I am Officially a quarter of a nurse!!!

Yay! I took my last final for this semester and I am now officially a quarter of a nurse as my Pharmacology instructor calls it. I have three more semesters to go.
I am also excited to start the paid internship program at Mercy and Mercy South West during my x-mas break. I was pretty blessed to get chosen out of 80 students to participate in this great program that will provide me with lots of hands on experience. I will now be taking care of 4-5 patients at a time instead of the 2 that I'm used to. It will be a great challenge and an incredible opportunity for growth. I am truly grateful and super excited!!!

My Eternal Family

This year in Primary, the kids have learned so many things through this year's Primary theme "My eternal family". They had their primary program this month and they have taught us all so many essential things in building strong eternal families. We are all so grateful for the spirit they always bring to that special sacrament meeting. God bless our little tender children and God bless the special union of families. May we preserve this special blessing in our homes.

So Many Reasons To Say Thanks

Among the busy schedules we all face and despite the daily trials and tribulations of life. We have so many things to be thankful for. For food on our tables, for the rising sun, for the song of the birds, for the air we breath, and above all, for the great love of our savior and Redeemer because it is through him that everything we are, and everything we do is possible.
This year, I had decided that we would not do anything for thanksgiving since I have been super busy with school among other things. Bryan felt the same way he is struggling at work and has been a bit discouraged. Asha and Bryce on the other hand had been looking forward to this holiday. Yet here we are, making the mashed potatoes and the turkey, the green beans and the stuffing despite the pile of notes I have to study, and the pile of laundry waiting to be washed. We realize there are so many reasons to leave other things aside for a while and focus on the important things of the moment. This holiday season we have so many reasons to kneel down in thanks for our many blessings. Here are some things that we individually and as a family are thankful for this year.

Bryan: I am thankful for Ilcy, Asha, and Bryce.
Ilcy: I am thankful for the power of prayer. I am thankful for the power of our minds to have the ability to learn so many things.
Asha: I am thankful for houses so we can have somewhere to live so we can have beds. I am thankful for this wonderful world so we can live somewhere were it's safe.
Bryce: I am thankful for Jesus because he is nice and, I am thankful for Santa because he gives us toys.
Happy Thanksgiving 2009

happy 6th birthday Bryce!

Bryce turned 6 this past 19th of September. It has been crazy so I really haven't had the time to post this great milestone. Bryce has been learning so much at school. He likes science. He is a very smart boy.

This year for his birthday he wanted to celebrate it Bakugan style. He invited some school and church friends and had a blast at his birthday party.

He received a bunch of Bakugan toys for his birthday to add to his collection.

Here are some facts and some accomplishments he was able to complete this past year.

• He learned 5 articles of faith.
• He entered 1st grade
• He learned how to tie his shoe laces
• He is adding and subtracting
• He still continues to be a loving boy and also a very funny boy

Happy 6th birthday Bryce!

Nursing school

Well I have survived the 1st 5 weeks of nursing school.
I have taken tons of exams averaging about 3 per week on top of additional quizzes. The kids and Bryan are hanging in there. Our house has gotten messy but at this point we are just trying to survive and get only the necessities of the day (food, clean clothes, showers and as much sleep as it is allowed) It has been a roller coaster for the Ortons. In brief I can say how thankful I am for Bryan and all of his help. And above all, I am thankful to the lord for keeping us alive and well overall. I love Nursing school. Sometimes I do wish I just had a little more time to accomplish everything that is required of me . I have learned to live a day at a time and do my best to keep smiling. This past Friday, was my first day of clinic and I was assigned my first patient. I hope I remember everything I have learned so far so I can apply it. It is very exciting but also terrifying.
Here is a group picture of my class getting ready to go out on our first day of clinic.

Back To School Tommorow

After a fun summer break full of activities and vacationing the kids and I will be returning to school tomorrow. We definitely took advantage of the summer break to spend as much quality time as a family as possible. We went to the beach. We went camping. We went to the movies. We visited Universal Studios and City Walk. We also took a very special trip to the LA temple as a family. We enjoyed a day at Raging Waters. We visited the Planetarium and Observatory in LA. We visited our local library and attended free local community events. We laughed and had meals together as many times as we could. I hugged, kissed, tickled, and read with the kids as much as I could. We had fun cooking and preparing meals together. Now we hope that those memories we built together during the summer will hold us up in unity during our busy schedules that are about to begin. Asha will be entering 3rd grade, Bryce will begging 1st grade, and I will be starting the RN program at BC. It will be an interesting year full of many emotions but I know we will succeed with the Lord's help. Bryan will have to step in and fill more responsibilities at home on top of his full time job. I am grateful for all of his support during my career. I couldn't ask for a better husband. I will have to make some major adjustments for everything to work well and be balanced in all of the aspects of life. I know my main source of strength lies in my Savior and his gospel. Through his help, I also know that I will be able to keep full filling my calling in the Primary presidency at church and manage everything else in my life. Tomorrow morning we will also be receiving our priesthood blessing through Bryan and I am grateful to have that privilege in our home.
2009/2010 school year, here we come!!!

Special visitors from Texas and Guatemala!

This past week we have been blessed to be able to see my family. My parents and brothers came from Texas and My aunt and cousin came from Guatemala. It has been truly a blessing for them to be here from far away. They were able to attend Asha's baptism and it has been so nice to share those special moments with them.
We had the opportunity to spend some great quality time and to have celebrate the joys of life together as a family. Today, My parents went Back to Texas and this morning was hard to wake up and say goodbye to them but I know the Lord has been so merciful to give us the chance to see each other and I know his love abounds in our hearts and keeps us united across the miles. I'm so grateful for family.

Asha's Birthday Party #8 Hannah Montana style

Asha Celebrated big at her birthday Party here at Home with her family and friends Hannah Montana Theater style. She had lots of fun! The celebration took place Tuesday August 18th. 2009. Everyone arrived ,walked the red carpet and entered the fun. The children had to each bring their movie ticket enclosed in their invitation and upon entering the theater (Our House) they received Hannah Montana Bucks for purchases at the concession stand.
They had Pocorn, hotdogs, candy, drinks, and sat down to see the Movie premier of Hannah Montana the movie. They patiently waited for the curtains to open and the party started!
Asha had lots of fun along with everyone else. After the movie, we all had cake and Ice cream and Asha opened her presents and thanked all of her guests for joining in on the fun!
Happy Birthday Super Star Asha :)

A Very special Day, "Asha's Baptism"

On Saturday August 15, 2009. Asha made a very special covenant with her Father in heaven.
She had been fervently preparing for her baptism. We had many discussions about it during our family home evenings and sharing time at Church previous to that day. When the time finaly came, she felt ready and joyful to make this special covenant. I had prepared a special Baptism book for her to record all of the special things about her baptism. In one of the pages, there was a brief explination of the commitment she would be making and a blank space for her to sign. I explained to her how a covenant worked and she asked if it was like making a pinky swear with Heavenly Father and I said yes. After she read and signed the page, she lifted up her pinky toward heaven and winked to Heavenly Faher. It was so touching for me to see this. In her child heart I knew she had gotten the point and It was joyous to see her so commited. I also realized that Asha shared a beautiful and close relationship with her Heavenly Father. It was so beautiful to see her enter the waters of Baptism and be baptized by her father. After her baptism, I met her outside of the font and the things that happened then I rather hold and treasure in my heart because they are so sacred to post online.
One thing I do want to share, is my brief testimony about the truth of the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am so greatful for my Father in Heaven who loves us so much and has created a beautiful plan of happiness for all of us his children. This happiness is within our reach for all of those who desire it. It is a gift and can only be ours if we seek for it and accept the atonement of our savior Jesus Christ and his gospel in our lives.
It was so joyous to see Asha take this important step toward eternal happiness.

Happy 8th. Birthday Asha!

Today we are celebrating with Asha 8 years of life.
She is so excited mainly because she will be getting baptized in 1 week. We decided to go camping for a day since this was one of our summer plans. So here we are camping in Tehachapi. To Celebrate Asha's Birthday, we went and stopped at Baskin Robbins for a delicious scoop of Ice cream. Asha picked the American Birthday cake flavor of course and enjoyed every bit of it!
Happy 8th birthday Asha!

Happy 9th anniversary

Yesterday we celebrated 9 years together. Life Couldn't be better for us. Despite our struggles, and worries, We grow stronger everyday. God has blessed us with each other and I'm so thankful for the company and love of my best friend. We celebrated our anniversary at Tahoe Joe's. It was nice to remember the memories we have built together and hold deep in our hearts.
Thanks for choosing me.

NACUPENDA SANA .

TE AMO.

ICH LIEBE DICH.

I LOVE YOU.