Christmas 2010

It is a day before Christmas eve.  Yes, we celebrate Christmas Eve, like all Hispanic families.  I don't exactly find Christmas as exciting as it was when I was a young little girl, or a teenager.  Now I find more of a nostalgic side to it.  I tend to start thinking of how Christmas was for me before, before I grew up and had kids of my own.  When I was a kid myself.  When my parents would do the best they could to make it a happy time for us Seven kids in the house.  In the midst of our poverty, it seems it never had anything to do with presents.. the only gift I remember clearly is some perfumed talcum powder my mom wrapped for me.  As simple as it was I know it came with all of my mothers love.  My mother's love is the best gift I ever received.. and a gift I treasure and still look back on.  I love Christmas because of the love that is felt.. among my family, among friends.  I will try to make it yet another great Christmas for my children.. and thank God for all the blessings this year has brought to our family.

This is my Family

I enjoy the blessing of my children.   

I am not afraid to let it be known how very much I love my children.

I will always let everyone know my children come first.

My husband is my biggest treasure.... my companion... my best friend.

Bullying

I know bullying has been around forever, but recently there have been horrific outcomes due to bullying.  It saddens me deeply to know there are parents out there who have gone through the devastating nightmare of losing a child.  I can't begin to know or feel what those parents have lived through.  There is no greater love than that for a child, for a child you have brought into this world.  And I think the responsible ones are the parents of those bullies.  I have seen parents with very young children, at parks, in public places.. oh goodness I can remember having my kids at a fast food playground, and seeing parents stand by while their children bullied other kids.  Why do parents find pride in such bad behavior?  why can't all parents be educated and civilized?  I know we aren't all good parents. I feel I am, and I know I am.  I have done what I can to teach my children good.  I always told my children to walk away from bullying, to never be part of some one picking on some one else.  Never to join in or even laugh at some one else s troubles.  We need to teach our children love and care for all that surrounds them, and most of all to value LIFE and the life of others.  What, I ask myself - has led to children being so cold and inhumane????.

I'm just Enjoying life as is

I have learned to find my own happiness....  and as it turns out to be it's actually the easiest thing to do!!  I'm surrounded by love and love comes out of me.  I give love and I receive love.  Money isn't everything, and it isn't what produces happiness.  Money is needed to keep living comfortably, yes we need to pay the bills and buy groceries.. but does it give me happiness to know I have money in the bank? no it doesn't.  What makes me happy???   


Hearing them say "I love you Mom" when they get off the car at school in the morning.
Looking at my kids  faces when I pick them up from school.
Sitting for dinner and seeing my children enjoying their meal.
Having prepared a meal for my family.
Being home and not at some office working.
Hugging my husband and feeling that warmth I only feel when I'm close to him.
Walking into the room after a night bathroom visit, and seeing my husband in bed.
Being in love with my husband.
Being Grateful to God for all he gives us.


Happiness is so easy to attain........  Don't complicate it...... let it flow in and out of your heart  :)

New cooking blog

I'm excited about starting a new cooking blog.  I have always found it hard for the new cook to not run out of ideas on what to cook for dinner.  Sometimes you will get in the groove of cooking the same thing over and over, and before long you will here it from your loved ones....  "didn't we just have this a few days ago?"  and so the inspiration for my new blog came along.  In hopes that I will help the home cook, with some ideas on meals that can easily be prepared.  for starters I added my favorite recipe of all... Chicken Parmigiana.    Hope you will check it out and keep coming back to it once in a while for new ideas .

Kids going back to school.

Wow, this summer went by so fast.  I feel like we were just out celebrating Gilbert's graduation from Middle School, and now my precious son is about to start High School tomorrow.  I think this summer seemed especially short because of the change in weather.  It wasn't as hot as it's been other years.  So makes sense that the days went by fast unlike the long hot days of summer... from years past.  I'm a little sad because it will be my Moni's last year in school, a year from now, she will be attending college and on her way to an amazing future.  I believe in that girl like you don't imagine.  She has the most beautiful of qualities and most of all such confidence in all she does, she is truly someone I am most proud of.   My little Andrew will still be off for another two weeks, so it's Mommy-Andrew time all the way!  I have a few things planned for us.... a few surprises :)

Parenting done right

(pictures of my children when they were small)

I don't claim to be the world's best parent, but I do claim on being a good parent.  To start, I have read quite a few books on the subject, and the most important thing of all might be that I took advice from the elders......which would be my Mom and my Mother-in law.  I tend to believe whole-heartedly in these amazing women....who have proven to do the right thiing....since My husband and I turned out pretty descent..if I say so myself.  So, from them I took lots of great advice and then added some of what I read in books...and voila! the perfect mix was born, and hence .... my kids aren't that bad at all.  The highest on my list will always be respect.  Respect towards my children from my part...and in return oh how wonderful and what a blessing to have your children's respect.  Nothing like being loved by your children and knowing they are great kids.  I forsee a great future with my grown children....  I have put lots of love and time into them so they better turn out okay.. hahaha I will just have to cross my fingers and pray that I have taught them well.

Been missing out in the Blog world......

Hi friends,
I'm so sorry I've been so distant these past weeks... months.. I've been hooked on something well known for hooking people :  FaceBook!!  yes I have fallen a prisoner to Facebook.  I love the way it's a community, and I get to stay in touch with friends and family instantly. It's a great way to stay connected with family. 
Marcial got me a really neat hp mini.  It's so light and easy to carry around all ove the house.  It's really cool.....
for now a recent picture of me and my sweetheart :)

New hair color

Okay so here is a picture of me and my new haircolor.......which probably happens to be the color I was born with...but it's been so long that now I don't remember what color my hair really is.  I was in dire need of dying my hair, and I wasn't about to go to make a trip to Target for the sole purpose of buying a box of haircolor, so I went and looked in my bathroom, and there in the bottom drawer, was a little box of haircolor.  I was happy to have found it, so I went ahead and did my usual haircoloring routine.  But as I rinsed it out, and blow dried my hair...........oh no!!! how dark it looked!!  now I remembered why the box was sitting there unused.......I had bought it on sale and grabbed two boxes of it, and just to find out it wasn't the color I wanted.  But that's what I get for storing things I don't want to use.  Well, all in all I'm not that upset about it, I think I can grow to like it.  It's just a little darker than usual......but it's fine :)

What am I thinking lately?

Sometimes I actually just feel tired.......not so much physically.......I don't know, I just feel a yearning for a quiet retreat..... a getaway maybe, a place of tranquility and beauty.  Might just be that my body and mind are in need of some beautiful scenery which hopefully would come accompanied by very nice weather.  It's been a rainy winter, which we really needed here in Southern California.  But being indoors isn't too motivating or spiritually filling.  I find God's beauty in all I see around me, but mostly in nature.  I might take a little trip soon........a little day trip with my little Max, on a day when the sun is out.  Maybe a little drive out to the beach to look at the amazing Ocean God has created for us all.  That's what I need!!!  a trip to the ocean.  Then my eyes and my spirit will be renewed with Gods grandeur. 

Things I've been thinking about.......

Lately I've been thinking of how time has gone by faster than usual.  For one, I can't really believe that my Moni will soon be turning 17.  It's so amazing to me because I can so clearly remember when I was that age.  and to think I will be having to graduations the end of this school year. Gilbert moving on to High School and little Andrew moving on to Middle School.  Wow, how my kids grew fast.........yet, I have enjoyed my kids with all my heart.  They have made every year an amazing one for me.........since the first days of becoming a mom to my moni....to the very day I realized how much they had grown. I thank God for all he has given me and for all he surprises me with daily.  I look forward to another amazing year full of love and happiness.....surrounded by my loves.

Busy days

I notice I haven't done much posting lately, I've been so busy with home and watching Max.  He is now 10 mo. old and he is a handful, he is crawling all over the place.  He is still such a good baby, he is always happy for the most part.  He's a blessing, such a great kid to watch.  My little Max.
 Well, all is still the same in my house....my kids are growing..putting in their time in school........now looking forward to Easter vacation. I'm just enjoying them as they are, since I know soon enough they will be leading their own lives.........because that is how life is.  I love my children and they will always be a treasure in my life.  My husband of course being my first love in every single way......my biggest love.....always.  Wow, we are celebrating our 20th anniversary this year....somehow, that makes me feel kind of old, yet I still feel young and I still feel so deeply in love with him.  Maybe ours is the exception, to all those other people who complain about being married too long.  I still feel the same love as I did when we were dating.  I love this guy....lots.

Happy New Years

A very happy New Year to all.  A new year full of new dreams and hopes.  But still we are entering with the same heart full of joy and love for others.  Let's not change the kindness that lives within us........let's go through life being kind to one another.  We are the greatest benefices when we are the ones giving love.  Making others happy is a gift that leaves the greater behind for us..........the feeling of happiness and peace.