Firsts

A lot has happened since our last blog entry :). Thanks to those who have reminded us that we needed to update our blog. That’s what I hope to do now.

Anna Carolina is over 5 months old, and it is an honor and JOY to watch her grow and develop, learn new skills (like rolling over), try new things (like rice cereal), experience new adventures (like a road trip to NC), meet new people (like her Great Grandmom), make new sounds (louder and louder!), and settle into life with a smile. José and I consider God’s word true: “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward” (Psalm 127:3).

José and I also are embarking on several “firsts”:

• As of June 27, we will be first-time homeowners! God, in His wondrous providence, has provided a house for us that is far more than we hoped or asked for. We are looking forward to living closer to our church and many of our friends. Plus, I’ll be able to walk to Trader Joe’s – now what can beat that?!
  


• José and I (and Annita too) are going to a church plant for the first time in our lives. Our church (Covenant Life Church) is planting a Spanish-speaking church here in Gaithersburg, and we have the privilege to be a part of it. We’ve already begun some preliminary meetings, and it’s already quite a large church! Public meetings for Iglesia Gracia Soberana de Gaithersburg will commence in September. If you speak Spanish and live in or visit the area, please come be our guests!
  


• This last first is just José’s (though he might not prefer to experience this first). We found out that he needs to have his gall bladder removed. Needless to say, this will be his first gall bladder removal (and his last :). We’d appreciate your prayers.
  

Well the last first I’ll mention is that this is the first time that I (Caryn) am writing on this blog. Hopefully it won’t be the last, and hopefully I (and José) will keep it updated more frequently - José with his profound thoughts and reflections, and I with less-weighty life updates!

Overflowing grace for a brand new daddy

How can anyone ever be prepared to be a father? As soon as the baby is born, an avalanche of new experiences rushes over you. No written description can do adequate justice to the happenings in the life a novice daddy - when you change the diaper of your little one for the first time, when you cover her tiny little body with doll-like clothes, when you try to comfort her while she helplessly cries and you observe puzzled without a single chance of discovering the cause of her distress, all of this crowned by a feeling of powerlessness as you try to encourage your wife who is crying without apparent reason while she recovers from the exhausting delivery.

The process has been skillfully designed by the Creator in such a way that you either die as you try or humbly surrender before Him, pleading for grace when weakness overwhelms you. It is in these moments when the endless, divine grace flows mightily from the fountain of living water, satiating the thirsty and strengthening the feeble. Under these circumstances, the power of God is made perfect in the frailty of man and allows him to mount up with wings like eagles.

It is this grace that allows me to marvel in wonder at my baby when she finally gives up exhausted and falls sleep in my arms; this grace that opens my eyes to contemplate how privileged and blessed I am to have two princesses in my own house, whom I do not deserve; this grace that granted me the honor to be a father so I can understand better the love of God The Father. My heart overflows with gratefulness to my Lord for another gift of his incomprehensible mercy!

Annita is one month old

Yes, Annita is growing fast and we do not want you to miss these priceless moments, so we prepared a video and a slideshow of her first month. Enjoy!

Wrapping up the year 2007

The end of the year came with a fierce charge of wonderful events. On December 30, last year, we were getting married in Bolivia, so we celebrated our first anniversary having a romantic dinner just the two of us for the last time, for Annita decided to come on the last day of the year. What a beautiful gift she is!

Caryn did a great job and courageously went through the whole process. Some mild contractions had started on Saturday morning, but it was not until Monday morning that they became stronger and more frequent. We were admitted in the hospital around 10 AM, when she was 2 cm. dilated, and then she had some arduous hours before she transitioned to the pushing stage, which was relatively short. While she was working hard, the excited soon-to-be father was taking pictures all over the place. Anna Carolina was born at 4:51 PM. She weighed 6 pounds 10 ounces and was 20.5 inches long. Mom and baby are doing great.

Christmas Day Celebration - Dec. 25

This is the first Christmas that I celebrate with my beloved Caryn. As a new family we are blending our families’ traditions while we add novel ones to the mixture. We started our Christmas morning by singing a worship song that reminded us of the Savior’s birth. Then we read Mathew 1:17-25, intertwining English and Spanish so Annita can hear both. We were reminded on how God had mercy on us and saved us from our sin (v. 21). Next, we recounted the many gifts that we received from God this past year: our marriage, our daughter, financial provision, a new Care Group and new relationships, just to mention some. Our hearts were filled with thankfulness and renewed hope. Then we opened gifts after having a delicious seasonal breakfast prepared by my multi-gifted wife. What a wonderful time we had!

Christmas medley for our baby Anna Carolina

Our baby Anna Carolina is one week away from her expected due date! As we enjoy this season with our friends, we modified the words of a couple of traditional Christmas songs to relate the exciting changes that pregnancy brings along. The video has subtitles to help you understand the customized lyrics.

My new job

My internship at NASA has ended. But the Lord in his faithfulness has provided a full-time job for me, which is able to support our family. As always, God’s timing was perfect, as I was able to start my new job about one week before Caryn left her position as administrative assistant at our church. In His grace, God has permitted my salary to be sufficient to allow Caryn to dedicate herself completely to our family and our home. On top of that, my office is only 10 minutes from our house and therefore I will be able to easily care for my little princesses!
I am working for whose principal business areas are Aeronautics and Electronic, Space and Information Systems. Below you can see two of its products. I am specifically working with the group that implements internal corporate information systems, supporting applications for sectors as the legal department and HR.


I am very excited to have the opportunity to work for such a large and prestigious company, while our hearts are filled with gratitude for the immeasurable goodness of God, expressed this time in the provision of this job.