email accounts including our blog. I closed out the old blog and opened this new one so I'm hoping all will be fine from here on out.