Lil Ariza Monster

About a month ago Daniel and I talked about his freelance design business and if he wanted to continue it. After many more discussions we both came to the conclusion that it was time for him to move on. He wanted to work with a team again and no matter how hard he was working one person can only do so much. So the journey began to look for a job. It needed to be a place he could be passionate about, to challenge him and allow him to grow. He made a list of companies he was interested in and emailed them his resume. 2 hours after he sent out the email a company called Hashrocket emailed him back saying they were interested in talking with him. They set up a phone interview for a couple days later. Basically there wasn’t much to discuss, all they really wanted to know was when could he come in for a trial work week. After reviewing his schedule he set the date to go in 2 weeks later.

The week at Hashrocket was exciting and challenging. The office was great, on the beach and you have a view of the ocean from most windows. The people were great too, lots of different personalities and all extremely smart. These people are at the top of their game.

As the week went on I sat at home very anxious everyday to hear about what he did. Finally came Friday. After lunch they called him in and it was time to talk business. They made him an amazing offer. After coming home and discussing everything with me, we decided that this was definitely the right decision for our family. God was so amazing during this whole experience and I have never felt so strongly that this is exactly what he wants for us.

So we are off to Jacksonville beach. Daniel is headed there in a couple of weeks and I’m really not sure what my plan is. But I do know that I don’t want to be away from him for very long. First off is to sell our house. Not a great time for this but God is good and I know that it will happen. He has been so good to us through this whole experience and I know that this is what he wants.

We are so incredibly sad to leave our family and friends. The relationships that we have here are hard to come by. This has been our home our entire lives. Orlando is everything we know. It is all very bittersweet. But again we feel very strongly that God is in control and knows exactly where we are going.

Please pray for us as we start this new journey in Jacksonville. Pray for Daniel to do incredible at  his new job. Pray for us to sell our home quickly and easily. And also please pray for us to settle into this new life. The awesome thing is that no matter where we go God is there and we always have each other.

Goodbye Orlando, it’s been real!

Elijah and I are in Colorado. Back before my parents left for Colorado they asked if we could come and visit. They can’t stand to be away from their adorable grandson ad how could I turn down a trip to Colorado. So Elijah and I packed up and headed west. Unfortunately Daniel could come out with us, super busy time for him.

This has been a wonderful vacation so far. It is so peaceful out here and it has given me a lot of time to clear my head. It reminded me that I am so incredibly blessed. I have the most amazing husband and an adorably sweet son. God has provided every need that we have. Too often I take forgranted the things that he does for me. I thank God for this time of rest. I’m am so sad that Daniel couldn’t come with us but also trying to soak up every second with Elijah and my family. Hopefully we will have more opportunities to come out here during the summer as a whole family.

Elijah and I hiked around the mountain to Lake Dillon

Elijah at Lake Dillon

Unbelievable. I don’t even know where the past 21 months have gone.

Elijah is doing amazing. Growing and as strong as ever. The boys strength amazes me sometimes. He looks so much older now, especially with the big boy haircut I’ve been giving him. I feel like he is starting to look more and more like his dad and everyone else is saying the same. Just the other night Daniel looked at him and said he thought he was looking more like him and that it was weird seeing a little version of yourself walking around.

He is my precious little boy and I feel lucky to be able to see him grow up into a man.

Dad’s day was filled with wakeskating, jumping into lakes, red stripes, steaks and mulberry tarts.

Daniel you are an amazing man, husband and father.

Elijah loves singing. Really he loves anything that has to do with music, drumming, guitar, microphones. One of his newest things is to plug his ears so that he can hear his voice when he sings.

Might I add he is getting quite the tan. Definitely has more of the Ariza skintone. So happy to see that.

We got to meet Kingston for the first time tonight. We can already tell at 5 days old that he is a brilliant and strong man.

Saturday morning we headed to New Smyrna Beach to meet up with my parents for a fun beach weekend. My parents were there celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary, they invited us to join them and of course we accepted.

We had such an incredible time swimming and playing in the sand. Unfortunately it was so much fun that we didn’t make time to take any pictures. We were too busy catching Elijah as he jumped off the edge of the pool into the water to us. The kid LOVES the water.

I’m sure there will be plenty more fun summer time events to capture the moments with a camera.

We’ve waited a long time to say this, 42 weeks to be exact:

Congratulations to our good friends Jeremy and Jen Kennedy on the birth of their son Kingston Isaiah.

8lbs 5oz., 21 inches.

(Once we meet him we’ll be sure to post some pictures)

He wants nothing more than to sing into a microphone.