Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Enjoying life

Several years ago Micah started having dizziness. It baffled the doctor and he's seen several specialists and had some crazy tests done. Last year our doctor referred us to Nemours Children's Health on Jacksonville. The wait list was almost a year long . So we waited and waited and watched God work! Slowly that was dizzy spells that were happening twice a week. Went to once a week then every two weeks, then once a month, and we have now hasn't had one since November! I decided to keep the appointment because it took us so long to get in and I wanted to make sure we had our foot in the door. 


Today was his appointment and it went so good! It appears he has Pediatric Vertigo with a migraine aspect. They believe he is in the process of out growing that. Praise the Lord! As he and I went to the Children's hospital today we saw children that are very sick. Today I am praising the Lord that that is not the path He has chosen for our family at the moment.


None of us know what tomorrow may hold. Life can change in a moment. That's why I want to be determined to live for Christ in the Now. In this moment. I've learned that when I purpose to live for Him I have no regrets. I have purpose. I lead a life well led in my Master's loving care. 

So today I explored a children's hospital with Micah. We laughed. We made memories and I enjoyed my boy and the life God has given us. 


 

Saturday, March 2, 2024

7th Annual Gimenez Family I Love You Banquet

 Our I Love You Banquet has quickly become one of our family's favorite traditions! I love so much about it! I really love that we start off the evening with the family picture. That's one of those things that doesn't happen but extremely rare in the life of us Gimenezs. So it's a treasure to me for sure!
Then we have a nice family meal together. This year someone had given us a ton of shrimp. And I mean a ton! So we tried to recreate a good friend of mine's recipe, Shrimp in Muddy Waters. Patrick made it. And wow, was it good!

We all feasted a bunch and got very full.
Then it was time to exchange gifts. The rules were the same as in years prior. We privately exchanged names and kept it a secret. Or at least we were supposed to.πŸ˜‰ Then you were to make something for the person you drew. You could be crafty or you could bake something or make them a coupon or whatever it is that you wanted to make for your person. This year. Victory drew my name and she made me Donut Stix Muffins. They were so delicious! Also she made me some bracelets out of popsicle sticks that are so sweet! She was so excited to give me her gift
Freedom drew Beth's name. She made her blueberry cobbler cookies. Another goody! Wow, these girls have been busy baking!
Liberty true Silas's name. She knows that he loves oatmeal creampies! So she made homemade ones. He devoured them!
If you notice in these pictures, the joy on the face of the giverπŸ™‚
Callie had Micah's name so she decided to give him one of her books that talks about a pilot. Micah is into all things airplanes right now! She also printed him out of book on how to draw airplanes. Another fun past time that he's had lately!
Silas Drew Patrick's name and made him malta flavored ice cream. He said it was amazing!
Brenna and AJ drew Freedom and Liberty. They decided to make a mailbox to hold letters like they did in Little Women. This is a place where the girls can write letters to each other and put them in the mailbox and then check and see if there's any letters in there to one another. They also each wrote a note to the girls. AJ had Freedom's name and Freedom treasured that note and had me read it three times that night to her! I think she loved hearing that he thought she was awesome and super! 
Tabitha had Josh's name and wrote him a sweet note and made a chocolate cake with a chocolate ganache.
Beth had victory's name and made her a sticker book and chocolate hot cocoa cookies in the shape of a heart.
Josh had Callie's name and made her homemade steamed dumplings. She cooked them up the next day and said they were fabulous!
I completely forgot to get a picture of the gift that Patrick and Micah had made for AJ and Brenna. It was a homemade birdhouse that they built and stained the wood a pretty color. It was gorgeous!


I had Tabitha's name. I wrote her a note, gave her a rose, some bath bombs and a candle, and crocheted her some dishcloths.
It was such a great evening with many wonderful memories! 

 

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Trying again for "Happy"

Silas was so excited to start a new hobby of breeding Holland Lops Rabbits. He presented his plan to us, and he and Patrick began working on a neat set up.  He bought 3 rabbits and started his plan. Unfortunately, it didn't work. Each rabbit died. We dont know if it was the heat...this summer was so hot! We talked to some people and did some research. We hoped to have learned our lesson and tweaked a few things. 

So for Christmas we had some friends give a Holland Lop to Silas so he could try again. This sweet bunny had been bred and we eagerly awaited some cute rabbits to be born. Then a couple of weeks later his new rabbit, Happy, miscarried. 😞 We were all disappointed, but don't feel that it was something we had done wrong.
 It was just one of those things in the world of nature.

Our friends very sweetly said that Happy could come over for a date and we will try to breed her again.

 So today we dropped off Happy for her little getaway.  Hopefully baby rabbits will be coming in about month! 

 

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Apple Nachos?

Oh yes definitely! We have had an abundance of apples given to us. It has been fun making them into muffins and cakes and pies. Great way to start off our new year diet, right? We found a new way to enjoy fresh apples. Apple nachos! You slice up apples and drizzle them with melted semi-sweet chocolate and butterscotch. Then top with a good sprinkling of sea salt. So delicious!

 

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Springs Please Momma?

Micah has been really wanting to go to the springs this winter. We went last year when it was cold and the warm springs were so nice. 

So this past Monday it was 44 degrees. Perfect day for a swim, right?

We decided to try a new spring, Poe Springs State Park. The boardwalk out to the springs is a quarter of a mile long. It was a beautiful walk and the boardwalk was so nice! We were excited to see the springs ahead!!


Well, I have to say we were a little disappointed as we rounded the corner and saw the springs. The set up was great and perfect for wading in. But the water was not a pretty blue, like other springs. It was an algae greenish brown. The steps were slick and dirty looking.  We weren't really a fan. 
Regardless, we had a great time together exploring a new place. We all decided this would be a perfect place for a homeschool picnic since they have large fields, volleyball courts and baseball fields. As well as picnic tables and pavilions.
So it's not our favorite spring, but the park was great. We'll go back soon! 
 

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Another driver!


He did it! My Silas was able to get his drivers permit. We are definitely entering a new phase of parenthood with our younger three!

I am super proud of this boy who studied and took his classes well. He's such a gentleman! After he got his permit he took me out to lunch πŸ™‚ and then we did some practicing in a nearby neighborhood. I love having teenagers!
 

Thursday, February 1, 2024

My Writer now a Speaker

We were all so excited when a wonderful oppurtunity opened up for our Beth!  She was asked to speak at the Fort White High School!  They were having a literary week and hand selected 30 students that were interested in writing.  Their theme was building resiliency through reading.


Beth did so well!! She spoke so clearly and captivating.  She started off with questions to get to know the students better.  I watched as she had them all engaged in her words.  She was even able to speak about the importance of writing what you are passionate about.  She told them that her passion was to write about purity and her faith in Jesus Christ.  What an amazing oppurtunity!



Afterwards she had students come up to ask her questions, read her their poetry, talk about what they are writing about and even take a selfie with her!


So thankful for our wonderful friend, Lena, that was able to set all of this up for her!!


The school also bought 6 of Beth's books.  It was very surreal to see them on a public school's library shelf!!



 I am so excited about all that God is doing through Beth.  Or should I say through our Elisabeth Kristine!

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Silver Springs State Park homeschool activity

 Our little homeschool group has been growing! In fact, we had a family leave before we even took this picture. My kiddos look forward to these activities where they can be with other kids and play and just have so much fun! We are so blessed with wonderful friends!
We went to the Silver spring State Park in Ocala. My friend, Sarah, called ahead and arranged for our group to have a private tour through the park. I was so excited to bring what I am now dubbing 'Merica (Josh and Tabitha's kids ) with us on the activity!

We had so much fun riding on the tram through the woods.

It was quite cold so we stayed bundled up as much as we could.
This little guy is growing up so much! I think I might have won him over on this little getaway. πŸ™‚
It was fun looking in the water and spotting a couple of manatees.


And then they even gave us a tour of the snake habitat. Honestly that wasn't my favorite partπŸ™‚πŸ™‚
Liberty was brave enough to touch the snakes!. Not me for sure!

It was a gorgeous day, in our lovely state, with wonderful people!