Hello Family and Friends, As some of you may know - I married my best friend a little over a month ago on June 7th 2008 out here in West Virginia - my new home. David and I are excited about our upcoming trip to So. Cali where we'll be for a few days before heading off Phoenix, AZ for our church World Conference. As our time in So Cali is limited, we've planned for a special celebration with my side or shall I say now "our" side of family & friends who weren't able to make it on our Big Day. So, David, my husband (a native New Yorker) and I both invite you to share in our joy, view our wedding video and photo albums while celebrating with us while we're in town. We plan to visit his hometown and make our way the Dominican Republic to visit his family on our next getaway. :) Invite is below: For those whom don't get graphics: Date: Sunday, July 27th Time: 3:00-5:30pm Place: Ontario, CA - Clubhouse off the 10 fwy -Vine/D Streets - near the Ontario Convention Center. Hope you can make it - if not know that you are loved and missed!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Letter to friends....(07/14/08 Carmen & David's Wedding Fiesta July 27th!)
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Letter to friends (05/28/08 10 days til I say "I do"!)
I'm Counting Down for the day I will marry my Best
>Friend. Time has passed by so fast I could hardly
>believe - Life, Ministry, Work, School, Family, and
>now Love :) has been at times, overly consuming
>especially as Wedding Plans have been well underway.
>Before, my body becomes One with another, I figured I
>should write at least one more update. Also, it was
>about time I wrote another journal to capture these
>once in a lifetime moments.
>
>I've been residing with my parents in West Virginia
>for 8 whole months now, having relocated back in
>September 2007, leaving my work, apt, friends, family,
>church and home in California. Since being here,
>things havn't been easy. I experienced my first
>snow-filled winter, totaled my car on the icy December
>country roads, and nearly ran over bambi's entire
>family (deer) on my commutes to work and bible
>studies. Despite being so far away from home, God has
>helped me to open my heart and make room to call WV my
>new home. (ahhh - trip out on that).
>
>Even though I live here with family, I had not lived
>with parents for five years leading up to my moving
>here. Although their support has been incredible, I
>am so grateful that God has allowed David to be in my
>life or this transition. God knew that David would be
>instrumental in helping me adjust to West Virginia
>life so that i can be a happier, more adjusted and
>content California girl among the hillbilly's and
>mountaineer folks out here. I'll never forget the
>times I spent this past winter, shoveling snow and
>hard ice covering my entire car just so I can go to
>work. Then on those rough winter nights when I'd have
>to shovel a snow-covered driveway at 1am to park my
>car after a long night at work :) (David would
>encourage me over the phone and remind me of God's
>sense of humor and plans for me) Gracias mi amor...
>I committed to serving with my family out here in the
>ministries God entrusted them with and boy has it been
>a committment. But God has been faithful, seeing me
>through every event, determining my steps every single
>day.
>
>Now we just got back from an East coast Women's
>retreat held May 23-25th which was planned by our very
>own "Women of Power" at Praise chapel Terra Alta.
>Endless hours went into planning the event but God
>definitely showed up and I'd have to say it was the
>best retreat I have ever attended. I definitely took
>a step "out of the boat" and unloaded several things
>that were keeping me comfortably inside of it. The
>these was "Stepping out of the Boat" based on the
>scripture "we have been crucified through Christ and
>we live by faith knowing that Christ lives inside of
>us" (Galations 2). Over 80 Women joined together at
>Lakeview Resort in Morgantown from over 7 different
>churches across the East coast, in PA and WV. We were
>more blessed to have Sister Maria Corral from PC Las
>Vegas also join us along with another sister from her
>church. The weekend could not have gone any better.
>
>Regarding my career. I'm still working at the
>drug/alcohol treatment center and purposing every day
>to share love with the adolecent clients. Doors are
>opening and on several occassions, clients have asked
>me to pray for and with them so that they would sleep
>peacefully, for their families, court hearings, and
>strength to make it another day. My heart breaks as
>the teenage clients share with me their past
>eperiences with abuse, rape, abondonment and
>prostituting their bodies as a means of obtaining
>drugs, and in attempt to find love. When I committed
>to moving out here, I knew a big ministry I would
>serve with would be the youth - little did I know, it
>would be youth not from the church as I assumed, but I
>would be serving the youth on the streets whom have
>little to no hope in their futures, let alone their
>Savior. Continue to pray with and for me as I allow
>God's light to shine through me and ultimitaly
>shedding light into their lives so that they will draw
>near to its Creator.
>
>God is so faithful and I know He has me there for such
>a time as this. In going back to School this August
>for my Masters in Social Work degree, turns out, this
>facility will serve as my fieldwork placement as
>well...paid Internship...Amen! Where do I sign?
>
>So yes, life is busy, has been and will probably
>always be..but I'm loving life and looking forward to
>everything the future holds, for me, for my marriage
>with David, family, ministries, friends and everything
>else.
>
>10 Days and counting...David moved into our new home
>together and has been preparing the place for his
>bride. Remember that God is so good and He does give
>you the desires of your heart, when you trust Him and
>put Him first in your life.
>
>Til next time -
>God Bless You and Yours
>
>Carmen Renteria
>Friend. Time has passed by so fast I could hardly
>believe - Life, Ministry, Work, School, Family, and
>now Love :) has been at times, overly consuming
>especially as Wedding Plans have been well underway.
>Before, my body becomes One with another, I figured I
>should write at least one more update. Also, it was
>about time I wrote another journal to capture these
>once in a lifetime moments.
>
>I've been residing with my parents in West Virginia
>for 8 whole months now, having relocated back in
>September 2007, leaving my work, apt, friends, family,
>church and home in California. Since being here,
>things havn't been easy. I experienced my first
>snow-filled winter, totaled my car on the icy December
>country roads, and nearly ran over bambi's entire
>family (deer) on my commutes to work and bible
>studies. Despite being so far away from home, God has
>helped me to open my heart and make room to call WV my
>new home. (ahhh - trip out on that).
>
>Even though I live here with family, I had not lived
>with parents for five years leading up to my moving
>here. Although their support has been incredible, I
>am so grateful that God has allowed David to be in my
>life or this transition. God knew that David would be
>instrumental in helping me adjust to West Virginia
>life so that i can be a happier, more adjusted and
>content California girl among the hillbilly's and
>mountaineer folks out here. I'll never forget the
>times I spent this past winter, shoveling snow and
>hard ice covering my entire car just so I can go to
>work. Then on those rough winter nights when I'd have
>to shovel a snow-covered driveway at 1am to park my
>car after a long night at work :) (David would
>encourage me over the phone and remind me of God's
>sense of humor and plans for me) Gracias mi amor...
>I committed to serving with my family out here in the
>ministries God entrusted them with and boy has it been
>a committment. But God has been faithful, seeing me
>through every event, determining my steps every single
>day.
>
>Now we just got back from an East coast Women's
>retreat held May 23-25th which was planned by our very
>own "Women of Power" at Praise chapel Terra Alta.
>Endless hours went into planning the event but God
>definitely showed up and I'd have to say it was the
>best retreat I have ever attended. I definitely took
>a step "out of the boat" and unloaded several things
>that were keeping me comfortably inside of it. The
>these was "Stepping out of the Boat" based on the
>scripture "we have been crucified through Christ and
>we live by faith knowing that Christ lives inside of
>us" (Galations 2). Over 80 Women joined together at
>Lakeview Resort in Morgantown from over 7 different
>churches across the East coast, in PA and WV. We were
>more blessed to have Sister Maria Corral from PC Las
>Vegas also join us along with another sister from her
>church. The weekend could not have gone any better.
>
>Regarding my career. I'm still working at the
>drug/alcohol treatment center and purposing every day
>to share love with the adolecent clients. Doors are
>opening and on several occassions, clients have asked
>me to pray for and with them so that they would sleep
>peacefully, for their families, court hearings, and
>strength to make it another day. My heart breaks as
>the teenage clients share with me their past
>eperiences with abuse, rape, abondonment and
>prostituting their bodies as a means of obtaining
>drugs, and in attempt to find love. When I committed
>to moving out here, I knew a big ministry I would
>serve with would be the youth - little did I know, it
>would be youth not from the church as I assumed, but I
>would be serving the youth on the streets whom have
>little to no hope in their futures, let alone their
>Savior. Continue to pray with and for me as I allow
>God's light to shine through me and ultimitaly
>shedding light into their lives so that they will draw
>near to its Creator.
>
>God is so faithful and I know He has me there for such
>a time as this. In going back to School this August
>for my Masters in Social Work degree, turns out, this
>facility will serve as my fieldwork placement as
>well...paid Internship...Amen! Where do I sign?
>
>So yes, life is busy, has been and will probably
>always be..but I'm loving life and looking forward to
>everything the future holds, for me, for my marriage
>with David, family, ministries, friends and everything
>else.
>
>10 Days and counting...David moved into our new home
>together and has been preparing the place for his
>bride. Remember that God is so good and He does give
>you the desires of your heart, when you trust Him and
>put Him first in your life.
>
>Til next time -
>God Bless You and Yours
>
>Carmen Renteria
Monday, April 28, 2008
Letter to friends...(04/28/09 Pregnancy Update)
To my family and friends,
This will probably be the last update til the baby comes...Got less than 2 weeks to go and I'm feeling tremendousely blessed and happy to be feeling energized and great. Everything in this pregnancy has been perfect and my midwife and I are preparing for a natural and healthy delivery in the next days or weeks (hopefully days)...The weather is heating up making life a little less comfortable but nevertheless David and I are anticipating the arrival of our first little one.
Just wanted to thank you for all of your support, love and prayers. Even though we may not communicate on a regular basis due to life changes, the cross-country distance between us, or having grown apart, know that you at one point played a specal part in my life and for that, I want to continue to be in communication with you and hope be updated on your life as well..
Truly, I don't know what God has planned20for David and I from here but we are definitely enjoying the ride and will soon be enjoying it with our son. My last day of my first year of graduate school is tomorrow and then its all about waiting for that moment when I say "I think its time" ---haha, the drama behind it all right...anyway, til next time - God Bless you all!
p.s. if you want to be taken off of this list for whatever reason, just let me know - thx
Sincerely,
Carmen Abreu
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