1/2 New Year's con los Santos, Goals, and 2019!!!

We had such a nice New Year's Eve with Carlos, Elizabeth, his parents and family, and Monica and Michael. I haven't had a New Years like that in a long time. Last year, Sarah and I were at a hotel. Sarah slept through the midnight drop. It was really cool to participate in stimulating conversation with them (even though, during the first couple of hours I was feeling left out), games, and a toast of gratefulness to the other spouse (and girlfriends, for the kids) and ending with some fireworks. The toast was particularly special, because David and Ana (Carlos' dad and mom) have this tradition of right before the new years drop, each spouse say something they are grateful for about their spouse. I had to think hard, but since we were one of the last couples to get married, we went last. I had to think in Spanish how to say, throughout this year, we've laughed, we've cried, but mostly we have smiled for our great fortune of being together. I am really thankful to Sarah for the help emotionally that she gives me everyday. I try to do my best in being there for her as well. I am happy with Sarah.

We spent a good portion of our day yesterday (since we didn't have to work), looking at the new Come, Follow Me manual that the church has put out for our study in our family individually and at church. We did our study in Spanish. Ven, Sigueme, is the name of the book. It was super inspiring to think about how much God loves us and wants us to complete our side so that ultimately, he can bless us. We are such unprofitable servants. We have a Father that is all-giving. He loves us. He wants us just to not go through the motions, but to live like Jesus is here with us right now and we are at the second coming. I love it.

The sisters came by yesterday, as well, to give us, well me, the baptismal records for Ellena and Romeo Perez. They got baptized last Saturday. It was a good service. Sarah surprised me (and others) with a rendition of Baptism and an interlude of Love One Another. I think I'm the only one that really noticed. The sisters and three girls sang to the song. I wish I had recorded the audio of that song. She just basically made up her own version of it.

Today, Sarah did great, at least until she had to go to work. Sarah's been having uphill and downhill battles. Some days she's great. Others she goes through times where she feels overwhelmed with life and doesn't like to get anything done. I do my best to get out of the funk, but I am not always successful. I have found that I have been raising my voice a lot to her in frustration, and that of course is not what she needs right at that moment. It is hard for me to not be frustrated though, which I guess isn't really fair to her. She says that she needs to be validated, which isn't easy, as I feel like she might see pass that rouse.

I have been doing my best to express my love for her in different ways. She is always so giving, and most of the time I am taking things for myself and not giving back. I do love her though, and I hope to improve myself.

We made a list of goals that she and I want to follow for the 2019 year. I'll share them. I have never felt so stoked for a new year and new things and new revelation for me and Sarah and from prophets, seers and revelators. I can't wait for what new things President Nelson has to share with us. Actually, we found out a couple weeks ago that he is coming to Arizona in Phoenix to have a devotional with us saints here in February. I am sooooooo looking forward to that. I hope Sarah and I can get in.

We've kinda been living on the edge money-wise, in that we only have like $9 in our account. I say that, but really we have more, just being saved. Like $75 in our Savings, and $200ish saved for a $500 trip to Disneyland we are having with my family in June. We get paid tomorrow and Friday, which is good news...however, we will have to go with a lack of money for the 2 weeks we've had of vacation. We're in the tail end of that vacation. We did pay our rent super early though for January.

Oh, and guess what, we got a new TV. Did we buy it? No. Previous President Cruz was giving his away because he got a new one for Christmas. Well, it's crazy! It's an LG 55" plasma tv and it has three HDMI ports. We've already hooked up Chromecast to it so that it acts like a Smart TV and everything. We are so blessed.

So, overall, lots to look forward to. 2019 is going to be THE year, a GREAT year!