Montoya Demolition =)

There are big changes at the Montoya house lately. About 2 weeks ago we discovered a leak in our home from a pipe that had froze over the winter and busted. After calling our homeowners insurance and a restoration company, it was determined that there would need to be some MAJOR demolition of our kitchen and master bathroom AND that we would be moving out! We thought it sounded kind of drastic at first to move out, but now that we've gone over and seen what they're doing we realized there was no way we could have stayed. We have been living in a hotel for over a week and may be here for awhile. There was extensive damage to our floors, walls, cabinets, etc. Needless to say we are super thankful for homeowners insurance at a time like this and that they have put us up in a hotel for awhile. It's really been pretty fun, especially for the kids getting to swim everyday. Plus, we're thankful that it looks like we'll be getting new flooring and cabinets thanks to our insurance. It will be fun to give the kitchen and bathroom a "pick-me-up"....it was much needed it anyway. So, all in all, we're seeing God's good in all of it and thanking Him for the ways He has blessed us in the midst of all of this. In the meantime, we're getting lots of pool time so Macy has learned to swim really well on her own. Just another blessing to add to pile. =) Here are some pics of the demolition that is going on currently at our house for those of you interested.

Our kitchen with the flooring, sub-flooring and cabinets pulled out.
They've also had to take some of the sheet rock out as well. 

Our bathroom

Our dining room area.
Can't believe how far the water traveled.

The warning: if you walk in the kitchen, you may fall through the floor! =)

Here's what we've been getting to do while our home gets fixed:

Hannah Senior Pictures

I had the privilege of doing my first ever Senior Photo Shoot. Oh boy was this fun! Hannah and I had a blast. It was super special because I have been able to disciple Hannah on and off through her high school years and to watch her grow as a young woman and in her relationship with Christ. 

Hannah is an AMAZINGLY talented violinist and is going to The Master's College on a full ride music scholarship this Fall. Hannah, thanks for the opportunity to take these pictures. It was fun hanging out and laughing. 

Marian's International Feast

Marian's class has been "travelling around the world" to each continent learning SO much about the different continents. To finish off the unit, they had an International Feast where each student brought food from the continent they were assigned and parents joined for the feast. They were also encouraged to dress up like someone from that continent. When I saw that Marian was assigned South America, my first thought was to contact our missionary friends, Nathan and Kaylee Kelm, who are serving in Bolivia. Kaylee was great help in providing me with recipes for the meal as well as ideas for Marian's outfit. Marian dressed as a Quechua woman (with items I had around the house) and even wore a baby doll on her back all day. She had so much fun. Thanks Kaylee for your help and suggestions! The Empanadas turned out great and I'm thinking of adding them to our family meals.

Here are some pictures of Marian's outfit. I wish I had taken a picture of the Empanadas, but it was just too busy that morning. =)

Ten Years

Yesterday, May 19 Jon and I celebrated 10 amazing years of marriage. What a blessing! We are so thankful to the Lord for His faithfulness in our marriage. I am so blessed to be married to my Junior High Sweetheart. It's neat to have so much history with one another; we literally grew up together. Throughout the last ten years, there have been times when I am falling asleep at night that the thought will hit me "I married JON MONTOYA!" I know it seems like a rather obvious thing to think, but I can remember when Jon moved away in eighth grade I didn't know what the future held. (I know, I had my whole life ahead of me then, but I really thought he would be my husband one day. =) I wondered how the Lord would (or even if he would) bring Jon back into my life. I had to hold the desire to marry him loosely and trust the Lord for the future. Fast forward the tape about 17 years...and we are celebrating 10 years of marriage. I consider it an honor and a gift to be Jon's wife. He is amazing and the way he chooses to put the Lord first and to help me grow in my walk with Christ (not to mention his PATIENCE with me as I grow =) is such an example to me. He literally strengthens me and I am thankful to the Lord for the husband he has given to me. I wish I had time to go find a picture of us in junior high, but I don't. =) Maybe later. =)

Mothers Day

We had such a nice Mother's Day. I made pulled pork and we had my Mom and Wayne and our good friend Sally over. She's like family and we LOVE having her with us for holidays. Another friend happened to stop by and we talked her into staying too. It was fun and special. Marian made me a book called "I love Mom" with lots of pictures in it and the girls gave me tomato juice and sour candy (my favs).  My Mom knows me oh so well and gave me a "pampering gift" to a spa. Can't wait to use it! Jon's gift to me...my new iMac. Woo hoo! He totally surprised me as I had no idea. I am loving it and I am so excited for the blessing this computer will be to my photography!

The girls aren't crazy about these hats, but I just LOVE them
and since it was Mother's Day, they endured for me! =) 

I know Mother's Day is a celebration of Moms, but I really
feel it's a celebration of the Lord's gracious gift to BE a Mom!
I'm so thankful for the Lord blessing me with these precious girls.

Marian and Sally
Sally was in the waiting room almost the entire
time I was in labor with Marian. What a special friend.
Jon did his student teaching with her 7 years ago.
Can't wait until Marian is in 4th grade
and has her for a teacher. 

Macy and Gram

Macy looked over at my Mom during church and gave Grammy
this face. She is such a goof ball! 

Looking through my special book.
Yes, it made me cry! 

Awana Awards Ceremony

Last week the girls finished their year of AWANA (Macy's last year of Cubbies and Marian's 2nd year of Sparks). It is a club where they memorize Scripture and earn patches or jewels. They worked hard and Marian was able to actually work on her verses without me this year. We're proud of both of them. Super fun and we love that God's truth is being hidden in their hearts. The end of the year finishes off with an awards ceremony. Here are some pictures from that.

This picture makes me laugh...she looks nervous.
I wonder if she thought they might not give
her the award. =)

Sigh of relief!
She was so excited.

My big girl.
Anyone have any ideas on how I can stop time?
This one is growing so fast!

With her friend Abigail

Easter 2011

Whoa, I guess I am a little behind. Life has been full, but good. We are really enjoying watching our girls grow up, although we wish we could slow down the process a little. Our Easter was great. Marian and Jon were both off for Good Friday, so we were able to spend good time as a family together and go to the Good Friday service at our church. During the week before Easter we look at God's Word each night and follow the last week of Jesus' life leading up to the cross. We have an Easter mountain that we use to act out our story (with pipe-cleaner people =) and then on Friday we put Jesus in the tomb and leave him there until Sunday morning when we roll the stone away and show the empty tomb. Our girls wake up and call out "He is Risen!" It's such a precious time for our family to reflect on Jesus death and resurrection that makes it possible for us to have a relationship with Him! Then on Sunday we do an egg hunt with our resurrection eggs. It's basically a way to tell the story of Jesus' death and resurrection by including items in the eggs that represent all that went on during His betrayal, crucifixion, etc. The last egg is EMPTY representing the empty tomb that the disciples saw that blessed Sunday morning. I always have my camera ready to see their faces when they open up the empty one. We can rejoice because we worship a RISEN Savior. Enjoy the pictures surrounding our Easter week.

Decorating Eggs

Somewhere in the decorating process those little
egg dipper things got ditched, and they went to the
finger-dipping approach! =)

So proud of her "Macy" Egg that Daddy helped her make.
I'm so glad we decorated eggs with Jon this year.

Arts on Fire

After the Good Friday service, we went to Arts on Fire to use a gift certificate

that Marian got from Nana and Papa for her birthday. 

It was so much fun for us to do this as a family. 

Thanks Nana and Papa for the gift certificate! 

I totally forgot to take a picture of the end result. Oops! =) 

I LOVE this picture.
They must be in a serious conversation about
what to do next on Macy's kitty. =)

Marian chose a dolphin.

Macy did such a great job on her kitty!

Easter:

It was a little chilly for our girls and we had to hurry 

because we needed to get to church, but we snapped just a few before church. 

At Grammy and Grandpa's for Easter lunch.
We were praising the Lord for a beautiful sunny day!

Marian cut out the letters "He is Risen"
on the apple pie we made together.

A little curtsy. =)

This picture totally cracks me up!
It looks like we did an easter egg hunt on the side of the fwy.
My Mom and Wayne's house is along the fwy, so that
is why there is a billboard in the background.

Going through the resurrection eggs.

The empty egg!