Goodbye '09, Hello '10!

I cannot believe it is time to start typing 2010. A new decade! Ten years ago, I was ringing in the New Year by skiing on the slopes with my family! This decade will be rung in as the first New Year's Eve spent with my husband!

~The highlight of 2009 would definitely be this~

Marrying my best friend!

I am so excited about 2010 and all that it has to bring! New memories (happy, sad and crazy ones I'm sure!), and so many new experiences to learn from.  I look forward to the path that the Lord has laid out for us and to the ways that we will grow in Him in the coming year!

Happy New Year and God Bless You in 2010!

Ohio

This post will be short and sweet! It is coming to you from the cold state of Ohio! We flew in yesterday afternoon to spend the Christmas holiday with Mark's family! We are so excited to be able to spend some quality time just hanging out with them and relaxing. 

We will/are def. missing my family alot this Christmas, as it is my first Christmas away from them....but are so grateful that they are understanding with us being gone!

I will def. post once we get back with pictures....but until then....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

With much love,

Mark & Allison

The Blind Side

Last night, we went and saw the Blind Side.  I had been told that others had cried. I had been told that it had changed others lives. But I had no idea how it would affect me. The tears I would shed. The way my life would be forever changed.

Many of the reasons that this movie affected me so greatly is because of the things that the Lord has been doing in our area, in our church and in the hearts of those around me. I have seen things in the past few months that have changed my path forever.  Because of this, there were parts of this movie that were truly raw and deep down real to me. I saw other faces feeling the emotions that this boy felt. And I wept for them.  I wept for every child, in Malakoff, in our area, in Texas, and in the world who feels that pain.  The child who does not know love, safety or family. 

After the movie ended, I needed a few moments to process/collect myself/stop sobbing....so I sat in the quiet of the theater and listened to the song that played at the end of the movie.  It was "Chances" by Five for Fighting.    It was beautiful moment of silence and refelction.

I am so excited to see where this new path that the Lord has us on will lead.  Parts of it seem scary, but knowing that He is up to big things everywhere I look is something I do not have the words to describe.

I want to leave you with this from here:
Save us from these comforts.
Break us of our need for the familiar
Spare us any joy that’s not of You
And we will worship You

Here We Come a Caroling!

My heart was so proud, so full of joy and so excited for my kids last night--I think it could have literally exploded!

Let me explain!

Last week, our music minister and I go the brave idea to take all of the kids caroling with the adult choir.  I sent home permission slips, and he signed up drivers.  I even had to go up to the school this week to drop off more permission slips because kids were so excited!

Yall, tonight kids got to go caroling that have never had that chance. That had never gotten to see that joy in someone else's face when you sing to them.  The joy that it brought me was indescribable.  Seeing their eyes lit up when they got to yell "Merry Christmas!" They were so excited to be serving! I am so proud of them for having such servant's hearts so young.

And then just to see their excitement, to sing, to see lights, to go on an adventure that truthfully, some of their little lives had never experienced...I praise the Lord that our church was willing to step up and drive kids that they did not know and had never met...they will never know what it meant to those kiddos.

We are so blessed to serve in such a mission minded church that desire's to not only teach children about Christ's love, but to show it in actions each and every day!

Our First Christmas

Welcome to the Sangenito home! Christmas is my favorite time of the year...and this Christmas is even better since it is our first Christmas being married!

Our decorations are very simple, but they each mean something special to us! Enjoy the tour and thanks for stopping by!

Our First Christmas Tree

We got to buy our first Christmas tree this year! The Christmas tree skirt is one of my most treasured decorations. My grandfather made each grandchild one many years ago.  Most of our ornaments are simple Christmas balls. Last year, my mother-in-law gave me a box full of beautiful ornaments that we have as well!

This year my husband also surprised me with this very special ornament

First Christmas Ornament

Because we do not have a fireplace in our apartment, our stockings are hung from the counter with care!

Mark, Allison & Zeus

I got these stockings last year after Christmas on sale. I just love them and am so glad I decided to get them! And of course our sweet puppy has a stocking, since he is our only child.

We rarely eat at our dining table, so I decided to decorate it this year as well

And last but not least is one of my favorite areas in our apartment

Nativity Shelf

We received quite a few nativities as wedding gifts, and I couldn't wait to pull out our collections! The birth of Jesus is the reason for the season and we want to make sure and make that the center of our household each Christmas!

Merry Christmas and God bless!

To Know Him and the Power of His Resurrection

Back around Easter,  I posted the lyrics to the song below.  Today we sang it during worship, and it took and a completely new meaning to me.  As I sang the words, my heart began to break. I looked around at the kids that were surrounding me. Kids who do not know hope or strength that comes from the Lord. Kids who do not stand on His solid ground, or rely on Him through the fears in their life. These precious lives have been through more than my worst nightmares.  Their "great" at times is my worst. I just began to cry and plead with the Lord as I sang that He would reveal Himself to them. That He would open their eyes to who He is.  This song no longer became about me, but about these tender hearts coming to know our mighty, powerful Lord.  A Lord who will be with them, walk alongside them through the hard times.  This song speaks of such a new life, a grace that can ONLY come from Him. What a hope for these sweet ones that do not know that there can be some thing different. That thought His birth, His blood, and His sacrifice that our guilt, fear, and failures can be washed away.

Phil. 3:10

...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

‘Til on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life’s first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

‘til He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

Party time!

Last night we had the chance to attend our staff Christmas party! Our amazing secretary planned a progressive dinner for us. It was such a great chance to get together and just relax without the craziness of being at work.

We began at the Lorick's house for appetizer's. While there, we received some amazing gifts from our pastor...

Marshmallow Guns! 

We then headed to the Spies' house for our entree. Donna posted today on how she decorates in such creative ways....her house is just so cute and Christmas-y!

Our Minister/Spouse Photo

We finished up at the Beechem's for coffee and dessert! We had some delicious tarts and and Eric made some sourdough cookies!

I am so blessed to work with such a great staff, and that they all have such wonderful families that we can spend time together with!

 

Thankful in December

I haven't had a chance to post about our Thanksgiving, so I wanted to take a moment, here in the middle of December, to recap and reflect!

We were able to spend time with all of our families this year-which can be kind of hard to do with 3 families! My grandmother was in the hospital for most of Thanksgiving week, so I was glad to be able to spend some good time seeing her.  We are so blessed to have families who love us so much, and who welcome their homes to us as we hop back and forth trying to spend time with each of them! We got to spend time playing games and catching up with my mom's family. My dad had 6 lab pups who needed homes, so we spent black Friday selling those! It was cold, but a great time to sit and talk in the midst of the rush of everyone's shopping.  And finally, we enjoyed lots of laughing and eating with Mark's family!

This year, and specifically this holiday season, has been one of much reflection and change in attitude for me. Through our new bus ministry at church, I have been able to learn so much about how the Lord has blessed me.  Gifts, lavish meals and new things seem so different to me than they once did.  The simplicity of family, laughter, and the love of our heavenly Father hold so much more meaning now.

The F's Have It!

My Fall Fun post definitely did not fit into one post, so I have posted the links below for you! Read or don't, it's up to you!

Hope your weekend is great! Ours will be full of New Moon, seeing the in-laws and the beginning of Christmas decor!

Fall Festival
Foto Fun
Fifty
Festive

Festive

When it came time to pull out the tub of fall decorations, I heard a small groan. Mark did not understand why I need scarecrows, a talking skeleton named Jack, and leaves. But those things were just always apart of life for me, and apart of bringing in the holiday season that followed. I think they have really grown on him this first married fall!

Here is a peek at our fall decorations before they come down today! I have to put the Christmas tree up tonight so that it will fall out by Monday!

Fifty?!

A while back I made a bet with the kids on Wednesday nights...if they got fifty kids there, they could temporarily color my hair whatever color they wanted.

It only took them 3 weeks....

They picked Rainbow. Although red was their second choice. And I will admit, I kinda liked the red!  The next day a few of the kids were sad because the hair color was gone. I have a few ideas up my sleeve for next semester.....

But for now, I am just SO proud of them that they are getting fifty gets a week there, and having a great time learning about the Lord!

Foto Fun

This fall has been full of photography in our household! I just got a new camera (thanks to my husband!) it is a baby version of his!

In October he got the chance to photograph a wedding in Clifton. Here are just a few shots from that:

He also got the chance to take his first baby pictures! Flo posted a few on her blog, but here are a few more!

It has been fun to watch him have new opportunities, and it will  be exciting to learn how to take pictures with him now!

Fall Festival

This year was my second year to put on our church's Fall Festival. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to provided this event for our community.  The idea is to provided a safe and free alternative for families on Halloween.  Seeing the smiles on the kids faces as they show their costumes, play games, get candy and food-that makes it all worth it!

We had around 1100 in attendance this year! One lucky family walked away with a Nintendo Wii. A few of our games included: Hay ride, Toilet Toss, Cookie Monster Dash, Dunkin Booth, Hair Color, Face Painting, Fire Truck/Ambulance and so much more! We had around 30 booths total!

I am already so excited about next year and seeing how we can reach out to our community!

Alive?

I am indeed alive! I feel like I haven't really blogged in forever. That has been for several reasons:

1. C-R-A-Z-Y busy life
2. Nothing to exciting to talk about in that busy life
3. Birthdays, friends, and family
4. Taking time to sit and enjoy watching tv, reading or just talking to my husband-without having a computer in my lap!

I have a "Fall" post coming up soon, to show some of the fun things we have been up to this fall.

twenty.four

Twenty four birthdays. Twenty four years.

I would have to say yesterday ranked up with the top of birthdays. Not because of any big surprises or nights out. But because I got to spend time with some of the people who I love most in this world. Family, best friends, and my sweet husband. 

Before I left yesterday, I got two cards from Mark-probably the two first cards he has willingly given me haha! That was such a great surprise.  I got to spend some time with my family yesterday morning, and then the best friend came and took me to lunch! Her gift to me was:

I am super excited to watch the first movie (although I am sure the husband isn't!)

Mark and I also got our birthday/Christmas gifts for each other last night:

We are loving our new phones!

Last night was spent eating pizza and watching tv-being lazy! It was a great day.

I am so grateful for the twenty four years that the Lord has given to me.  My prayer is that in each year I age that I will grow in wisdom in Him and grow closer in my walk with Him.

Wedding Pictures

Whew! All of our wedding photos are up! The links below will take you to them.

Wedding Details:
Saturday, February 7,2009
Fort Worth YWCA

Amazing Photographer: (These are all pictures that he took)
Apple Guy of Dallas

Pictures:
Getting Ready
Processional
Ceremony
Formals
Reception
Decor/Location

Decor & Location

Here are a few "pretty" pictures of the location.

 

 

 

 

 

Reception

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Formals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ceremony

 

 

 

Processional