The Vera Family

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Last night we started our first Upward Cheerleading class. Yusef coached the basketball team last year and is again this year. They asked me if I could help out this year, so I am the head coach for Ariana's squad. Upward is a positive sports program to encourage and help children realize that every child is a winner. We also teach them that God is at work all around us and do devotions at every practice. It teaches the children to be servants, and that how we live is more important than what we say. The most important thing is to introduce children to Jesus Christ by creating opportunities to serve through sports. This is held at our church, but some of the children have never known the love of God and that is where we come in! I am so excited about this season and to have Ariana on my squad! Last night she did so well and when we got home she said that I was the best coach! That is so worth all the time that I was worried about giving up!!! I look back a couple of years ago and see the way I have grown in my relationship with God and thank him everyday for changing me. I definetly couldn't do it on my own and that is what people need to realize!!!

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

ARIANA'S KINDERGARTEN PICTURES!

Thursday, November 15, 2007

We had a parent/teacher conference today for Ariana. The teacher said that of all the kids in her class, she is the one who shines! They have nicknamed her Sunshine! She said that there is nothing that she is not able to do at her level. There are 26 kids in her class, and five of them are in a special higher reading program and she is one of them! We are so proud of her!!! She is such a blessing to us and everyone who is around her!

We are also proud of Alexia too, she has been without the binky for three weeks now!!! At 18 mo. she is saying 100 words!!!

Thursday, November 01, 2007

God is so good! We have been praying for a house for almost a year now and had given up looking since the school year started. We just found a condo that we were interested back in March, but it was way out of our price range. We made an offer which was $25,000 less than the starting asking price, signed the contract on Monday and are closing on Nov. 30th! It is in a beautiful historic town and only ten minutes from church and 15 min. to Yusef's job! God knew that we weren't ready earlier, but because of our obedience & faithfulness to him, we definetly were blessed!

Ariana had a halloween party at school yesterday. She didn't want to dress like a cow, so she went as Tinkerbell! (Thanks to her cousin Lexi for the dress & Titi Naima for the shoes)

Another costume party!!!

Saturday, October 13, 2007

We went to our friend's son's third b-day party. It was a costume party. Ariana & Alexia were cows & I was a farmer!

Adrian from Rocky, Farmer & Pirate

Ariana making porcupine meatballs!

Alexia stuck her head through the soccer goal!

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Thursday, September 20, 2007

We went camping for our Young Commited Couples Group over the weekend of my birthday. It was an awesome time to connect with one another. God is really changing us in an awesome way and it was definetly revealed to us there. As life takes its crazy turns and I get closer and closer to God, I start to see that we are dealing with things that we can't deal with on our own. Every situation that I thought was too difficult or that I wasn't going to get through it, I did and I will with his strength!

Ariana started Kindergarten on September 5th. There are four kindergarten classes at her school. She was so excited to be with one of her friends, Skyler from pre-school!

Saturday, September 01, 2007

Create Your Own

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Thursday, August 16, 2007

We had a day at the lake/ocean on Saturday with our 20 something bible study group. We had a contest between the guys and girls to see who could get the canoe the farthest across the inlet w/o sinking. Of course the girls won!!! The other game was to see who could build the tallest and most creative sand castle. Yusef & Jeff won that one! The girls had a blast and we had so much fun playing volleyball. I love how tall I look on that block, even though it was a really short net!

Thursday, August 09, 2007

My aunt sent me this picture. Who do you think it looks like? That is her holding me when I was a baby!!!

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Last night we had a family night at our church. They were doing a skit about Esther and asked the girls whose first name started with the letter A to come on stage. Ariana is the little one!!!