Lent

Hi everyone. So it's the first week of Lent and we are trying our best to give up sodas and fast food. Even though I usually only have one soda per day, it's hard for me to give them up because I crave that sweet fizzy stuff! It's my afternoon pick-me-up...so I'm going to have to find a replacement, or better yet just drink MORE WATER!! I've brought lemons to work with me hoping that will tempt me to drink more, and so far it's working. We don't eat a lot of fast food, but I admit that we will fall victim to it at least once a week when I just really don't feel like cooking or we are in a hurry. I'm going to have to plan ahead in order to make this work, but I feel up to the challenge! I am also going to try to have more patience with people during this Lenten season, especially with Nate. He pushes every button he possibly can, so this will be hard for me, but I'm going to try. Praying more should help my blood pressure during these situations!!

Most of you know I am going through classes to become Catholic. DJ and I have been going to classes every Tuesday night for about 7 months now, and I have 6 weeks left! DJ is my sponsor, and they provide daycare for Nate so it works out for all of us and this whole experience has been awesome. Yesterday I got to meet the Bishop, it was so cool! There were like 11 churches all represented at a service yesterday called the Rite of Election where the Bishop welcomes us into the initiation process...it was a PACKED HOUSE!! I was amazed at how many people are taking these classes just in the Fort Worth Diocese, and this was only part of the Diocese! It was really cool to see so many people wanting to be closer to God and making this important step in their journey. I won't bore you all with the details, but I really enjoyed the experience yesterday and truly look forward to the Easter Vigil when I get to be Confirmed and take the Eucharist (communion) and will finally be a real member of the Catholic church. I'm so excited to be sharing this experience with DJ too, it has really brought us closer as a couple. Since I am learning so much about the Catholic faith, this year Lent means a lot more to me because it is really all about people like me...people who are seeking to know more about God and want to be better people, better Christians. Lent is not just the 40 days when you give up something you love and wait for Easter to come around...it is a time for penitance, to ask for forgiveness, to live a better and more Christian life...to examine your life and find things you truly want to change within yourself. I need more patience, this is not a secret! So I am going to take advantage of this Lenten season and TRY to exercise more patience in every situation. Good luck to all of you with your Lenten challenges. I hope you use this time to become closer to God. Have a blessed week!!

Finally an update...RECAP of 2011

If anyone out there still checks this blog occassionally, you'll be shocked to find an update. I know I have been neglecting this blog and I will try to be better in the future...but no promises!! It's just been a very busy year for us. Let's do a recap of 2011, at least the major things that made an impact on the Vargas family.....

1. I will start with summer since that is where I left off last time. My sister Lori, my friend Michele and I walked the Race for the Cure 5K in Plano in our friend Renee Linke Sendelbach's honor. It was a very meaningful experience that I will always treasure, and I was honored to be a part of it. I'm hoping to enlist DJ this year! More on Renee a bit later....

2. My sister Jenni and her family moved to The Woodlands, TX for Brian's job. It stinks that we're not all together in the same vicinity anymore, but this move has been wonderful for their family! Davis is on a great new baseball team and is starting to make lots of new friends in his new school. They found a church that they love, and Brian is loving his job. Success!!

3. Nate turned 2 in November!! He is such a joy to watch him grow and develop. He is right on par in his size and development, and we feel so blessed to have such a funny and smart child in our lives. He is definitely in that "terrible twos" phase, and throws plenty of frustrating tantrums, is a somewhat picky eater and presents many challenges each and every day. But we just can't imagine our lives without him. :) He was a lucky boy and got two birthday parties this year since we had one for him up here in DFW area, and his Vargas family in San Marcos had a party for him there too at Thanksgiving. Spoiled much?? :)

4. The same week that Nate turned 2, my beloved grandmother "Grammie" passed away. She came down with pneumonia and it was just too much for her body. She was 87, and lived quite a nice life, full of travels and adventures with her kids and grandkids. We were blessed to have her for so long, and we will miss her like crazy for the rest of our lives. Luckily we have all inherited many of her things that we will always treasure.

5. We went down for Grammie's funeral which was in Round Rock, and stayed in San Marcos for Thanksgiving with the Vargas family. It was very bittersweet for me, having to say goodbye to my most favorite person...and spending good quality time with the Vargas family. We had a blast, and Nate got lots of face-time with his family! And the food was DELISH!! :)

6. My friend Renee, the one we did the Komen walk for...she has been told that there is "NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE"!! This was her second battle with breast cancer that had spread into her lungs and bones, and yep...she beat it again!!! We will continue to pray that cancer stays out of her body, and remain cautiously optimistic! YAY for RENEE!!!

7. Christmas this year was two-fold. We celebrated Christmas Day with my family for the first time with Nate. This was quite different for DJ, but he enjoyed Christmas with the Davis family despite missing his family. Nate was SO excited to be opening his presents with his youngest cousins and enjoying all the family time. We then went down to San Marcos to open presents with the Vargas family. Nate figured out what "presents" are, and really hammed it up this time around! Every present drew an "OOOOOHHH", or "AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!" response from him, so enthusiastic that we wished we had gotten it on film for future blackmailing!! ;-) It was really fun, and once again Nate was totally spoiled by everyone. We now have WAY too many toys in our small apartment!


So, that's the rest of 2011 in a nutshell. Hopefully 2012 will be just as fun and memorable as 2011. Wishing you and yours a very good 2012!

Love, Meg