Praise Report!

I guess it's not all what he thought it'd be. He doesn't like learning patterns and was quite upset when they changed his name! His teacher wanted him practice writing "C a l e b" instead of "C A L E B." And sometimes accidents happen.

But then, this note came home the other day from school:

Caleb is working hard and he has been respectful and obedient! He enjoys his days in Kindergarten and is making many new friends!

Blogiversary Poll!

This month has been 1 year since Livin' the Vida Garcia has been up and running. In honor of elections coming up soon, I'm putting up a poll that will be open for 1 week! Please vote!

I started blogging as a way to stay in better touch with friends and family. It has served that purpose, as well as linked me up to new friends in the blogging community! I also found that I use it as a primary source of journaling. So thanks to you all for reading my ramblings! And your awesome comments!

Poll will close Sunday night at midnight!

FIREPROOF

We are going to see this today!
(to watch the preview, just click on watch trailer)

More Good News

Since she is now officially an RN, I wanted to give a shout out to my sister-in-law, Stephanie!
She's going to be a great Nurse!

Also, Congratulations to the Sinks on the birth of Jackson Robert Sink! We can't wait to meet the little guy/ big boy!

Welcoming Fall!

"I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air."
-Nathaniel Hawthorne

Family Church Retreat

We spent last weekend fellowship-ping with brothers and sisters in Christ from our church at Rockbridge Alum Springs. There are so many activities to do here, we had a perfect weekend for it! Community worship time, family style meals, free time for ropes course, swimming in the pool or lake, the slide, zip line, hiking, midnight swims and volleyball, or many many more things! It was fun spending time with the body of Christ as a family of believers.



The kids loved being outside! It was an absolutely beautiful weekend for camping!! There was so much to explore!

The beach area:

Community Worship:

Game time:

Some Alianza (Spanish Congregation) folks!

Angel tackled the Ropes Course and did great!

These two thought they were next in line for the ropes course! I don't think so, not this year!

The slide/ blob

Our cabins:

These pictures only capture a glimpse of the beauty of the campground: Imagine this x 100!

"For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth,

and the mountain peaks belong to him.

The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship,

let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; "

Psalm 95:3-6

To see more pictures from our weekend, click here.

Kindergarten Confessions

When the kids came home from school, I asked them as I usually do, how their day was. Alisia went into great detail, as she usually does, to tell me how her day was. While Caleb doesn't usually go into detail like Alisia, he does usually share something. This time all I got was "it was good."

At dinner time, it came out. Caleb casually said, "I think I had to flip my card today (got in trouble for something).

Oh really? I asked. What happened?

"I'm not sure." He shrugged.

Your not sure why you got in trouble?
"Not really..." he said shaking his head.

"Well, what do you think you got in trouble for?" I prodded.

He just shrugged his shoulders and said nothing.

"One time I got in trouble in kindergarten."

His eyes lit up. "What did you do?"

"Someone dared me to put ketchup in a girls hair, and I did, even though she was my friend. She cried and I felt really bad." (yes I DID that!)

"I got in trouble once too," said Alisia. "We were supposed to be taking a nap and I saw a crayon on the floor and I scribbled all over the desk. The teacher walked over and I pretended to be asleep. She told me I would have to scrub it off after school. I felt really bad"

My mouth dropped open when I heard Alisia's confession! She's never told me her side of the story! Then Caleb said, "I think I hit **(his friend) by an accident in his face. I felt really bad too because it was an accident."

OH great! At least we all got that off our conscious!

For the Bible Tells Me So

Last night I was on the computer and my Bible was lying on the table in front of the couch. Caleb picked it up and started "reading it." As he was "reading", I was typing down what he was saying.

"The Bible tells us to listen to our parents, even though it is very hard to do that. Lets start all over. Then it says God made the earth and Adam and Eve. But they did not obey God, they sinned. The Bible tells us if you obey God, you have to be nice to your friend and your mom and your dad and your sister and your brother. Jesus loves the little children. They are weak but he is strong."

As soon as I looked at him and smiled, he put it down and said "what?" That was the end. I guess he was practicing for his sermon?

God is moving in his little heart and planting seeds that will last forever. I never fail to be amazed at how kids learn, how fast they learn and what they learn. It is also humbling as a parent to know that God has entrusted our children to us only for a short time. I long to always have the right words to say, and do the right things to point them to Christ. But honestly, I don't. I make so many mistakes as a parent, but I know that Gods work is bigger than me. He can use me dispite the mistakes. I am reminded of these words from Phillips, Craig and Dan's song "I want to be just like You."

"‘Cause I know that he’ll learn
from the things that he sees
And the Jesus he finds
will be the Jesus in me...
Lord, I want to be just like You
‘Cause he wants to be just like me
I want to be a holy example
For his innocent eyes to see
Help me be a living Bible, Lord
That my little boy can read
I want to be just like You
‘Cause he wants to be like me"

It's a Good Day in the Puffenbarger Home

Name TERESA A PUFFENBARGER
Occupation Licensed Practical Nurse

Initial License 09/15/2008
Expire Date 04/30/2010
License Status Current Active
License Number 0002079061
Occupation Licensed Practical Nurse
----------------------------

My Sister-in-law just recieved news that she is now an LPN! She passed her state boards! What great news!

Congratulations Teresa!

Thankyou Note

Thankyou Mom and Dad for helping us with laundry this week! Hopefully our dryer will be fixed soon! You're the best! We love you!

Love,
Angel, Brooke, Alisia, and Caleb