We Have the Keys

We have the keys to our new home!!
Tenemos las llaves para nuestra nueva casa!!

As of 2:00 pm this afternoon we are the proud owners of our first home! What a crazy process doing Escrow in 28 days! We're glad that part is over and looking forward to great things to come! We will be enjoying the jacuzzi and pool as soon as possible!!

Our prayers for the Anaya Family

This is a sad message to post...

Little Mary-Belle Anaya passed away this morning.

Our prayers and support go out to one of the most amazing families we have ever met. Their strength and faith in God is an inspiration to us.

Click the label for "Belle" at the bottom of this post to see other entries about this amazing little girl.

Thanks for your prayers for the Anaya family. If you want to give anything to them, please contact us and we can arrange it.

Baby Belle turned 1 1/2!

Baby Belle (Brianna's little friend with terminal leukemia) turned 1 1/2 years old today. She is not doing too well and it looks like she won't be with us much longer. Baby Belle's parents (Dad Joe pictured below with clowns) hosted an amazing celebration of Belle's life complete with bouncing houses, games, delicious foods and a clown show.

Lots of people (about 100 or more) showed up to pour their love on Belle's family. The strength of character and courage that this family has exhibited throughout their health ordeal has been nothing short of extraordinary. They have ministered to everybody they've come into contact with.

Please continue to pray for Belle's family as they prepare to possibly face one of the hardest times anybody can go through. Belle has been an amazing blessing to the family and through her short life, she's put her parents in touch with amazing nurses at Children's Valley Hospital in Fresno and other families who have supported and prayed them through.

One thing we did this afternoon? Hug Brianna very tightly and thank God she's is growing fast and is very healthy. May all of us remember to treasure the blessings God gives us daily, no matter what we're going through. And thank you again for praying for Belle today!

Water paint artists

Tia Patri is teaching Bri her first steps in water painting. Patricia loves to water paint in her free time and she's shown us beautiful finished landscape patintings she's done in the past. We've already commissioned a Tuscan landscape for the living room in our new house.

Little Bri finished about six "works of arts" all her own. We're looking forward to framing them and finding special places around our new house for them. Bravo Bri!

Praying by myself - Oro solita

This evening marks a big milestone in Brianna's life... For the first time, for both supper and before going to bed, without any prompting from Mom or Dad, she prayed all by herself.

For supper her prayer went like this (in Spanish), "Isus, Mami, Papi, quaquei, Amen." (Translation: "Jesus, Mommy, Daddy, Oatmeal, Amen.")

Before going to bed, she prayed, "Isus, Mami, Papi, Abus, Ammee, Ampee, Amen." (Translation: "Jesus, Mommy, Daddy, G'ma & G'pa Galante, G'ma & G'pa Pierson, Amen.")

We never thought we could have the feelings we have in our hearts for such an adorable little person.

Anyway, enough gushing...

Here's a picture of Brianna and her friend, Lea, playing the other day... They are two mischeveous little girls when they get together...

Tia Patri - a GREAT new addition to our family

On Thursday morning, Tia Patri (aka Patricia Schneider) arrived at our house to live with us as an au-pair for a year. She is born and raised in Argentina, and we are THRILLED to have her for a while until she passes her CA Nursing Boards and starts working at any of our area hospitals.

Brianna warmed up to Tia Patri right away and says "I love you Tia Patri" (in Spanish) all the time. Bibi, who hasn't been in total remission from Rheumatoid Arthritis since Brianna's birth, is thoroughly enjoying help around the house and a great new friend to do life with.
Jeremy is very excited to have Bibi more rested up and available for weekday lunches and fun dates together during the week. Tia Patri is a perfect fit for our family and we are thankful to God to have opened this great opportunity for all of us!!!

Ronaldinho joins Team Nutrilite

We are proud to announce that Ronaldinho, one of the world's most famous soccer players, has joined Team Nutrilite as a spokesperson for the brand.

Nutrilite is the world's leading brand of vitamin, mineral and dietary supplements... and available through our online store www.iWantMyChoices.com.

Check out more information about Nutrilite at www.Nutrilite.com.

You can see one of the promotional videos by Ronaldinho by clicking here and selecting to play the second video.

Team Nutrilite is a group of elite athletes who have found an elite supplement that enhances their performance. Look for these names this summer at the Beijing Summer Olympic Games:

Ronaldinho

Two time FIFA World Player of the Year

Sanya Richards

U.S. record holder, 400 meter

Liu Xiang

World record holder, 110 meter hurdles

Asafa Powell

World record holder, 100 meter sprint

If you are interested in trying any Nutrilite products, feel free to e-mail us or visit our website. We offer a 100% no questions asked money back guaranty on all your purchases.

SO CUTE!

I love my brown rice, corn on the cob and vegan quesadillas (not shown). Having lunch today was fun because Daddy was home ...

and so I get to make all my "little monkey" faces, tell my funny "jokes," and also take forever to eat my food!

Loving shopping already!

At around Christmas time, we purchased this "soccer Mom" white van from Grandma Lucille Bieber. Forget about looking cool! This is the perfect and most comfortable way to drive an active family around town. Bibi likes it so much she refuses to drive anything else! =)

Blessing Belle

Tonight we got the opportunity to stop by and give Brianna's birthday gifts to Belle. Belle is a very sweet 1 1/2 year old little girl with terminal Leukemia. We thought of this as a great teaching opportunity for Brianna to share her material blessings with Belle. After all, isn't it better to give than to receive?

Belle has undergone bone marrow transplant at Stanford University just a few months ago but unfortunately her very aggressive form of Leukemia seems to be coming back stronger than before. Right now, she gets Chemotherapy twice a week and her parents are doing all they can to keep her comfortable and with the least amount of pain.

Belle has such amazing parents and siblings. We can hardly imagine what this family is going through on a daily basis... All we see is strength in God and in each other.

Belle loved all the presents, especially "Barbie's Carousel Coach" and a little doll. We ask you all to keep her and her family in your prayers. Our hearts go out to Belle, her family and also all the families that have to grapple with the reality of a terminally ill baby. We can only hope to keep holding on tightly to God on this side of heaven so that we may all enjoy each other for eternity in a world without pain.

A Perfect Birthday for Princess Lea

Brianna's best friend sharing her special day with lots of family and friends. Lea turned 2 on February 22nd.

Kids enjoyed "fishies" and peanut butter pretzels and maybe just a few of the amazing Croatian desserts at the "dessert buffett" below

Each handcrafted cookie, treat and cakes were made to perfection by Lea's Mom, Suzana. Bibi also got to help a little bit by making some of the "hairy ones," (white cake dipped in rich milk chocolate with coconut flakes all around) .... The Croatian themed birthday cake was the best cake Jeremy and Bibi had ever had!

Princess Lea had a beautiful dress made just for her by her Grammy, who also happens to be a seamstress. Lea and Brianna get have lots of playdates during the week. Lea is learning Spanish and Brianna speaks a few words in Croatian. Lea's family has been a huge blessing to our family and one of the best friends we have ever had.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LEA! WE LOVE YOU LOTS!