Week Update...

Though this week was non-stop, it was a great one! I got to start a little on the new job, work on kid's stuff, organize a bit, and meet alot of wonderful people. The people in the office at FRC are so wonderful. Espy, Pastor Troy's assistant, is super cool. She took me to Starbuck's for a little meeting and then we had a small group time and that is where I met some wonderful women: Diana, Deb, Janette, & Tami. Thanks ladies! The conversations and questions were great! I also got the opportunity to be part of this weekend's giving video. Yay! I was nervous, but the team did an incredible job putting everyone in sync and well, it is just great! Invite a friend for the last MyNakedPastor teaching.

Now, let's talk about the weekene. Heredes and I have it off!!!! Yayayayay!!! I still have tons of stuff to do. The team is set for Sunday, though, and I know it is going to go great. Thank you everyone: Mayla, Sara, Alberto, Sharisse, Gary, Natalie, Caleb, Chanti, Nicole, Mayla's sister, and Pr. Brigham.


What I am finalizing is Trunk or Treat. We have a 30-40 minute program for kids with music and games. Today, Heredes and I went shopping for all of that. The only thing I am missing now is my costume :( I am still looking for volunteers who want to help with games or music or even face painting..So, if you go to Doral and read this blog and you want to help somewhere, the children's area would be the place for you....

I will be posting the game ideas- who I give full credit to our friend Alex Comesanas from Coral Park Church. And hopefully pics and video of the event..

Praying and hoping your weekend goes well. Enjoy the rainy weather.

FRC Kid Volunteers & World....

Hey guys..I just uploaded my very first video..Filmed and edited by me...Whoo Hoo! This video is mainly for my volunteers who will be running the whole program on their own this weekend. My husband and I are going to be out for the weekend, so my volunteers are taking over and it's so exciting.
The video shows how we setup the room at Ronald Reagan High School and transform it into our kids church. Unfortunately, my camera was full and I didn't get to tape to much footage of the end result. But team hope it helps, and for everyone else out there who is doing church & kid's ministry in multi sites, I hope you enjoy it, get ideas, and if you have any IDEAS leave me a comment. I'd love to read them. There is still much to do in the world of kid's ministry at FRC, especially at Doral, but we have a great team who is always there reaching out to our kids. THANKYOU!!! So enjoy and have fun!!!

(The video is on the right hand side..just in case you missed it :) )

What a Day....

Yesterday and today was like "one of those days". One of those days where your thoughts want to eat you and say, "yes, victory!" But God always has a way to remind me to look back to Him. I think it's the Holy Spirit...:) Pr. Ray Sanchez taught yesterday at church, and it was really good. He spoke about temptation...EEK!! Temptations can so easily entrap us- trust me I know. Little sins or big sins, they all lead to death- separation. But praise be to God who forgives because of what Christ Jesus did on the cross for me and the world. "God doesn't love me because of who I am or what I've done, but because of WHO HE IS!"- Sanchez. That was so refreshing to hear and sometimes it is so hard to even believe. But God wants me to trust and believe that and believe who I am in Him and who He believes I am in Him.
Today at Doral I thought I was going to have a melt down. I rushed through set up, tried to video tape something while setting up, felt so disorganized, some of my volunteers were late, etc. But in all that "emotion commotion" like my friend HP would say, God did something so OUT OF THIS WORLD. Our 9:30 am service had 5 children, which is great. And our 11:00 am service- are you ready for this- had 26 kids in total. TWENTY-SIX!!! We were all blown away, excited, and thankful.
After tear down, I had a short meeting with my volunteers and had lunch at Macaroni Grill with Heredes of course, and our friends Ivan, Lizbet, Mike, & Connie. I had the best Eggplant Parmesean. Later, we went to Dolphin Mall and Heredes got some nice, new sandals with a gift card he got for his birthday. Then we made a short pit stop at my parents house and went home.
I did something today that I hadn't done in a LOOONNNNGGGG time. I went by myself to the park and rollerbladed for about 35 mintues. Ohh it was awesome!!!! I loved it!
Now I am at home about to rest a bit and work on some stuff that I really need to get done by tomorrow night. God is good and made it a "What a day" day. In other words, a really great day. He is reminding me to just trust Him in every aspect of my life: emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially, etc. Goodnight...

Atonement

Enjoy Chants!!

Movie Rating: Across the Universe

Last night Heredes and I went to Sunset Place to watch "Across the Universe". A couple of people had told us that it was "Awesome, Incredible"...I think it was pretty good. I think I have to watch it a second time. I'll give 3.2 out of 5 stars. As I write, Heredes is playing the music and I'm getting into it :) It was a very theatrical, psychadelic movie. I described it to my sister this way: "It was like watching a movie being High." Which I don't even know what that would be like, but you know, it was Hippie/Beatles era.
I think one of my favorite parts of the movie, besides the fact that the British actor was like so cute, was the Strawberry Fields song/scene. The pic of his artwork is so cool. Take a look. I loved it!

"Hey Jude" was also great. It was a pretty cool concept, making the storyline based off of the Beatle's music. I know that I am going to go research the Vietnam War now, thanks to the movie....
Another favorite was the beginning. So beautiful!!! Well, enjoy the pics and if you haven't seen it yet...go ahead and give it a try. Moulin Rouge still has to be one of my favorites. Next movie I want to see is Keira Knightley's "Atonement". Heredesis probably going to post about the movie, so make sure to read his fascinating critique.

My Recap of My Naked Pastor...

So, I am a bit late on my recap of one of the coolest series I have been a part of: My Naked Pastor.com...The camera shut off on Sunday- October 14, 2007 in the green room. Some people had the opportunity to talk about how the series was a blessing to them before the camera shut off. Unfortunately, my shyness kicked in and I didn't say what I would have liked too. But I did write it on Pastor Troy's blog. I have to say that seeing my Pastor and his family open up like that says alot. And I am thankful for their honesty and authenticity and their obedience before God to do something out of their lazy-boy zone to reach those who are lost, hurting, depressed, saved, and those who need encouragement. It was great following everyone around- while at their house, at church, on trips, etc. It was nice to follow them in Chicago and Indiana, so I could see my husband :)

The series has shown me the importance of being real before God. In the moments of my anger, tiredness, insecurities- God wants be to just be real before Him. We taught the kids the same principal- authenticity. The children's ministry actually wrote the curriculum for this series and it went so well. My Life in a Fishbowl was so fun and this Sunday we have our recognition for all the students that attended all 5 weeks. Some blessed child will be winning a Nintendo DS. And the rest $5. gift cards to Coldstone. They had a terrific bible memory verse: "Nothing in all creation can be hidden from God. Everything lies open and clear before HIm and to HIm we must explain the way we have lived". Hebrews 4:13 And that was from memory. So, hopefully i got it :) But that verse is so clear, so naked and I hope they got it hidden in their hearts.

MyNakedPastor will run for two more weekends, without the camera, kids are jumping into Initiative, and we will soon start the Domino Effect series. Now I have to work on Trunk or Treat...which I'm a little behind on, but hopefully will get everything done by this weekend. I encourage everyone to continue praying for the Gramling family as they take a rest from the cameras and that they continue serving strong. And I read this devotional this morning, and the verse talked about: Let no unwholesome talk come out of OUR mouths, but only that to encourage and lift each other up...Epehsians....And I am just praying that only encouraging words would reach our pastor and not unwholesome talk ("garbage") :) But as we learned this past weekend...to reach greatness, we must go through the pain...Drink from His cup...

God bless everyone....I finished my classical drawing class..I'll be posting those pictures up when i finish two of my drawings..have a great day!!!!

Happy Birthday to my Husband!!

Heredes turned 25 years old yesterday- October 13, 2007. I didn't get much time to post all week due to school and homework. Heredes had a very special day yesterday, because for the first time his wife surprised him!!! I was able to fool him into thinking that we were going to have a dinner for two, but he was totally wrong. I threw him a surprise party with a few friends that live near the west kendall area...Sorry friends from Broward- I know it would have been impossible for you guys to make it...but thank you Lilibeth and everyone else for cutting a cake for him at church.
My husband was soooo surprised, that I think he got a bit teary eyed. My mom and famiy did such a great sacrifice of love by cooking and making the party possible. Thank you everyone who made my husbands 25th year of life so special and meaningful. It was just so great!!!
Heredes- I love you handsome. I am happy God chose you for me, and me for you. You are my- ouglie bear, monkey, handsome and best friend. I am so honored to have you. I can't express in words how blessed I am. I am happy to do life with you. To serve God together, to laugh, cry, argue, eat, play raquet ball and beating you....life is beautiful. And, I thank God for it!!! Besitos baby!!!! And remember (and it's a reminder for me too), that we have decided to drink from the cup, go through the things of life together- for God's refinement in our life- and that the BEST IS YET TO COME! ;)

This is for you Sarinha....

This is my friend Sarah. Her family and her are Brazilian and are close friends of ours and my husband's family. They came over tonight to chat, drink coffe, and have cake. Sarah and I had alot of fun drawing and catching up on life. She likes to draw, loves to talk about how I'm nice and how she remembers Heredes and I back when we were boyfriend and girlfriend. She just said the cutest things. Thank you Sarah for making my night.

Of course, we had to visist www.disney.com. And we wanted to share our art work. These are our beautiful Fairies. Created and named by US! It was a super fun night.































And I would like to wish my father in law- Jamil Ribeiro- a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Love you Pai! Muitas Felicidades! Um beijo!