Another end to a begining

So we are officially done with our Internship...can I say mixed emotions??? We feel so excited, nervous, confused(mostly me), happy, scared..the list goes on. I mean all in all it was an amazing experience but while taking a deep breath and exhaling I am kinda glad it has come to an end. We have made so AMAZING friends that I hope will be with us for quite a while. Here some of our moments....





We truly love these people and are so blessed to have them in our lives. Thankfully there is quite a few families like our and even singles that are permanently here at least for a while like us also. That makes this continuous transition a little easier.

So for Ismo he will be starting a Media Apprenticeship which will next year become a school here at FSM. He will be full time and is really looking forward to it. I am so proud of him...God is doing so much for him! As far as me...I am still trying to work out all the kinks. I believe I will be doing either Part-time staff and hopefully taking a class at FSM. Also for my service time I would like to be apart of a prophecy team. So God willing it will all work and our schedules will flow. But we truly are blessed no matter what we do...if we just did this move just to see our kids grow the way they have, it would be worth every sacrifice ever known.

Old Blog thought was fitting for our now season in Life!

So this is something I wrote about our transition from Tracy, CA to Pleasanton, CA. Who would have know that we would be where we are at now in Kansas City, God preparing us all along...so I just reread it and thought I would post it.



Thursday, May 31, 2007

Transitions of Life Current mood: determined Category: Life
Soooo....we have entered what I believe is a new season in our lives. We have moved out of the comfort of our own home where we found our peace, our tranquility. There is nothing like your home it is yours and your families santuary. Sometimes though God moves you out of what we would call our comfort zones. He wants us to reach farther to go deeper in our faith.
Some people think it is cruel or you have to be doing something bad to be put in certain difficult situations. But I beg to differ...God puts those that He has really great plans for through really great fire and testings.
Some people run to God more when they are having problems and fall farther away when everything is great. I have found myself to be the opposite. I find it harder for me sometimes when I am going through what sometimes are the hardest things in life. I still seek but feel alone even though I know with all my heart I am never alone.
As a mother your mind is so hard to find a down time or rest it never stops. What if my kids get sick, what if something happens at school, how do there friends treat them, am I doing enough, what can I do to be a better mother/wife? All these questions go through the mind of a mother day in and day out. So with life getting at you in every direction life is sometimes so harsh.
But through all of this transition I look at my husband and children and know that I am working towards a bigger and better future. And no I am not just talking about a nice house, picket fence and an RV. I am not even talking about the day when my kids graduate high school, bless me with new son in laws and daughter in law. Or even the day my babies bless me even more with my precious grandbabies...tear, tear. I am talking about the day I see Jesus face to face. When I know this race I have run, the blood, sweat and tears I have shed where not all for nothing! This is the day I truly have my home!
I don't care (even though there is days I do :O) ) if I never own a home or if I never see the other side of the country. But as long as I know that I have been the best wife, mother and daughter I could be and have instilled all the values that my heavenly Father and earthly mother and father has tought me. Then and only then I know that I have done my job.
We will get through this transition in our life...there is nothing impossible for those that love the Lord. For His yoke is easy His burden in light. So I give it ALL to Him. The One that can carry it all that has carried the sin of the world on His shoulders, My sweet Jesus. We will get through and move on to our NEXT transition in life.
We just have to believe that we will succeed!! And above all trust and love with all our hearts.

OM Goodness its snow!!

So we woke up on Sunday morning with the ground completely covered in snow. The kids were freaking out this being there first time actually seeing snow. They ran outside to just run back in realizing this is not just a picture this stuff is cold and so is it outside! lol We could barely get Keilani back in the house to get ready for church. Then after we did get ready they were all out there throwing snow balls at each other...including Elijah pegging me in the neck with one. It is much funnier now then when it happened. :o) Well here are some pics from it...otherwise we are trying to stay warm and gearing up for more family coming this week, Will just leaving a few weeks ago and that was a really great time. He said he is forever wrecked by what was poured into him while he was out here! God was hitting him with word after word of confirmation!! Love it!

Thanksgiving...was actually great!

We truly had an enjoyable time on Thanksgiving. Even though we were a lil sad that we were not with all of our family we had the Maldonado Fam here so we were not completely with out. We also had the privilege of opening up our home to some new friends. Had a blast with the one couple we have probably become the closest to. Steven, Chriss and there son Brett have been a blessing to us. We get along great and have stuff in common. Chriss also helped me cook and did most of the baking...she makes some amazing pie's!!
So needless to say it was great. We are truly blessed! Can't wait for my sister in law to come in two days then more fam the end of December!!

We have a new addition to the Echevarria's

So after years of begging and pleading by our children and years of us promising once we got a house it would happen...we broke down and got our kiddies a pup. She is a Mini Schnauzer and absolutely adorable!!! Her name is Sophie and she is 12 weeks old. Kiana, Ismo and Kamia were all excited that she was born August 18th is the same month of all there birthdays. So lucky me a 4th birthday in August. :o) So here she is...

A Few New Pictures

I wanted to also share a few pics of the kids and some of the Fall colors and our property...Here is Elijah with one of the catapillars he found. Then 3 of the kids with a friend of theres from our internship playing during our bible study.



Here is Kiana and Mia being silly!

Here is a few random pics I took of some neighbors trees that have changed to such pretty colors!

The beautiful fog...I love taking pics of our property. Well I love taking them anywhere.

The Beauty of It All...

So another week has passed and the fun never ends. It has been a real turning point for me especially. God is really starting to show me some deep things. I am experiencing freedom in areas I did not really know that truly held me back. God is really one funny God! Its funny that He has been dealing with me on stepping out in more boldness and not having fear of speaking and sharing in front of people. Especially right before it is our small group teams turn to pray on the mic at the Justice House of Prayer. Funny huh?

So this has always been part of my personality but God wants to use me through that and I feel show me that He is speaking through me. What is amazing to me is that me and Kiana our 9 year old really bonded on a deeper level through this. Being that mine and her personalities are sooooo similar I shared with her my feelings and what God was showing me and she agreed she has the same struggle. So I was able to pray for her and release us both in prayer to have more boldness and confidence in ourselves not just in front of our immediate family but in a public atmosphere.

We are so proud to be part of a community out here that is in constant prayer for our country and all that goes on. Not only for our country but also for issues all around the world. We are seeking together to know the very heart of God on a more intimate level. To not just go about our lives living the mundane but really pushing...pushing for more of God. It says in Psalms 23 Your Kingdom come Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. That means we can truly have a piece of heaven here on earth! I want it, we want it!! We are pushing everyday to know more of God and to truly see peoples lives radically changed! Oh that touches the very depths of me just saying it. There is nothing more amazing then seeing people's lives be touched. Our families mission is to touch as many lives as humanly possible through prayer and however else we are led. This is now our job...where exactly will this lead us I dont know. But we know this is where God wants us.

I'm officially FREEZING!!

So Ismo has been reminding me that the coldest has yet to come...but I am freezing now! This Cali girl does not have thick enough blood for this. This is probably my only issue with being out here is right now Im not feeling the coldness. My knees hurt people! My knees dont usual ever hurt like this...can we say I need some thermals! lol But we now know that winter is about in our midst and the holidays are here!!!! I can not believe another year has gone by...it seems like I just took this pic of the kiddies for our Christmas cards, but it was in 2006. Time flies!

So another picture will be taken and another holiday will come. It will not be the same without all of our family, but I can truly say that it will be memorable. There is those that are coming for Thanksgiving and those right after Christmas. But we have made some new friends that have truly blessed our lives. We have opened up our home for those like us that are from out of state and dont have family around. So we are really excited about this. I am already looking up new recipes for deserts!! Whoo hoo!

Family and Friends

So this last week was amazing! We were able to have family and friends come out to visit us this last week. This was a much needed thing for us. It felt so good to see well known and well loved faces. First of all my wonderful mother in law and sister in law came out and spent time with us which meant so much. I am truly blessed to have married into such a wonderful family. As the years go on I more and more appreciate God bringing them into my life. I really got to spend some time with my sister in law Armina. This was probably one of the best parts. Being that she lives in Pasadena, CA we dont get to see each other much nor do we get to talk on the phone much due to the demands of our busy lives. I am going to make an effort for that to change...I love my lil sis!!

The kids were so exausted from our late nights up. My friends Raquel, Jessica and Victoria all came out too. We attended a Womens in the Prophetic Conference out here at IHOP. But as Raquel said the most fun and memorable times will be the "parties" we had at the house.

We are now getting back to the normal schedule but I just cant stop thinking about what an amazing time we had. We are so thankful that God was able to use us and our children to minister to our friends and family. To just enjoy each other and see God move in our hearts and forever change areas on our lives. The women went home saying they will never be the same!

My kids really stepped out this weekend and used the gifts that God has given them. They were praying for people and even giving prophetic words and drawing amazing pictures that the Lord gave them. We are so proud of our wonderful kids and to be there parents. We are constantly reminded of this being the best move we could have ever made!

Weather is crazy out here...

So there is so many things to catch up on. First of all even though it has been pretty cold the fall colors are soooo beautiful. That alone makes me happy. I really have enjoyed it. So it went from like 40's during the day and one night down to the 20's but now back in the 70's. So just trying to go with the flow. I'm so scared for the snow though!

I was able to take some amazing pictures in our backyard and thought I would share them.

They just remind me that God gave us all of these beautiful scenes for us to always remember who He is and how much He loves us. I mean think about it...if He didnt love us then He would have not given us such amazing things to look at. I admit to being one that has taken advantage of what is around me and not enjoyed it to its fullest. Well I am making it a point to not do that anymore. I mean how amazing is just the landspace in our backyard!!

There is just so many amazing things that are going on out here and so much that is happening to our hearts. We are so moved by God's plans for us and how He wants to use us. We are in our 5th week of our internship and have loved it. Even though it is time consuming and sometimes really rough to stay on schedule we have continually had grace to get it done.

We love and miss you all so much!!

Wow....

So we are entering our 3rd week of our internship...can we say intense! We literally are working, in class or the prayer room 6 days a week. Well it is for sure keeping us busy and the kids are enjoying it more and more. I thought...or at least my number one stress was that this may exhaust the kids or turn them totally off to the prayer room or what we are doing. But it has really done the opposite! Elijah everyday even on our day off asks me over and over is it time for him to go to his class?! He loves it and is learning so much! His teachers are completely in love with him! He has came home these last weeks knowing more scriptures then I ever thought imaginable! His lil heart is so filled up with the joy of God.

As I kissed him goodnight the other night he tells me...Momma do you know that God doesn't kiss us with His mouth? I said yes...what does He kiss us with baby? He tells me, He kisses us with His words!! I was in tears that how deep for him to recognize that and use it in context to his surroundings! The girls also have just blossomed. They lay hands on other kids and adults and pray for break through in there hearts and for healing! How awesome is that!? They have made so many lil friends. They are truly happy and seeking Jesus on there own not just by our leading.

We are learning so much. There is something so deep going on in our hearts. So many questions in our hearts are being answered. It is nothing we have ever truly experienced. Our hearts are so tender right now to the ways of God. I am learning how God truly loves us and wants nothing but the best for us. Not that I didn't know that in my mind, but I now feel it in my heart. I could go on and on...if you want to hear more just call me! lol

The kids have also been excited about some new stuff too...I gave Elijah a well over due trim and Keilani and Kamia got lil hair cuts. Kiana of course doesn't want anyone touching her head. She likes her hair long...

Tomorrow's the BIG Day

So we start our internship tomorrow. We are a lil nervous though but more overwhelmed with excitement then anything! God is showing more of Himself to us everyday. It is so important to seek God with all of our hearts. There is so much more to this life then to just live it out. We need to know Him and more of Him. By the grace of God we have paid a quarter of our tuition. We have until the end of this week I believe to have half of the monies then the rest has to be paid by the 21st of October. But with that said, God is sooooo good! He comes through for us time and time again. Just when you start to feel like God where are you? Did you leave me? Then He shows up and your like sorry God I know I'm a Lil dramatic! lol

I have heard from a few say, "well you still need alot of money Della"...but I have learned now to not look at it in that fashion. You know the whole glass is half full not half empty. But we need to look that we have gotten somewhere and we actually get to start! I am going to continue to trust in God for the rest. We have trusted in Him this far to get us out here...why not the rest? I have a God that every animal in the forest is His and the cattle on a thousand hills! PS 50:10, what is a couple thousand dollars for Him? Its nothing...

We are just really blessed we have met some new people and I have been able to hang out with my cousin LeAnn that just so happen to move out here 3 weeks before us! She is literally 15-20 minutes from our house! It has been such a blessing to have her near! We were so close when we were lil, we even made up our own lil singing group and use to try and write songs. When I would stay the night at her house we would mix all kinds of cleaning products to try and create a new one then show her mom, my auntie how absolutely fantastic it was! lol Now that I am older and to think how dangerous that was...too funny. But needless to say it is really nice to see her and have someone here that knows me and my family. And there is nothing more great then seeing our children hanging out and beginning to build relationships with each other! It makes me feel old though! But again God knows what we need around us to get through this life.

Do you believe in what we are doing?

As alot of you know we are out here to be apart of a major prayer movement. We are Missionaries...Intercessory Missionaries. We are in need of our loved ones support. Now we have never asked anyone for anything so this is just not some hoax or for the fun of it. This is really serious. Being a missionary takes people like you to support them. Whether it is financially; partnering with us on a monthly basis, sowing a seed or of course (which I hope you do :o) ) is keeping us in your prayers. We came out here completely by faith...not by the moving of our own hearts but by the moving of God upon our hearts.

We are now trying to enter into a staff entry internship that trains us in so many ways. But in order for this to happen we need your help. Even if you dont believe in why we are doing this or how we are doing this but believe in us as a family and our hearts, then follow your heart and help. We have 9 days to raise $2,350.00 to start school so we definetly need God to move on our behalf. Please take the time to pray about it...but now too much time! lol God blesses those who bless His people. Whatever seed you sow comes back over and above what you gave...God has done that a number of time for us.

Our promise to you is living a simple, fasted lifestyle in alignment with the word of God. We promise our partners to keep them in prayer at all times, to keep updates coming on what we are doing and how God is moving.

Will you partner with us? If you have any questions at all you can call or email us. Send us an email if you dont have our phone numbers...Love you all!!!

Email deche6@aol.com

Overflow!

All I have to say is wow! We are just in awe of what God is doing in our lives. As most of you know we did not come out here for the conventional reasons like jobs or we bought a house or whatever other great reasons to relocate your family is. We came out here for a calling that we felt God put on our hearts. And almost everyday God confirms in so many ways that this was His will. From us actually obtaining enough money to even get out here. That was the grace of God...but as you all know our God is a gentlemen. He will not call you somewhere and not fit the bill.

Well since we have been out here it has been a challenge. We literally just had enough money to get out here. But God has been our supplier and has been taking care of us when we were getting a lil nervous about us getting food or even gas. But God has come through. Its been challenge after challenge along with blessing after blessing! Our purpose for coming out here was to be Missionaries and as most of you know also they don't get paid the big bucks! lol But it doesn't matter to us, as long as our family is taken care of...eating, clothed and happy that is all that matters. Our kids are soooo at peace with this move. They are so excited every time they come out of there classes. Keilani is coming out of class so happy telling us that she loves worshipping God so much and that she felt the Glory of God! How awesome is that!! It is my one prayer that our kids would know God on a intimate level. That they would not live there walk with God through us but that they would have a personal relationship with Jehovah Jireh our Provider!! That they would seek God and that He would reveal Himself that they would know how real He is. They truly love God...that makes me weep to even know that.

So today we got so blessed...we have cabinets and freezer full of food!!!! We literally could not even fit it all in!! We are living in the overflow baby! Be blessed guys and believe God for the unbelievable!

Jeremiah 29:11-13

For I know the plans I have for you, " declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 12 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all you heart.

RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY...

Ok so thanks to good ol' Ike its been raining over here. Though its rainy the last day or so has been warm, like in the 70's. Now a few days ago you would have thought we were back in the Bay cause it was cold and raining...but we are not. Soooo we for now are dealing with the many changes that are going on around us. Almost all of us have experienced the bite of what is called a ChiggerBut though it is raining the all the green around us is absolutely beautiful! This one of the butterflies that we have in our meadow that I photograped.We are very proud of our house but wish so much that we could share it with you all. I randomly think about having all our family and friends over for a big dinner celebration and then remember that you all are so very far away. It definetly saddens us at times but we have to remember that God has a bigger plan for us right now. We will get through this time of adjustment.

The kids are really enjoying their school out here. They dont seem to have as many cuts as California. The kids weekly have Arts and Music class that they LOVE! So that is always a very encouraging thing. The kids love playing outside like everyday, even when its raining. Seeing them happy and enjoying the land we are on makes us so happy. Yesterday we spent like an hour outside in our orchard picking the juciest pears we have ever tasted!! So I have looked up some recipes to make stuff with them. There is also delicious apples and there is grapes that we have not tasted yet.

Ismo took the liberty of jumping on the ride on mower and mowing ALL the grass...it only took him about an hour to an hour n a half! haha! It was so cute to see him out there proud of our house. He came in and said, "I'm no longer a city slicker... I'm officially a country boy!". LOL

New Blog Spot

So I wanted to create one of these because I felt it would be the best way for everyone to check out at your own leisure what our family is up to and how we are doing. Being that we are alot further away and on a new adventure...what better way for us to take you all with us. I will try my hardest to blog as much as humanly possible with four kids and a husband. LOL But I really want to stay in touch...we miss and love you all!!

So here we are in good ol' Kansas City!!!