MEET IRIS & HER FAMILY
OUR STORY
About me: I have been married to my loving husband Manny for going on 12 years. I am blessed to be the mother of 3 beautiful children, Xaigtlean, Jomari & Cade. I am a health-nut, neat-freak and thrive on serving others and connecting them to Jesus. Most importantly, I am passionate about honoring God with my whole life--including my health.
I grew up in a very small town, Earth, TX. I am the daughter of Angie & Oscar Castillo and sister to two brothers, Oscar & Justin, and one sister, Ida. I attended college at Iowa State University for my undergraduate degree in Athletic Training. I moved back to Texas to get my Master’s at Texas Tech University, and was a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer for the softball and volleyball teams. I finished up my Master's degree in Athletic Training and Sports Management in 2005.
About Manny: Manny was born and raised in Houston, TX. He is the son of Manuel & Rosalinda Ramirez. He has one sister, Rosalinda, and one brother, Angel. He received a full scholarship to play football at Texas Tech from 2001-2006. He majored in Exercise & Sport Science. Manny was drafted in 2007 by the Detroit Lions. He then was released in 2010 and signed with the Denver Broncos in 2011. After 4 years, he was traded back to the Lions in 2015. He had signed with the Chicago Bears for the 2016 season, but retired in June and is now pursuing a coaching career at Texas Tech!
About Us: Manny & I met at Texas Tech in 2003. We dated for a couple of years, and then got married in July of 2006. Manny finished his senior season and then got drafted into the NFL the following year by the Detroit Lions. Xaigtlean was born later that same year in September. We moved to Michigan with Manny in October. We loved our time there and learned so much about ourselves, our faith and the goodness of God.
In October 2010, Manny was released from the team the day after we found out Jomari was on the way. So, we moved to Earth and remodeled a house to make our permanent home until God opened the next door.
We waited the entire season for a team to pick us up, but no one did. In January 2011, Denver offered Manny a 1-year contract. Jomari was born that May and we moved to Denver the next season. Our time in Denver was amazing!! We made lifelong friends and truly enjoyed everything about our experience!
That following year, God led us to start Foundations 6:19 in February of 2012 in Earth, TX. It has been such a blessing to share our faith journey with others through health & fitness. (Learn more about how we got started and how we have grown since HERE.)
We stayed in Denver through April 2015, when Manny was traded back to the Detroit Lions! We also were pregnant at this time and welcomed Baby Cade in October 2015!
Manny began training with the Chicago Bears in March. He then made the decision to retire in June! He started working with the Texas Tech football team in August of 2016 in player development as he learned about coaching under his former teammate Brandon Jones.
We also co-own a healthy eating restaurant, Muscle Maker Grill in Lubbock, TX. If you're local, we'd love to help you meal plan and prep for your health and fitness goals!
*UPDATE: Manny worked with Texas Tech through the fall season of 2018. He is now looking forward to being the Offensive Coordinator for the Springlake-Earth Wolverines as he teaches Physical Education in 2019.
THANK YOU for being a part of what God is doing in and through us!
BLESSINGS,
iris
I grew up in a very small town, Earth, TX. I am the daughter of Angie & Oscar Castillo and sister to two brothers, Oscar & Justin, and one sister, Ida. I attended college at Iowa State University for my undergraduate degree in Athletic Training. I moved back to Texas to get my Master’s at Texas Tech University, and was a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer for the softball and volleyball teams. I finished up my Master's degree in Athletic Training and Sports Management in 2005.
About Manny: Manny was born and raised in Houston, TX. He is the son of Manuel & Rosalinda Ramirez. He has one sister, Rosalinda, and one brother, Angel. He received a full scholarship to play football at Texas Tech from 2001-2006. He majored in Exercise & Sport Science. Manny was drafted in 2007 by the Detroit Lions. He then was released in 2010 and signed with the Denver Broncos in 2011. After 4 years, he was traded back to the Lions in 2015. He had signed with the Chicago Bears for the 2016 season, but retired in June and is now pursuing a coaching career at Texas Tech!
About Us: Manny & I met at Texas Tech in 2003. We dated for a couple of years, and then got married in July of 2006. Manny finished his senior season and then got drafted into the NFL the following year by the Detroit Lions. Xaigtlean was born later that same year in September. We moved to Michigan with Manny in October. We loved our time there and learned so much about ourselves, our faith and the goodness of God.
In October 2010, Manny was released from the team the day after we found out Jomari was on the way. So, we moved to Earth and remodeled a house to make our permanent home until God opened the next door.
We waited the entire season for a team to pick us up, but no one did. In January 2011, Denver offered Manny a 1-year contract. Jomari was born that May and we moved to Denver the next season. Our time in Denver was amazing!! We made lifelong friends and truly enjoyed everything about our experience!
That following year, God led us to start Foundations 6:19 in February of 2012 in Earth, TX. It has been such a blessing to share our faith journey with others through health & fitness. (Learn more about how we got started and how we have grown since HERE.)
We stayed in Denver through April 2015, when Manny was traded back to the Detroit Lions! We also were pregnant at this time and welcomed Baby Cade in October 2015!
Manny began training with the Chicago Bears in March. He then made the decision to retire in June! He started working with the Texas Tech football team in August of 2016 in player development as he learned about coaching under his former teammate Brandon Jones.
We also co-own a healthy eating restaurant, Muscle Maker Grill in Lubbock, TX. If you're local, we'd love to help you meal plan and prep for your health and fitness goals!
*UPDATE: Manny worked with Texas Tech through the fall season of 2018. He is now looking forward to being the Offensive Coordinator for the Springlake-Earth Wolverines as he teaches Physical Education in 2019.
THANK YOU for being a part of what God is doing in and through us!
BLESSINGS,
iris
