My Niece Cheyenne Juliet

Hey Friends,

Let me introduce you to my niece, Cheyenne Juliet. She was born May 1st and she is the pride and joy of her parents and all extended family. I can't wait to meet her in person. The bottom photo is my sister Nancy modeling the Baby Bjorn carrier we bought for Cheyenne. "Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him." Psalm 127:3 NLT

National Junior Honor Society Ceremony

Maddie was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society for the 2008-2009 school year. She was also elected President a couple of weeks later and will serve next year. The bottom picture is Maddie and Maddy M. (her best friend from school and church).

Our First Tulips

Maddie admiring her work.

These are the tulips Maddie and I planted last fall. Maddie painted the vase at a church event for the junior and senior high girls. The theme was "Moldable" and the girls learned about God being the Potter and Him shaping their lives. "Yet, O Lord, You are our Father. We are the clay, You are the Potter; we are all the work of Your hand." Isaiah 64:8

Nancy's Baby Shower-April 20, 2008

Our first diaper cake (thanks Maddie and of course Liz Barrios!)

Maddie and my niece Brooke at the shower.

Nancy opening gifts.

Maddie and I drove to Connecticut for my younger sister's baby shower. This is her first baby and now my parents have someone else to spoil instead of me! More pics of little Miss Cheyenne to follow.

The Kids with Grandma & Grandpa Velez

We hope you come back to visit soon. We miss you already!!!!!!!!!!

More Pictures from Mom & Pop's Trip

Tyler sporting a Vietnam-Era flak jacket.

My mom (right) and her niece Evelyn.

My pop and Michael at Evelyn's house.

Make up your own caption. I can't think of anything interesting (or nice) to say.

We got to spend time with my cousin Evelyn who lives in Virginia. Every year my mom goes to Puerto Rico to see Evelyn's mom, my Tia Rosa, who is one of my mom's older sisters. Mom hadn't seen Evelyn in a couple of years so it was a very happy reunion.

Marine Corps Museum Field Trip

My father at the pull-up bars.

Going for number two - He's ARMY strong!

"There is no easy way to become a Marine."

MOTIVATING!

Pay no attention to the silly date stamp. These were taken in June during my parent's visit. My pop is showing off as usual. Seriously though, he's almost 70 and still very strong and handsome. And yes, I mean every word. My father retired from the Army Reserve a while ago and he really enjoyed the museum visit.

The Three M's Happy Day

Megan, Maddy M. & Maddie

The fountain at Hurkamp Park

The girls trying not to pose while I take pictures.

"Big Spoon" - Kitchen at Whittingham (cool store)

Recently I had the privilege of hanging out with Maddie and her friends in downtown Fredericksburg. First stop was the library's teen art exhibit. There are some very talented teens in this area! We checked out some of the cool shops and then had a picnic lunch in Hurkamp Park. Hurkamp Park has a farmers market everyday except Sunday. On Tuesdays when the weather is nice they have concerts during lunchtime. Later we watched "A Little Princess"- it was a good movie that made me cry. I guess I'm still young at heart...

Cardboard Testimonies

This video was great. What would your piece of cardboard say? Mine would say something like: ANGRY/CONTROL-FREAK/GOD'S OUT TO GET ME and the reverse side: WORK IN PROGRESS!!! NOW I KNOW GOD LOVES ME & ALL THINGS WORK FOR GOOD!

Hope you are all doing well!

God Bless,
Cindy

Michael's Trip to Atlanta/CNN Field Trip

Bonnie Schneider is a Meteorologist at CNN. That's the only part of that station that doesn't favor "The Left".
My Sister -in -Law and my Sister -in- Christ, Anna Banana Velez.
She took me around where she works at CNN International. It was awesome hanging out with her. Can't wait till they visit us soon...hint hint
Just some of the tornado damage we saw, I was in town for a big MonaVie meeting and they had to move the entire conference venue and 600 rooms in under three weeks. There were over 4000 people at the conference and it went off without a hitch... It was Awesome. . . . . . . .

My Flower Pictures

Peruvian lilies for my birthday from Michael.

The beautiful bouquet from my sisters in Okinawa. I miss you all.

Valentine's Day flowers from Michael after 8 days (how beautiful!)

Maddie and I planted tulips late last fall. We are so anxious to see them bloom. Hope to share them with you soon.

Casting Day-Part Two

Here is a picture of Maddie's X-Ray. She has an S-curved spine. Michael says she's as crooked as a politician. The next photo is her on the table where they pulled traction to get her spine as straight as possible before wrapping her in plaster. She was very brave and did not complain at all! The last photo shows the cast room techs holding her cast/mold which they will use to custom-fit her brace. The guys were so nice. Of course we took her out to lunch later that day. She started wearing her brace on April 1st. She will probably have to wear it for two years. She wears it 23 hours a day-only taking a break to shower and stretch. Praise God we have free medical care and Michael is usually able to take time off for her appointments.