Wow! It has been almost a month since I last blogged. I do most of my blogging at night, and nights are not the best time for me (as decided by the baby inhabiting my body.) Today, on my 24th birthday, I want to reflect on my life and the road that the Lord has led me down.
First, a little history. I graduated from high school when I was 16. I started community college when I was 16, and this is when and where I met Jimmy. I got pregnant and married (in that order) when I was 18. I gave birth to my firstborn child, my son Tucker Richie Balderas on July 12, 2006, when I was 19 years old. This more than anything changed my life forever. From this point on, I knew that God put me on this planet to be a mom to my child (and subsequent children.) I had Tucker completely naturally, with no drugs. This gave me the confidence to know that I could do anything (of course with God's help.) On the weekend of my 20th birthday I was baptized for the first time after a desire to renew my faith as an example for my son. Within months we found the Movement and made it our home. When I was 21 I became a Lactation Consultant, desiring to help new moms and babies, which was inspired by my birth story. On August 25th, 2009, when I was 22, I became a mother for the second time, with the blessing of Ava Selina Balderas, my first daughter. I found out I was expecting my third child when I was 23. And I started this blog when I was 23, subsequently beginning a whole new journey to becoming the woman God wants me to be.
And now I am 24. I am still working on who God wants me to be. I am sure it will be a life long journey, and I look forward to learning more every single year. My prayer for this year is that I am truly open to whatever God asks of me, that I trust Him in every calling He has for me, and that I have no fear of what others think of what I am doing. I don't think that's too much to ask, is it? :-) I know that God hears the desires of my heart and responds to them. My verse for the next year is Philippians 4:13-"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." With even the callings I already know God has in store for the next year, I know I will only be able to do it through Christ's strength. I know that the next year includes the first year of homeschooling, a new baby to add to the brood, and growing in the Lord. I know I could never do this on my own, which gives God all the glory. I would appreciate your prayers too, and as always, please let me know if there is anything I can pray for you for. Thanks for being on this journey with me, I hope it has inspired a new journey of your own. Here's to 24!
