Feliz Navidad y Año Nuevo!




May Jesus, the Reason for the Season, be Praised!

The year 2008 has brought many sources of joy and new opportunities for the Littles. Most importantly, Marcela is pregnant and we are now expecting our second daughter to be born on or around February 26, 2009. (We hope she is born Feb 26 since this is her daddy’s and grandmother’s and great-aunt’s birthday!) Needless to say, we are excited about her arrival and look forward to sharing great news (and pictures!) with you all as soon as we are able.

Last year we spent Christmas and New Year’s in Costa Rica again – enjoying our family and friends over there (as well as tropical waters in which Seth was able to surf a good amount). This year, though, we will be spending the holidays in the U.S. with family and friends.

As far as his career goes, Seth finished up his third year of medical school, took and did well on Step 2 of the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USLME) and started his fourth year electives. He decided on radiology as a specialty. (These are the doctors who decipher x-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds, MRIs, and a slew of other imaging modalities. Note: they interpret the imaging data; they do not generally perform the studies themselves, as this is done by technicians. So, please do not worry about excessive exposure to radioactive materials.) We are excited about this career option because it will allow Seth to help patients as well as provide a family-friendly work-load and lifestyle. At this point, Seth is in the application process for radiology residencies and we will not know where we will be going until March of 2009. We are applying all over the country and are heavily considering moving to the South, as we could afford a home during residency and be close to Seth’s brother Josh and his family in Huntsville, AL. Seth will graduate with his M.D. degree on June 7, 2009. We really hope you will be able to attend the commencement and/or party if possible.

Besides carrying our new daughter around (in utero), Marcela has been busy raising Marcelle and practicing with the church choir. She joined the choir around Easter and has really found this to be an excellent source of joy in her life as a disciple of Christ. The choir sings about once every four to six weeks; and Seth has had many an occasion to be able to record her as well as bring Marcelle into the sanctuary to see her mommy praising God.

As for Marcelle, she is such a happy and active little (but big!) girl that turned 2 years old this past year. She is now in gymnastics since September, and can’t have enough of it! She loves singing, dancing, talking, coloring, reading books, playing with her friends, going to Jesus’ house (church) and helping mami and papi as much as she can and with whatever she can, especially in the kitchen or shopping!! She is very excited about her little sister, too!!

Seth and I celebrated our 8th year anniversary, and we are so thankful to the Lord for helping us through all these years and for being the center of our marriage. We couldn’t have done it without Jesus.

Please keep us in your prayers for all the new decisions, adventures and blessings coming up in these several months. That the Lord Jesus may do His will in our lives.

We hope that you all have been blessed in many different ways this past year and we pray that this Christmas and New Year 2009 will bring you all closer to the Lord Jesus and enable you to feel His presence, Love, Peace and Joy.

We hope to hear from you soon!


_________________________________________


¡Que Jesús, la razón de la celebración, sea alabado!

Este año 2008 ha traído varias fuentes de gozo y nuevas oportunidades para los Little. Lo más importante, Marcela está embarazada y estamos esperando nuestra segunda hija que está por nacer el 26 de Febrero del 2009. (Esperamos que nazca el 26 de febrero ya que es el cumpleaños de su papá, abuelita y una tia-abuela paterna!) Estamos muy emocionados sobre su llegada y esperamos compartir buenas noticias (y fotografías!) con ustedes tan pronto podamos.

El año pasado pasamos Navidad y Año Nuevo en Costa Rica nuevamente – disfrutando nuestra familia y amigos de allá ( lo mismo que aguas tropicales en donde Seth pudo surfear un gran rato). Este año pasaremos las celebraciones en Estados Unidos con familia y amigos aquí.

Con respecto a su carrera, Seth terminó su tercer año de la escuela de medicina. Tomó y le fue muy bien en el exámen de la Segunda Etapa para su licencia de doctor – USMLE. Y comenzó su cuarto año de facultades electivas. El se decidió en Radiología como especialidad. (Estos son los doctores que decifran rayos x, ultrasonidos, CT’s, MRI’s y otras modalidades radiográficas. Nota: ellos solo interpretan los datos; y usualmente no realizan los estudios, ya que son hechos por técnicos. Así que no se preocupen por la exposición a materiales radiactivos.) Estamos muy emocionados por esta opción de carrera, ya que le permitirá a Seth el ayudar a pacientes, lo mismo que proveerá un ambiente amigable y tiempo para la familia y trabajo. En este momento Seth está en el proceso de aplicación a residencias de Radiología y no sabrá a donde irá hasta marzo del 2009. Estamos aplicando a varios estados del país y estamos considerando seriamente el sur de los Estados Unidos. Así podríamos obtener una casita mientras él este en la residencia de 5 años, además de estar cerca de su hermano Josh y familia que viven en Huntsville, Alabama. Seth se graduará con su título de doctor el 7 de Junio del 2009. Esperamos que algunos de ustedes puedan acompañarnos para la graduación y/o fiestita si les es posible.

Además de cargar nuestra nueva niñita (en útero), Marcela ha estado ocupadita criando a Marcelle y practicando en el coro de la iglesia. Ella se hizo parte del coro desde la semana santa y ha encontrado verdaderamente que es una fuente de gozo en su vida como discípula de Cristo. El coro canta cada cuatro a seis semanas; y Seth ha tenido la oportunidad en varias ocaciones de grabar las presentaciones y llevar a Marcelle a ver a su mami alabar a Dios.

Con respecto a Marcelle, ella es una pequeña (¡pero grande!) niña muy feliz y activa, que cumplió 2 añitos este año. Ahora está involucrada en gimnasia desde setiembre, ¡y no le son suficientes los 2 días a la semana que va! Ella ama cantar, bailar, hablar, colorear, leer libros, jugar con sus amiguitos, ir a la casa de Jesús y ayudar a mami y papi en todo lo que pueda, especialmente en la cocina y de compras!! Ella está muy emocionada por su nueva hermanita también!!

Seth y yo celebramos nuestro octavo aniversario de bodas y estamos tan agradecidos con Dios por ayudarnos todos estos años y por ser el centro de nuestro matrimonio. No lo podríamos haber logrado sin Jesús.

Por favor manténganos en sus oraciones por todas las nuevas decisiones, aventuras y bendiciones que vendrán en los próximos meses. Que el Señor Jesús haga Su perfecta voluntad en nuestras vidas.

Esperamos que todos ustedes hayan sido bendecidos en muchas formas diferentes en el año que pasó y oramos que esta Navidad y Año Nuevo 2009 les acerque más al Señor Jesús y puedan llegar a sentir Su presencia, amor, paz y gozo.

Esperamos escuchar de ustedes pronto!

Our Little Tigger! / Nuestra Pequeña Tigger!!

Our Little One with her best friend Pato!
Nuestra pequeña con su mejor amigo Pato!

1st time voting ever! / Primera vez que vota en su vida!

Yeah! I am so excited I got to exercise my right to vote for the first time in my life.
This is since I became a citizen of the United States in December.
I never got to do it in my country of Costa Rica,
since I moved to the United States 5 days after I turned 18 yrs old.
(Of course as you all see I did an absentee ballot)
Sii! Estoy muy emocionada por poder ejercer mi derecho de votar por primera vez en mi vida.
Esto gracias a mi ciudadanía de los Estados Unidos recibida el diciembre pasado.
Yo nunca pude votar en mi país Costa Rica, ya que me mude a los Estados Unidos 5 días despúes de cumplir los 18 años.
(Claro como pueden ver hice mi voto por boleta ausente - por correo, en la conveniencia de mi hogar)

Our Little butterfly! / Nuestra Pequeña Mariposita!

For Gymnastics she had to dress up 2 different days!
How cute! She loved it.

Para ir a gimnasia ella debia vestirse de algo x 2 días!
Que ternura! A ella le fascinó!



My First Big Girl Bed / Mi Primera Cama de Niña Grande!



So here I am in my big girls bed. I love it!!
This is me and all my friends!!
Thank you Abuelito Sergio for the gift of the safety railings!
Así que aqui estoy en mi camita de niña grande. Me fascina!!
Aqui estoy yo y todos mis amiguitos!
Gracias abuelito Sergio por el regalito de las barandas!

Visit from Abuelita Rosy / Visita de abuelita Rosy

She came for only 8 days, but we had lots of fun!!


Ella vino por 8 días pero nos divertimos mucho!!
















More pics to come!! Más fotos por venir!!

Marcelle in Gymnastics / Marcelle en Gimnasia

She just started Gymnastics on September 9th.
She goes for 45 min twice a week.
She loves it so much and can't have enough of it! ;)
Ella comenzó gimnasia el 9 de setiembre.
Va por 45 min, 2 veces a la semana.
Ella se divierte tanto, que esos 2 días no le son suficientes! ;)


Jumping in the nest! Brincando en el nido!
Jumping side to side over the mat.
Brincando de lado a lado sobre el colchón.

Somersault! Vuelta carnera!



Trampoline jumps! Saltos en el trampolín!


Pre-announcing the new addition to our family / Pre-anunciando la nueva adición a nuestra familia

Dear family and friends,

We are so blessed to pre-announce the coming birth of our new

Baby Daughter / Sister

Due on February 25th, 2009

We are hoping you all may partner with us in prayer for the rest of the pregnancy (I am currently 21 weeks) and delivery. Also for the new adjustments that will come for Marcelle and everyone else in the family.

We are so excited and praise the Lord for giving us this beautiful gift and hope you all will meet her soon, too. Thank you in advance for your prayers and support.

With love,
Seth, Marcela and Marcelle

_______________________________________________________

Querida familia y amigos,

Estamos muy bendecidos en anunciar con anticipación el próximo nacimiento de nuestra nueva
Hija / Hermana

por nacer el 25 de febrero del 2009

Esperamos que todos ustedes nos apoyen a orar por el resto del embarazo (actualmente tengo 21 semanas) y el día del nacimiento. Además de los nuevos ajustes que vendrán para Marcelle y los otros miembros de la familia.

Estamos muy emocionados y alabamos al Señor por darnos tan bello regalo. Esperamos que también ustedes la puedan conocer pronto. Gracias de antemano por sus oraciones y apoyo.

Con mucho amor,
Seth, Marcela y Marcelle

Updating blog / Renovando el blog

I should be updating since our last post on July 4th!!!!

Keep checking for amazing news!!

Yo estaré renovando el blog desde la ultima fecha del 4 de julio!!!

Continuen revisando para informarse de noticias maravillosas!!

Risk-Taking and Dependance

"We know that giving God control of our lives
requires an incredible act of faith.
But from this surrender comes eternal joys.
God is both dangerous and good.
Following him is a risk-taking adventure,
dependent on a miraculous God."
*****************************
"The Lord asks us to follow Him wherever He leads,
and the risk that we take is to do just this - follow Him wherever -
regardless of what we think is best. And the true dependance sets in.
When we take risks and allow the Lord to show Himself
worthy of our dependance on Him,
the outcome is a wonderful adventure
that we couldn't have come up with ourselves."
-Faith, iteams missionary

4th of July Celebration!

Today is Mami's 1st 4th of July as a citizen of the US.
Hoy es el 1er 4 de Julio de Mami como ciudadana de los Estados Unidos.
Happy 4th!
Picnic dinner with my friends!!
Cena picnic con mis amigos!!
Nina's special nectarine-blueberry pie. Amazingly delicious!!
Especialidad de Nina: pastel de arándanos y nectarines. Maravillosamente delicioso!!
Flexibility!!
Flexibilidad!!
Fireworks at the Mira Mesa Community Park with our friends!!
Juego de pólvora en el parque comunal de Mira Mesa con nuestros amigos!!

The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent: For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offencesFor abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands. He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated:
Column 1
Georgia: Button Gwinnett Lyman Hall George Walton
Column 2
North Carolina: William Hooper Joseph Hewes John Penn
South Carolina: Edward Rutledge Thomas Heyward, Jr. Thomas Lynch, Jr. Arthur Middleton
Column 3
Massachusetts:John HancockMaryland:Samuel ChaseWilliam PacaThomas StoneCharles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia:George WytheRichard Henry LeeThomas JeffersonBenjamin HarrisonThomas Nelson, Jr.Francis Lightfoot LeeCarter Braxton
Column 4
Pennsylvania: Robert Morris Benjamin Rush Benjamin Franklin John Morton George Clymer James Smith George Taylor James Wilson George Ross
Delaware: Caesar Rodney George Read Thomas McKean
Column 5
New York: William Floyd Philip Livingston Francis Lewis Lewis Morris
New Jersey: Richard Stockton John Witherspoon Francis Hopkinson John Hart Abraham Clark
Column 6
New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett William Whipple
Massachusetts: Samuel Adams John Adams Robert Treat Paine Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins William Ellery
Connecticut: Roger Sherman Samuel Huntington William Williams Oliver Wolcott
New Hampshire: Matthew Thornton

1st Paintings! / Primeras Pinturas

What am I supposed to do again?
Qué es lo que debo hacer?
Humm!

With sponges is fun too!

Con esponjitas esta divertido también!

Splash at Scripps!!



Happy Papis Day!

Feliz Día del Padre!!


Con mucho amor para
mi Papá y
mi abuelito Sergio!!

Y para todos los papás en nuestra familia y amigos!!
Son muy especiales para nosotros!! Gracias por estar siempre ahi para nosotros!!


With lots of love
for my daddy and
my grandpa Sergio!!

And to all the daddy's in our family and friends!!
You are very special to us. Thank you for being there for us!!

Father's Day Fun!

Doing what he loves best: walk to Trestles Beach.
Haciendo lo que más le gusta: caminando hacia la playa Trestles.Daddy surfing at Trestles.
Papá surfeando Trestles.
Me and Papá at the beach at Trestles.
Papá y yo en la playa Trestles.
Swimming at Uncle Greeyvin and Aunt Xinia's pool...and Tobi too.
(As Marcelle will say, she will always finish this sentence.)
Nadando en la piscina de Tios Greeyvin y Xinia...y Tobi
(como terminaría la oración Marcelle.)

Can't forget the bike tricks!!
No se pueden olvidar los trucos en la bicicleta!!

Saxophon dance / Danza del Saxofon

She is really an actress!!

I laughed so much to the point of crying!!

Relax and enjoy!!

Verdaderamente ella es toda una actriz!!

Me rei tanto hasta llorar!!

Relánjense y disfruten!!

Family Cookies Night / Noche de Galletitas Familiares



We decided to make sugar cookies together as a family
and it was a lot of fun!
Decidimos hacer galletitas juntitos como familia
y nos divertimos muchísimo!!

Feliz Día de la Madre, Mami!!


I am so thankful to the Lord,
for he gave me the oportunity to have
such a wonderful husband and daughter.
Estoy muy agradecida con Dios
porque me dió la oportunidad de tener
a tan especial esposito y hijita.

I am TWO!! Tengo 2 añitos!!


God has blessed me again and again
with His Love, joy, peace, life, health
and a beautiful family and friends that support me.
Thank you for being part of my life!

Dios me ha bendecido continuamente
con Su amor, paz, gozo, vida, salud,
y una maravillosa familia y amigos que me apoyan.
Gracias por ser parte de mi vida!


"For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
Psalm 139:13-14


"Tú creaste mis entrañas;
me formaste en el vientre de mi madre.
¡Te alabo porque soy una creación admirable!
¡Tus obras son maravillosas, y esto lo sé muy bien!"
Salmo 139:13-14

Mammoth Vacation! Vacación en Mammoth!

With the Mammoth and Grandma Karin.
Con el gran mammoth y abuelita Karin.

Enjoying the snow that's falling on us!!
Disfrutando de la nieve que caía sobre nosotros!!

Schat's bakery. Had to stop there for an amazing fresh bread.
Panadería Schat's . Teníamos que parar ahi para un delicioso pan fresco.




Mammoth mountain and all the fun!!
Montaña Mammoth con toda su diversión!









Snow on my nose!!
Nieve en mi nariz!!










Daddy and uncle Dan going up!!
Papá y tío Dan van subiendo!!











Our family and uncle Dan!
Nuestra familia con tío Dan!





Visiting my friends!!
Visitando a mis amiguitos!!



The Eagle part of the mountain.
El Aguila, la otra parte de la montaña.










With the funny Mammoth!
Con el curioso Mammoth!















Nothing like snow and sand at the playground!!
Nada como tener nieve y arena en el play!!


























A mommy and baby bear hug!!
Un abrazo a mamá y bebé osito!!










I had to take a picture with the cow with eyeglasses and my new eyeglasses!!
Tuve que tomarme una foto con la vaca con anteojos y mis nuevos anteojitos!!










Happy New Year 2011!!

Saludos desde Cordova (Memphis) TN...

Greetings from Cordova (Memphis), TN...

Esperamos esten siendo bendecidos grandemente. Gracias por visitarnos!

Hoping you are being blessed.
Thank you for visiting us!