11 Years Ago Today...

My Warrior was born. He's such a blessing. He's the youngest of five and answered prayer to his sisters. My Knight and I looked forward to having a quiver full.

When I think about him, I think about the things he says, the things he does. I see his facial expressions. I see his little hands. I see what I call "beauty marks" but other's might call a freckle or birthmark. I see the love or twinkle in his eyes or the mischievous smile. I feel the warmth of his hugs, his tender loving kisses which he's always ready to give. I see him standing there ready for me to pat his hinnie cause he knows I'm going to walk by him "reach out" and pat him. I hear and see him get excited when his sister's are home from a day school. I see him looking lovingly into his Nicodemus' (our Golden Retriever) eyes. I hear him get all excited cause he completed all levels of a video game in record time. I see him cry while watching soldiers die in a movie. I hear him stand up to a bully and defend the one being picked on. I see his tender heart. I see his love for justice and truth. How can I describe him? I can't find the words to express who he is or how he is. If you could only see through my eyes...

Happy 11th Birthday Sweetie... I love you more than words could say.

Florence Nightingales

I'm blessed beyond measure. I feel loved and cherished. My Knight and my children do their utmost to look after me. Not only when I'm well, but specially when I'm not.

Let me start off by saying that I have an EXTREMELY sweet tooth. I LOVE my sweets. If I didn't have children, I would eat my dessert BEFORE I would eat my dinner. If I could get away with it, I would eat a piece of cake and coke for breakfast. My ideal snack would be cookies, cake or chips with coke. Not only do I love sweets, but I love junk food. When it comes to food, I'm not one to set a good example. Well, to be honest, I'm not one to set a good example about many things. But right now, I'm talking about food and my "bad" (good to me) eating habits. Since I know about my sweet tooth, I'm very careful about having a good brushing habit. Like the dentist says, "only take care of the teeth you want to keep!" So, I'm a little OCD about that. If I wasn't how would I be able to eat all my sweets?!

Monday I had a "procedure" done. Now a days everything is called a "procedure". What did I have done? I had my 2nd molar extracted. Turns out that it had cracked and I hadn't noticed. My dentist wasn't able to crown it, so it had to come out. But he couldn't do it, because of it's angle. So I had to have an oral & maxillofacial surgeon do the work.

I was his first case of the day. My appointment was at 8am. That in itself, is a problem. You seem, I am not a "morning" person. Not that I wake up grouchy or can't function. It's that I'm a "night owl". I can stay up until 2-3 am with no problem. I rather be up at night, than be up early. The bigger problem was... that in order for me to have my "procedure" done, I have to take an antibiotic before I have any type of dental work (even a cleaning) or any type of surgery. The reason for that is because I have a shunt in my head. The antibiotic is to prevent any "potential" infection. Well, I had to take my antibiotic 2 hours prior to my appointment. That meant, I had to be up at 6am! Now, I know I'm sounding like a girlie girl, but I'm not use to being up at that time. Well, there are times that I am trying to go to sleep at that time, but that's another story, for another day.

I had opted to be "put out" for my procedure. Well, wouldn't you? I didn't want to "hear" anything that was going to go on. He had no trouble finding my veins. I've been told I'm a dream come true for a Phlebotomist. My Knight was in the room with me until I drifted away to La La Land. Next thing I knew, I was being asked to walk into the recovery room. I must of drifted off, cause then I was being walked to my carriage. I don't remember the ride home. I can't even recall getting into my pj's.

I've been able to rest and recover nicely, thanks to my beloved family. They're all so nice to me. Also due to some prescribed pain medication. PRAISE THE LORD for those! It's also helped with my headache. I get a doozy of a headache whenever I see the dentist. You see, in order to work on someone's teeth, the dentist has to hyper extend the patient's neck, so he can have a better look while he works. For a person like me, who has chiari malformation, and cranial settling, hyper extending the neck is not a good thing. I have headaches for days. The numbing and tingling gets worse. The intracranial pressure gets worse, even though I have a shunt. But after a few days, things settle down.

There is a lits of things I can't have for 6 weeks. That, I can deal with. My biggest dilemma... I can't have any coke for 48 hours! Oy vey!

Why Am I So Unfocused?

Since I was little I've always enjoyed reading. I know this will come across as being boastful and I'm sorry about that, but I was very proud of my spelling and grammar. I wouldn't correct others, but I expected perfection from myself. Math was at the bottom of my list. Sports, History and anything having to do with reading was my favorite in school.

So why does my writing come across so unfocused? Why do I skip from topic to topic? Why is my grammar and spelling so bad? Well, here's why...

When I was about 14 years old, I started to have bad headaches. In 1982, at the age of 19, I was diagnosed with migraines. I was given a shot of demerol and phenergan, when ever I had the "migraine". I never thought to question my doctors. After all, they've gone to medical school and they are were the experts. No x-rays were taken. No MRI's were done.

Early in 1993, I started to have some numbing sensations in my fingers and hands. I was told I had carpal tunnel syndrome. Was given some braces and sent on my way. It sounded logical. I was working more with computers and was writing more.

During my 4th pregnancy (1993) my symptoms began to increase and get more frequent. I wasn't the "typical" case, so I went on for a couple of years with different symptoms before being officially diagnosed and treated in 1999. At that time I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, also known as SLE.

In September of 2003, I was diagnosed with chiari malformation 2 w/ 12mm herniation and hydrocephalus. To tell you the truth I was relieved. One might think, "What are you talking about? What is that?! How can you be relieved?!" Well, at least now I know what I have. Now, I know it wasn't all in my head, well it was, but not really..... LOL! My brain is herniating 12mm down into my spinal cord. No wonder I'm so smart. My head can't contain all my brain! :o) Hydrocephalus is cerebrospinal fluid build up in the brain. By this time I had had 5 MRI's. The surgeon said that the chiari malformation was evident in ALL of my MRI's. It had been overlooked.

In the winter of 2003, I had my first brain surgery. I had a shunt installed in my brain. It helps to relieve the fluid build up and drains it into my abdomen. I know this sounds "Frankensteinish" but to look at me, you couldn't tell there is anything wrong with me. I was in the hospital for about one week,due to having a chemical unbalance. Recovery from this surgery took about 4 months.

In the summer of 2004, I had my second brain surgery. I had a procedure called, Decompression with duraplasty and laminectomy of C1. I know, it's sounds "Midevelish". Recovery from this surgery took over a year. But I am now able to cheer, holler and scream without passing out. :o)

I share all this because it might help some one else that also has chiari malformation or lupus. I use to be very active. I enjoyed horseback riding and doing aerobics. I played on a women's softball team, played volleyball, snow skied, and spent lots of times in the outdoors. Due to the lupus, I can't be out in the sun long. Having chiari, I can't do activities that cause my head to shake or bobble. So I am not allowed to run, ride horses or any of the other activities I use to do. If my brain continues to herniate, it would cause paralysis. Stress causes my lupus to flare up. Once I'm in a flare up, it takes me anywhere from 2 days to weeks to recover.

I have had to change my lifestyle. I've had to "de-stress" my life. It hasn't been easy, because I really enjoyed playing sports, but it was necessary. I was in denial for a long time. Then I realized that if I didn't change, not only would I suffer, but my beloved family would suffer too. Now, I don't over commit. My life is simpler now.

I just noticed that I shared the "why" I come across so unfocused. Well, I have trouble processing my thoughts. When I write my thoughts, it looks exactly like what I think I'm writing. Yet, not all the words get written (or typed). As for my spelling, I know how to spell it, but when I type, I type the letters in the wrong order. Even though I "know" that "their" means it belongs to someone and "there" means a place, I'll type it wrong. I "know" how to spell my, but I type "mi". Oh, and it's not because I'm Spanish. LOL! I'm also getting more forgetful. It's not that I'm not focusing. It's the chiari.

There is no cure for chiari malformation. The decompression only helps alleviate, the pressure. Once the brain herniates, it can't go back up. A whiplash can cause my brain to herniate further into my spinal cord. A trip to the dentist could cause more herniation. That's because they hyper extend your neck to clean your teeth or do work on them. Oh, just in case you are wondering, I do see my dentist twice a year. :o) He's know about my health and he's careful not to hyper extend my neck. So I do have nice, clean healthy teeth. LOL!

I have to honestly say that I'm thankful. Yes... thankful. I'm thankful that it's me that has it and not my Knight. Not my children. Not my family. It has helped to slow down and enjoy life. I have time to spend with my children instead of running around doing "stuff". Since I'm not "stressed" from a chaotic life, I'm happier. If mama is happy, then everyone else is happy too. ;o) But most of all, it has brought me closer to my Lord and Savior. I know that He is in control.

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
-2 Corinthians 12:9

Life In Our Castello

There is so much happening in the lives of those who dwell in our Castello. Lots of changes. Some of the changes are good. God is stretching us. We are stepping out of our comfort zone. Some of the changes are sad. All the changes are drawing us nearer to our Lord. Growing pain hurts, but He has a purpose. God is good... ALL the time.

My Knight and I have been asked (three times) in the past, if we would be interested in teaching the college/career Sunday School class. It's not that we didn't want to teach that class. It's that we've been working with the youth. My Knight teaches High School boy's Sunday school class and I help teach the high school girl's class. We have felt that, that's where God wanted us to be. Well, lately we've been wondering what He wants us to be doing. Through a series of events, we feel He wants us to leave the youth and teach the college/career class. The high school class is split up by gender and grade. So now my Knight and I will be teaching together. I'm really looking forward to being together in a Sunday School class again.

I was a little concerned about how Soaring Amongst The Clouds and Still Waters felt about it. They have had me as a Sunday School teacher all through high school, but I wondered if they minded having me as a teacher again. Would they be embarrassed? Now that they are young adults, would it be a nuisance for their parents to be the teachers in their Sunday School class? My Knight and I prayed and talked about it. We felt God leading us in that direction. We spoke with our Fair Maidens and were blessed by what they shared with us. They were pleased to hear that we would be teaching their class. The only thing they asked was, for us not to call on them and "make" them participate. We will honor their request. I'm so blessed by them.

The Seamstress (my mother in love) just celebrated her 80th birthday. Back in the beginning of August, I went down to her home (265+ miles) , to pick her up and bring her to our home. She had not been doing well. Her bp was 210/108 and her blood sugar was 250+. She was very agitated and not thinking straight. She was not herself. We were concerned that she was having some sort of dementia. We were able to get her in to see a specialist the day after we got her to our home. After MANY doctors visits and seeing many specialist, her bp has returned to normal. Her blood sugar is now below 100. YEAH! She is taking some medication to help her memory. She has the beginnings of Alzheimer and was diagnosed as being depressed. The medication she's taking is helping her. BUT we have realized that she can no longer live on her own.

We are praying and trying to decide what to do. Putting her in a home is not an option. She will be living with us. I knew that this is what God would want us to do. I just felt a little threatened about having "another woman" in our Castello. I felt that the Seamstress might judge me. I also didn't want our children to hear how critical she is or to be around her negativity. God spoke to me and I realized that I was letting my flesh get in the way of His work. So I've laid it all at His feet. I know that He will see us all through it.

I look at my children and can't believe they are 20 (next month), 19, 17, 13 & 11 (in 2 weeks). That means, that my Knight and I are also getting older. Since we are getting older, our parents are getting older too. My dad celebrated his 71st birthday this summer and my mom her 65th birthday. I never really thought about them as "getting old". Seeing what the Seamstress is going through has made me realize that one day, my parents will be in the same situation. I mean I know they were getting older but I haven't really thought about it. The thought saddens me. God in his infinite wisdom knew what I needed to hear.

Below is the devotion I received in my email this morning. I know it might not look like it has anything to do with what is happening in my life, but it does. It's exactly what I needed to hear. I hope you are blessed by it, I know I was.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: When you are tempted to complain about something
you don't have, stop and remind yourself to be thankful for what you
do have. God will reward your thankfulness.

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY: Let your conversation be without covetousness;
and be content with such things as ye have. Hebrews 13:5


Headed Homeward
by Max Lucado

Aging is God's idea. It's one of the ways he keeps us headed
homeward. We can't change the process, but we can change our
attitude. Here is a thought. What if we looked at the aging body as
we look at the growth of a tulip?

Do you ever see anyone mourning over the passing of the tulip bulb?
Do gardeners weep as the bulb begins to weaken? Of course not. We
don't purchase tulip girdles or petal wrinkle cream or consult
plastic-leaf surgeons. We don't mourn the passing of the bulb; we
celebrate it. Tulip lovers rejoice the minute the bulb
weakens. "Watch that one," they say. "It's about to blossom."

Could it be heaven does the same? The angels point to our bodies. The
more frail we become, the more excited they become. "Watch that lady
in the hospital," they say. "She's about to blossom." "Keep an eye on
the fellow with the bad heart. He'll be coming home soon."

"We are waiting for God to finish making us his own children, which
means our bodies will be made free" (Rom. 8:23).

Are our bodies now free? No. Paul describes them as our "earthy
bodies" (Phil. 3:21 MSG). Or as other translations state:

"our lowly body" (NKJV)
"the body of our humble state" (NASB)
"these weak mortal bodies" (NLT)
"our vile body" (KJV)
"our simple bodies" (NCV)

You could add your own adjective, couldn't you? Which word describes
your body? My cancerous body? My arthritic body? My deformed body? My
crippled body? My addicted body? My ever-expanding body? The word may
be different, but the message is the same: These bodies are weak.
They began decaying the minute we began breathing.

And, according to God, that's a part of the plan. Every wrinkle and
every needle take us one step closer to the last step when Jesus will
change our simple bodies into forever bodies. No pain. No depression.
No sickness. No end.

This is not our forever house. It will serve for the time being. But
there is nothing like the moment we enter his door.


From Traveling Light
Copyright (W Publishing Group, 2001) Max Lucado


It takes courage to grow up and turn out to be who you really are.
~E. E. Cummings

The "O" Family

I was looking through all my old entries and noticed, that I hadn't written about my Knight's side of the family. We don't often get to see them, even though they only live about 30 minutes away. They all lead a very busy life.

My Knight was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. His mom loves to tell the story of how she prayed every day that he would look like a little boy she had seen on a calendar. When my Knight was born, she says her prayers had been answered. He had the bluest eyes she had ever seen. He is the youngest of two. His sister is 7 years his senior. When he was 4 yrs. old they moved down to Florida. Which is where we met. He married His Lady G at the age of 19.

His dad, The Chef was one out of five brothers. The Chef's parents died when he was young. He was the youngest brother. He was sent to live with a distant family member. He was born and raised in Cuba. He was only able to get an elementary education. He had to go to work at a young age. He came to the United State with his wife and young daughter, in search of freedom and a better way of life. They settled in Jersey City, New Jersey. He worked hard in order to provide for his family. He was as a waiter in a well known hotel in New York. I'm sorry to say, that I can't remember which one. He instilled good work ethics in his children. He didn't believe in making any purchases unless he had the cash for it. So if they couldn't afford it, he would save until they could, or he wouldn't buy it. Now a days that's unheard of. He always enjoyed cooking. When they moved down to Florida, he took two jobs. When The Seamstress would get home from work, he would have dinner ready. The family would eat together and then he would go off to work. He passed away at the age of 70.

His mom, The Seamstress was the youngest out of five sisters and two brothers. She was also born and raised in Cuba. Her mom died when she was very young. As a youngster, she was given the choice of working the farm or learn to sew and be indoors. She chose to learn to sew. She didn't like the outdoors. When they settled in New Jersey, she worked in what now a days we would call a "sweat shop". The owners quickly realized how talented she was. They would take the Seamstress to New York and have her sketch and design outfits. Now at the age of 80, she still enjoys sewing.

I'll call his sister, The Matriarch, because she is. She is the leader of her family. She was born in Cuban. Once she came to the states (she was 3 yrs old) she wanted to change her name, because now, she was an American. She wanted an American name. She graduated salutatorian of her school. She was offered a scholarship to a very prestigious university. Her dream was to be a doctor, but became a CPA. She got married right out of high school. She was a 17 yr.s old bride. Through the years she has held several jobs. She was a CPA for a couple of years, a French teacher at a high school, worked for Merrill Lynch and then decided to be a stay at home mom for a while. Once her children were a little older, she went back to school, Nursing school that is. While in school she toyed with the idea of becoming a midwife. She decided against it and became a labor and delivery nurse instead. She loved being a nurse and she was very good at it. I've always thought of her as Super Woman. She's done it all. She is married to...

The Fortune-Hunter, I named him this because he is always trying to look for a way (ALWAYS legally) to better his life and his beloved families life. He was the typical All American- Apple Pie kind of guy. He was always into sports. He met his lovely wife while in high school. So they were high school sweethearts. His senior year his family moved to North Carolina, but he couldn't leave his true love. So he stayed behind, graduated and waited for his love to graduate. He is three years older than his beloved. He went to a prestigious University and got a business degree. He also went got into his family business, which is a paper die cutting business. He also played semi pro football and was an avid soccer player. The Fortune-Hunter and The Matriarch make a beautiful couple, not just because they look good together but because get along so well. He is a blond, blue-eyed, 6'4" handsome man and she is a dark eyed, dark hair, 5'2" Spanish beauty. They were blessed with three boys.

The Constable is the oldest of the three. He is a realist and the most serious of them all. There is no sugar coating with him. He knows what he believes and no one can change his mind. He graduated top of his class in Law, at the University and went into Law Enforcement. He has moved up the ranks and has surprised those in charge. He is now a Lieutenant and a District Commander in the Sheriff Department. He is only 30 years young. He's a fine young man and a good role model. Just recently he got his real estate license. He's got a bright future ahead of him. He is married to...

La Madre, I love this girl! She is the real deal. She of Italian decent and she fits right in with the family. She's sweet, smart and feisty. They met while they were attending the University. I wish I could say I remember what she studied, but I don't remember. Most important (in my eyes) is that she became a mommy this year...

Scooter was born earlier this year. I'll call him the Scooter for now cause he scoots all around. No characteristics yet other than, cutie, cuddly, smiley, adorable, cherub and so on. He's brought much joy and happiness along with him.

The Jester is the second born. You are guaranteed to laugh until you cry, when he's around. It is non stop. He's done all sorts of sports. He even did a triathlon when he was only 10 years old. He played high school football and was on the crew team. While in high school some of his "cheer leading" girlfriends talked him into trying out cheer leading. You see he was a tall muscular guy. He figured, "hey, I can either get hit and get the girls or not get hit and get to toss and hold the girls!" And that he did. He did it so well, that he got a scholarship to a well known University. A University that has always been a family rival to us. YUCK! Right now he is busy being a being an entrepreneur.

The Charmer is the youngest and the carefree one. Like his brothers he loves sports. He played baseball all through school and while he attended the University. He is a sweet talker. This one can get away with anything. He loves life and likes to have fun. He's also very tender hearted. His smile and charm gets to you.

I mentioned before that we don't get to see each other often. My nephews are much older than our children. They are busy working and just with life in general. It's hard to coordinate gatherings. When we do get to fellowship, it's wonderful. We have a great time "catching up" and there is always lots of laughter. We are looking forward to a new beginning now that all the cousins are a little older and they all drive. Thank you Lord for fresh starts.

Wild Bill Stanton Watching Your Back

Two nights ago I watched a program that left me feeling lots of different emotions. It left me upset, sad, dishearten, in disbelief and speechless. The program was on NBC. The program was called Wild Bill Stanton Watching Your Back.

If you go to the link above, you can see some of the segments that he's done. Monday night 4 segments were shown. Two of them aren't online yet, I will be sure to write an update once a link is provided. But the other two I saw were Balloons and Puppy Test Kids and the Wild Bill Graffiti Artist. Please bare through the "commercial", it's worth it. The other segments were on pickpockets and do men step up when they see/hear about a man put the date rape drug in a woman's drink.

Basically two of the segments were about, "would you step up?". My Knight and I watched the program. I was so enraged about what I was seeing, that I didn't even think to tape the program. I would of LOVED for my children to see it and would of shared it with my friends. The next day I even thought, had I taped it, I could of shared it with our youth, and the college/career at church. URGH!!!

Segment one was about pick pockets. They showed how easy it was to pick a pocket or purse. Purses that are open or don't have a zipper closer are the easiest to "pick" out of. Men who keep their wallet in their back pocket are easy preys also. The man who was the "pick pocket" demonstrated just how easy it was. Over and over again, he picked the wallet from men and they didn't even "feel" it. The "pick pocket" even stole a tie, that was tied around a guys neck. The "victim" didn't even realize it until he was complimented on his tie. A pair of sunglasses, that were hooked on the "victims" t-shirt were taken without him noticing it. They showed how a pick pocket works with an accomplice or two. One distracts the victim, the second one does the "picking" and passes the item to the third accomplice. They showed how easy it was for a purse to be stolen while it's hanging from a chair. The "picker" passed by the chair, while hold a sweatshirt, coat or jacket, he would get the purse and conceal it in the garment he's holding. No one can "see" he has the purse. I know that I try to be careful about where I hang my purse, but I found this program to be very informative and eye opening.

Segment two dealt with the issue of graffiti. Would someone step up and stop or report someone that's painting graffiti on a wall. The graffiti was written in a high traffic public place. Of course the local authorities knew this was being done for a program. You wouldn't believe the number of people who walked or drove by and didn't say or do anything. One man walked by taking on his cell phone. Wild Bill kept on spraying, but asked him, "Are you calling the cops?" The guy said no and kept on walking. None of the store workers in the are called the authorities. Two teenagers came up to him and told him he was doing it wrong. And proceeded to instruct him on how to do it. They never touched the can, they just verbally told him what to do. One lady told him he shouldn't be doing that. That it's against the law. Another lady, walked right up to him and started bagging up the spray can, to take them away from him. Later on they talked to both ladies. The one that had dared to walk up to him was told that she should never do that. But to call the police. She herself could of gotten hurt. I wash shocked that no one called the police. We know this because the police said that no calls were received. AMAZING!

Oh what was he spray painting on the wall?... "Why don't you stop me?"

The last segment is the one that shocked me the most. It was in two parts. Part one dealt with how many ladies would accept a drink from a complete strange when they are in a bar or our dancing. Wild Bill marked all the glasses with invisible ink. The purpose of this was to show that a drink could of been laced with the date rape drug and the ladies wouldn't of known about it. None of the ladies he approached declined the drink. He later went back and talked to them about it. Some said that they accepted because they were there with their girlfriends and they wouldn't let anything happen to them. The problem was, that the girl friends had ALSO accepted the drink. What do you do then? Part two dealt with, how many guys would step up and stop him from lacing a drink with the date rape drug and giving it to a lady. THIS ONE MADE ME CRY! Wild Bill was at the bar and started talking with a man at the bar. The man in the bar did not know that, the woman Wild Bill was talking about was in on it too. He was telling the man that he was going to lace the drink. The man told him he shouldn't do that. But they kept talking. He pretended to lace it and took the drink over to the lady. After a while, they headed out the door. Half an hour later Wild Bill was back in the bar without her. The man came up to him and asked what happened. He just laughed and said she was outside under the bridge "sleeping it off". The man said, "She shouldn't be out there alone, tell me where she is." Then proceeded to saying that, "He didn't mind sloppy seconds." MY MOUTH DROPPED! Wild Bill then went to a different place and struck up a conversation with two college guys. He did the same thing. But before he laces the drink, the two college guys went to get two more of their buddies. They were all saying how they had always wanted to do that but didn't even know where to get the stuff. Wild Bill gave the drink to the lady and after a while left. When he came back, the two guys saw him and walked up to him. They asked how it had gone. They also asked where they could get some of that stuff. Wild Bill asked them for their numbers and told them he'd call them. Two of the numbers were bogus, but two weren't. When he talked to them on the phone and told them what he was really doing, they said that they really weren't going to do that. They were just playing along with him. YEAH RIGHT!

The last segment is the one that REALLY got to me. These men, knew what Wild Bill was going to do and did absolutely NOTHING about it. No one stepped up. How can they allow that to happen? I just don't understand. I couldn't help but cry. It broke my heart to think that, these are our future leaders. Men who won't stand up for what's right. Men who won't look out for women who are being taken advantage of. My heart is heavy...

Still Waters Is 19!

My eyes water at the thought, my Baby Girl is 19! Time sure has flown by. Seems like just yesterday she was a wee one. I feel so blessed that I was able to stay home and enjoy spending 24/7 with her. She has grown to be an incredible godly young lady. She is such a blessing.

I left her a "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" message on the dry eraser board. It greeted her as she went into the kitchen for breakfast. Today she had to spend the whole day at SU. Which was alright cause we don't usually do "presents" until after dinner.

It is a tradition that the "birthday" person, gets to choose what they want to eat. Not just for dinner, but for breakfast and lunch too. :o) BUT since our oldest started attending college, it's been harder to keep up with the breakfast and lunch tradition. No one wants a BIG breakfast at 6am. As for lunch, they are in school. :o( Soooo, the breakfast and lunch tradition have been moved from the "birthday" day to the weekend after the "birthday" day. Also, depending what the "birthday person" wants to eat, if it's near by, we eat it on that day. If not, it turns out to be a weekend dinner too. Which is what happened this time around. Still Waters was in the mood for authentic Cuban cuisine. YEAH!!! *Update on the dinner on Saturday.

My Knight was able to work out of our Castello today. YEAH!!! We love it when he's able to do that. We all decided to skip church tonight and just hang out together. The Seamstress (my mother in love) has been staying with us, so she hung out with us too. All of Still Waters' gift were wrapped and stacked on the counter with a card attached.

We ate dinner and then ate cake. For dinner we had Pan con Bistec. Doesn't that sound delish?! Well, that translates to steak sandwich. LOL! It's not your typical steak sandwich. The thin cut sirloin steak is marinated with garlic, Worcestershire sauce and vidalia onions. We cook it in an iron skillet with extra virgin olive oil. We use Cuban bread for the sandwich. Where we live they really don't have authentic Cuban bread so we make do with the "Cuban" bread that's available. In the sandwich we put the grilled onions, the steak and shoestring potato chips. My mouth waters at the thought. Still Waters is more of a "pie" lover vs. a cake lover. So we bought a French Silk Pie (her request) and a Key Lime Pie (which she also loves).

After singing Happy Birthday, we all sat around the couch to watch her open her presents. She first opened the card. In it was written that she could get a cd of her choice and the Kingdom Hearts Final Remix video game. (*more on this later) The she went on to the gifts. Well, there were three boxes about the same size. First box had a pair of pretty brown sandals. She wears a size 6 1/2 narrow. Which is not easy to find. I mean 6 1/2 is easy to find, but now narrow. Box number two had a pair of brown sneakers, slip on kind of shoes. She's been looking for a pair like that. Box number three... yep... a pair of sneakers. LOL! She politely told me, "Mom, you bought me this exact pair already for Christmas. Remember that I told you I couldn't wear them cause they hurt my heal?" I had forgotten! Well, to tell the truth, I seem to forget A LOT!!! You see I have bought some cd's not once, but twice! The same goes for nail colors and movies. At least I'm consistent in my taste. ;o) My poor Still Waters, I lead her to believe that those three shoes was all she was getting. I let her go up to her room while I ran to my room and got the BIG BOX. I then called her down and there it was waiting for her. She unwrapped it and found.... a laptop. Not just any laptop, but one that she'll be able to use for what she's studying, computer animation.

Later on I asked her if she was disappointed when she first thought that she only got the shoes, video game and a cd. She told me no. That she was thankful for what she had gotten. Be still my heart...

*UPDATE- Saturday, 9/1- we went to eat at the Cuban restaurant in a nearby town. The owners are Cubans so the food is authentic Cuban cuisine. The food was DELISH!!! Some had the grilled chicken, rice and black beans, all the rest had breaded steak, moro and fried plantains. Moro is white rice and black beans cooked together. It it seasoned a little different and it has a different texture and taste. It's my favorite type of rice. G.I. Joe and The Warrior had Fritas. Which is... hamburgers. LOL! They were were a little surprised to see it on Cuban sandwich bread instead of hamburger buns. But they liked it very much. The night was success.

* My Fair Maidens and Squires really got into the Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts 2 video games. We kept hearing about Kingdom Hearts Final Remix video game. I knew that my Still Waters would love it. Which is why we told her we'd get it for her. Turns out that it's only available in Japan right now. It won't be available here until 2008. :o(

First thing she opened was her card. She's smiling at the thought that she gets to pick a cd. Like I mentioned before, I have bought two cd's at different times, twice! I don't know why, but I've only done that with her. I now keep a list of cd's and books she likes, but doesn't have. :o)


When I saw these shoes, I KNEW they were "her" style. She really liked them. Did I mention that Soaring Amongst The Clouds, Still Waters and I wear the same show size, 6 1/2? :o)


We got her a pair of sandals. She calls them "cloncker" sandals. They are sturdy, bulky sandals. Her old pair was wearing out. She's had them for over 4 years.


Ok, here she is laughing, cause I bought her the same pair of sneakers. The same pair she once told me that hurts her ankle. I can't believe I did it again! Well, I can believe it. I fell like I'm losing my mind.


She really likes her laptop. She wanted to get one, but wasn't expecting it. We are so blessed to have children that are really grateful. They are such a blessing.

Happy Birthday Baby girl. You brighten my world.

Watch Out "LS"!

Today was Soaring Amongst The Clouds' first day back at "LS". She is thrilled beyond words that she got the schedule she wanted. She's already pointed out that she only has 18 Tuesday's to go. LOL!

She managed to schedule all her classes for Tuesday and Thursday. She'll be able to continue playing on the co-ed softball team, since their games are on Tuesday nights. BUT, she's going to have to give up playing on the women's softball team this semester. Their games are on Thursday nights and she has a night class. All in all, she is very pleased that she only has two days of school. That will free her up to do some volunteer work she wanted to do and have those other three days to study and do homework.

This semester she is taking, Humanities, Intro to Life Science, Intro to Education, Liberal Arts Math II and Intro to Psychology. All these are required for what she plans on studying. She's focusing on being an Interpreter. She would like to master the Spanish (Spain) and Chinese languages. But she is also working on a teaching degree. I know she can do it. My Soaring Amongst The Clouds is a dreamer, but most important... she's also a doer. :o)

She plans on helping out Mrs. B with her 1st grade class. She did that while she homeschooled and really loved it. Mrs. B is really easy to work with. She loves the children and it shows. I know Soaring Amongst The Clouds is going to enjoy working with her again.

I tried to get a picture of her before she left for school. As soon as she saw me reach for the camera, she gave me "the look". So, I never even got to lay hands on my camera. Oh well, I'll have to get a candid shot sometime. Gone are the times when my children were wee ones and actually "posed" for the pictures.

Watch Out "SU"!

Today was a big day for Still Waters. It was her first day at "SU". She has classes every day. The great thing is that all her classes are in two buildings and the buildings are close to each other.

The campus is BEAUTIFUL! It has a quaint, small town atmosphere. She loved the library. She noticed that they have "old" classics. She's looking forward to checking some of the "oldies" out. She will be working in the media center. She's very excited about that.

Orientation was Friday-Tuesday. She was at school all those days. Got to meet some students that are transfer students just like her. I know that she is going to love attending "SU". It's perfect for her. Oh, she ate at the cafeteria today and said that lunch was great! She had a drink, a slice of pizza (just like Tony's) and a salad. All that for only $3! She told me the food was great!

This is going to be a great semester. She is taking Calculus I, Biblical Literature, Digital Arts and Computer Science. Her counselor tried to talk her out of taking Calculus this semester since she was also taking the Computer Science class. She felt that the work load might be too much. That she should take a "lighter" class. LOL! Well, she doesn't know my Still Waters! She can do anything she sets her mind to, not only that, but she knows that as long as she's following God's will for her life, things will always work out. Besides that, she's got the best tutor one could ever have... her Dad! He's a software engineer. Her classes for this semester are right up his alley. ;o)

I know this will be hard to believe, but I was up early this morning. It is well known, that I am not a morning person. I wanted to see her off and take a "first day at the U" picture. Needless to say, I didn't get a picture. Not because I didn't try, but because she wasn't co-operating. URGH!!! BUT, I didn't give her a hard time about it. I'm learning to "be quiet". Even if it means gritting my teeth, biting my tongue and smiling. I've got TMJ, bloody lip and a botox smile to prove it! :o)

A Teachable Heart

I subscribe to receive daily devotions from Proverbs31. To be totally honest, I don't ALWAYS read them. Sometimes, I skim through them and think, "ah, this doesn't apply to me" and then I skip it. To be truthful, I'm not sure why I read the ones I do and why I skip some. I'm sure I'm missing some incredible wisdom nuggets. I really need to be more diligent about my devotions.

The devotion I'm sharing today cuts to the heart of the (my) matter. Then again when doesn't God's Word hit the nail on the head?!

A Teachable Heart

By Lysa TerKeurst

Isaiah 2:3, “He will teach us his ways so that we may walk in his paths.”(NIV)

Devotion:
As a mom, I often find myself in the role of teacher and instructor. Whether I am showing them how to tie their shoes, how to ride a bike, or how to finish their homework, I love teaching my kids how to do new things. I rejoice when they succeed and try my best to guide them in the way that is right and best for them. However, my teaching and instruction can only work if they are willing to listen and receive what I have to share.

Today’s key verse tells us that God teaches and instruct us, His children, how to do godly things so we may walk in the paths that are right according to His Word. Just as I want my children to follow my instruction so they are successful, our Heavenly Father also wants to see us succeed. But in order for that to happen, we must also be willing to receive and take in the things God has to share with us. Thankfully, He loves us enough to do whatever it takes to keep us on the right path—a path that leads to Him.

Isaiah 28:26 says, “His God instructs him and teaches him the right way.” Interestingly enough, the next two verses that follow describe the methods a farmer must use to harvests a crop in order to make it into something worth eating. Here are some of the ways different crops are brought into abundant fruition:

Caraway – beaten with a rod
Cumin – beaten with a stick
Grain – must be ground

Threshing is a process of beating or separating the straw from the seed or grain of the crop, so that the farmer is able to get rid of the parts of the plant that are not useful. Verse 28 sums up the process by telling us that once the separation is completed the farmer can stop beating his crop. Sometimes, in order for us to become people worth using to spread God’s fame, we must receive discipline from Him and that doesn’t feel good. As moms, we know that to bring up a well-behaved child, we must discipline them sometimes. It is not the best part of our job, but it is necessary. God feels the same way about you and me.

In Deuteronomy 8:3, Moses tells the Israelite people, “He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (NIV).

We can find God’s instruction throughout the Bible. If we want to know how to make our plans succeed, we can go to His Word for answers. He is there for us just as we are there for our kids. His character is woven into every story; His wisdom etched in every line of the text. All we have to do is look.

Unfortunately, when we ignore the instruction God maps out for us in His Word, we end up having to learn through a harder path that may be much more painful. That is why having a teachable heart is so important. As I long for my children to be continually open to my instruction for their benefit, God wants us to be open to His teaching for our benefit. The farmer who continually has to thresh his crop brings about no harvest. Don’t give God a reason to keep threshing you before you make an impact for Him. Will you be willing to humble yourself and submit to all the incredible things that He has to teach you today?

Dear Lord, search my heart today and show me where pride has kept me from learning the good things You want to teach me. My desire is to have a teachable heart, so I can succeed. I know that instruction and discipline doesn’t always feel good, but my greater desire is to know You and I’m willing to go to the threshing floor if that’s what it takes to bear fruit. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Application Steps:

Read Psalm 25:4-10 and Psalm 32:8. Write down your answers to the following questions:

When your plans fail, what does that mean to you? It should mean that I should have trust in God's plan for me. That He will open and close doors. His plans for me are far better than mine. My problem is that my sinful, black heart gets in the way. My flesh gets the best of me and I rebel.

Does it mean your plans were wrong? Yes and I pay the price for it. My wrong doings will cause me grief and heartaches.

Does it mean that God did not bless your plans? Yes, cause it was "my" plan and not His.

Reflections:

What is your definition of having a teachable heart? Having an open mind and spirit. Taking self "off" and "putting "on" God.

In what areas do you struggle with being teachable? In many areas. For right now, I'm struggling with submitting and obeying.

What steps do you need to take in order to be “taught”? I need to forget about my needs and wants. I have to take the focus off of me.
Power Verses:

Proverbs 15:5, “A fool spurns his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.” (NIV)

Isaiah 28:26, 27-28, "His God instructs him and teaches him the right way." "Caraway is not threshed with a sledge, nor is a cartwheel rolled over cummin; caraway is beaten out with a rod,
and cummin with a stick. Grain must be ground to make bread; so one does not go on threshing it forever. Though he drives the wheels of his threshing cart over it, his horses do not grind it."
Proverbs31.com


Lord, help me to die to self. To keep my eyes off of me and focus them on you. I want be the woman you want me to be, not the selfish one I am. Thank you Lord for all my sisters in the HAUS. They are AWESOME godly women who love you and are not ashamed to share what your Word says. They are wise beyond measure. Bless them tenfold.

Preparing Him For The Other Woman

Yesterday, I was patiently waiting in the deli for my number to be called. They "conveniently" had a revolving book rack under the number dispenser. The title of a book caught my eye. The book was called, Preparing Him For The Other Woman- A Mother's Guide to Raising Her Son to Love a Wife and Lead a Family. I thought, "Hmmmm, sounds interesting."

I flipped through it and I was hooked. Needles to say, I put in my cart and after I got my "deli" items, went straight to the check out. I couldn't wait to start reading this new little "gem" of mine. Why hadn't I seen this book before?

I'm only chapter 2, but boy is it hitting home. What I found very interesting is that she shared a realization that sounds very much like one I had many years ago. When my Warrior was younger he told me, that when he grew up, he wanted to marry me. I kissed him and told him that mommies can't marry their sons. I told him that God had created a very special girl just for him. But I realized, that I was the first woman in his life, to love him and show him how to love.

What an AWESOME responsibility we have been given. As a mom to two Squires, who better than me can teach them to appreciate a woman and how to express their love. Help them to see why it's important to honor and respect women, to teach him to wait for the one that God created for him.

I know it's not ALL up to me. My Knight ALSO has and AWESOME responsibilities. Who better than their dad can teach our Squires how to be the man God wants them to be, NOT the man mom and dad want them to be. Who better can teach them to be a godly man, leader, a hero, a man of his word?

It's not my Knight's and I doing's. It's all God's doings'. We are merely trying to do what He is leading us to do.

For moms that are expecting baby boys, I usually give them a couple of books, to start off their "library". The books are: Love You Forever, The Runaway Bunny ,Guess How Much I Love You and I Promise I'll Find You. Preparing Him For The Other Woman will be added to my future baby shower gifts.

I look forward to finishing this book. I plan on passing it along to my Fair Maidens... when the times comes. Maybe I should just get them each their own copy or would it mean more if it's the same copy "mom" read? Hmmm...

Raising A Modern Day Knight

I am ALWAYS on the look out for books, articles or tips on child rearing. Through the years I've come across some mighty fine words of wisdom. Not just for my Fair Maidens, but for my Squires too.

Years ago, while I was pregnant with my first little Squire, G.I.Joe, I came across a book called Raising a Modern Day Knight. Well, I liked it so much, I also got the cd, so my Knight could listen to it on his way to work. :o)

It's been a couple of years since I read it. I know it's kinda meant for dads to read, but hey, I'm the mom. I felt that I could learn from this book too. I have to say, that I really enjoyed ready this book back then. It really focuses on dad/son relationships. It talks about how a dad can help guide his son.

Now that my Squires are 13 and 10, I think it's time to pull this book off the shelf, dust it off and give it another read through. I'll also dust off the cd and put it in my Knight's car. Now, if I could only remember where I stored it. :o)

Words of Wisdom

Last night I had a restless night. My heart was heavy. I went to bed crying and praying. Couldn't sleep, so I got up (carefully, I didn't want to wake my Knight), grabbed my bible and went to the living room. Where I continued to cry, pray and read. I was lead to read in Proverbs.

So much has happened since last Tuesday. Mr. Seminary Student teaches the college and career class at church on Wednesday nights. He made a comment about Soaring Amongst The Clouds and Still Waters. He said they were shrugging responsibilities and that when they commit to something they need to follow it through.

What lead to his comment? The college and career class was scheduled to lead the youth night on 7/18. They were going to do some skits and divide all the youth into groups. They were going to have a lesson appropriate for each group. There would be four groups: middle school boys, high school boys, middle school girls and high school girls. I'm not sure why, but it got moved to 7/25. Hence the dilemma. On 7/25 our church was having a "Disaster Relief mock drill". Our church got approved to be a shelter in a time of need. My Knight, Soaring Amongst The Clouds and Still Waters are volunteers for the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. My Fair Maidens reminded the their peers and Mr. Seminary Student about the mock drill. Our entire church body had been asked to participate in the drill. All they had to do was be the victims. The Disaster Relief team would direct them where to go. Dinner was going to be being served and cots would be assigned. They were even going to have volunteers working with children. The mock drill had been mentioned for the last couple of weeks. It had even been mentioned a couple of times in the church bulletin. Not only that, but a number of our youth were on a mission trip that week. Attendance is usually down when some of the youth are away on youth camps or on mission trips. They youth that don't go on these trips, tend not to attend church because their friends aren't there. My Fair Maidens brought up the suggestion of waiting one more week, due to the mock drill. Also because the youth attendance was going to be extremely low. The college and career goal was to minister to the youth and show them what they do in college in career class. We seem to lose the students once they graduate from high school. That's when my daughter's characters got slandered.

It all took place on facebook. My Fair Maidens were told that they were shrugging responsibilities. That they had first committed to the youth night and they needed to follow that through. They also alluded to my Fair Maidens "trying to stir" trouble within the group. I was flabbergasted. How could ANY ONE think my Fair Maidens would do such a thing?! I'm sure some of them might not know how much they do for our church and and our church body. The amount of ours they put into the quilting ministry, the babysitting they do for free as a ministry to families, the childcare they provide (for free) so that moms can participate in choir or attend the church service, the child care they provide for "mom's day out", the volunteer hours they've put in for Disaster Relief team, and the mission trips that they've been on. They have such a giving, gently spirit. Their names have been tainted. My heart goes out to them. Your name is your name. They don't take the name of "Christian" lightly.

I was so upset, that the flesh in me wanted to lash out. I was in attack mode. But scripture told me to do otherwise. I was lead to Proverbs, over and over again. I was in a hurry, so I asked my Still Waters to send me some scriptures regarding what God has spoken to me about. Below is what she sent me. After some of the Scriptures, she shared a little bit of her insight. My Still Waters is only 18 yr. old, but she is wise beyond her years. She has taught me much...


1.) HOW TO IDENTIFY THE FOOL:

Pro 14:3
In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,
But the lips of the wise will preserve them.

Pro 14:15
The simple believes every word,
But the prudent considers well his steps.

Pro 14:16
A wise man fears and departs from evil,
But a fool rages and is self-confident.

Pro 18:2
A fool has no delight in understanding,
But in expressing his own heart.

Pro 18:6
A fool's lips enter into contention,
And his mouth calls for blows.

Pro 27:3
A stone [is] heavy and sand [is] weighty,
But a fool's wrath [is] heavier than both of them.

(Mom, this is me thinking: because he's so DENSE!)

Pro 28:3
He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.

Prov 29:11
A fool vents all his feelings,
But a wise [man] holds them back.

(Me again: Must....retain.....self-.....control!!!)

Ecc 10:3
Even when a fool walks a long the way,
He lacks wisdom, and he shows everyone [that] he [is] a fool.

(Me again: I just hope the others aren't fools or they won't see it!)


2) HOW TO HANDLE A FOOL:
Pro 26:4
Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like him.

Pro 26:5
Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

Pro 17:10
Rebuke is more effective for a wise man
Than a hundred blows on a fool.

Pro 17:14
The beginning of strife is like releasing water,
Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.

(Me again: does that mean we've taken this too far already?)

Pro 20:3
[It is] honorable for a man to stop striving,
Since any fool can start a quarrel.

(Me again: So, umm....give up?)

Pro 23:9
Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

(Me again: Uummmm........too late. This is not really in the Bible. Its just a quote I've had pinned to my cork board for a while: "He who acts as his own lawyer has a fool for a client.")

3) WHAT HAPPENS WHILE DEALING WITH THE FOOL:

Pro 17:12
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his folly.

(Me again: because a bear will eventually shut up and go her own way, but the fool will follow you around, turn others to his cause, and annoy the heck outta you while attempting to soil your character! So come think about it, they're a lot like stupid monkeys! They dare not come level with you to fight, so they stay out of reach and throw whatever they can get a hold of at you.)

Prov 29:9
[If] a wise man contends with a foolish man,
Whether [the fool] rages or laughs, [there is] no peace.

(Me again: Don't we know it!!!)

4) WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE FOOL:

Pro 10:8
The wise in heart will receive commands,
But a prating fool will fall.

(Me again: God is Just.)

Pro 17:28
Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
[When] he shuts his lips. [he is considered a perceptive.

(Me again: I wish he would at least do that.)

Prov 18:7
A fool's mouth is his destruction,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.

(Me again: We know he's very annoying, but we also know that God is Just.)

Pro 26:11
As a dog returns to his own vomit,
[So] a fool repeats his folly.

(Me again: We know this won't be the last time. But remember:God is Just.)

Ecc 10:12
The words of a wise man's mouth [are] gracious,
But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up;


5) WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE WISE:

Ecc 2:15
So I said in my heart, "As it happens to the fool,
It also happens to me, And why was I then more wise?"
Then I said in my heart, "This also [is] vanity."

(Me again: This is the most depressing book in the Bible. Will the wise be justified before death? Or must they wait until then to be recognized as the ones with the truth? RRRGH! ok.. just trust.... God is Just......God is Just....God is Just..... )

A Visit From My Cousin In North Carolina

My Dad is the oldest of four children. La Diva is a couple of years younger than my dad. She got married when she was young, but found out he was a bigamist. They got divorced and she never married again. She never had children. His youngest sister Super Mom,was a twin. The Rebel was born a little over 23 hours after Super Mom. So they are twins, but don't share the same date of birth. Super Mom had three boys. Her first two are twins, The Banker and The Athlete. Little R was born years later. Even though he's in his 30's, we all still call him Little R. The Rebel is the most complicated of all my aunts and uncles. I would need a whole new entry to share about him. So I'll leave it like this for now. :o)

The Banker and his three children came to visit us. He and his wife (Mai) are in the process of getting a divorce. They have been living in North Carolina for over 10 years. They love it up there. Well, who wouldn't? :o)

They arrived on Tuesday, July 24 around 3p. They left today around 11a. We were the pit stop. Their final destination was visiting our family down in Miami. We just kinda of hung out together, while they were here. Our Fair Maidens had a softball game on Tuesday night, so we all went to that. Wednesday during the day, they all went swimming. After lunch, The Banker took the five youngest cousins to the driving range. They all had a great time hitting some golf balls. My Squires had never done that before. They loved it! I guess I should add golf clubs to my list of "gifts to get". ;o) Our church had a "mock, Disaster Relief drill" on Wednesday night. My Knight and our Fair Maidens are part of the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Team, so they were helping in the mock drill. The Banker and our the "young cousins", played the part needing shelter due to being left homeless because of a "hurricane". It was a "learning" experience for all involved. Thursday night Soaring Amongst The Clouds and Daughter of the King's womens softball team had a double header. Sooooo, we spent the night at the fields. Even though we didn't "go out", we stayed pretty busy. All the cousins enjoyed staying home and just playing.

The visiting cousins are contemporary with my youngest two. Xerox will be 15 yr. old in December. I'll call her Xerox, cause she's a carbon copy of her mama. Not just the way they look, but how they act. She's a sweet young lady. Medulla Oblongata (MO) is 13 years old. He is a brainiac. He doesn't like sports, but he loves to flex his brain muscles. Sweetie Pie is 11 yrs. old. I call him this because it's a nickname Mai gave him when he was young. He is a sweetie pie. I felt really bad for him because he's got allergies really bad. Our Nicodemus (a golden retriever) is an indoor dog. Poor Sweetie Pie was sneezing and coughing the whole time they were here. There really wasn't much we could do for him. He did spend a lot of time playing with my Squires up in their room. Nicodemus isn't allowed upstairs.


The Banker and I. He tells me quite often that I'm his favorite cousin. I can't see me being a favorite of anyone or anything. I know his cousins from his dad side of the family and they ROCK! Needless to say that my sister, Boss Lady, ROCKS too. If my brother, Toots, was here, he'd be the BOMB! Thanks my Banker, you hold a special place in my heart too.



It's not easy getting a group picture. But I think this one came out pretty good. Here we have: Still Waters (on the left wearing the maroon shirt), Sweetie Pie (all in royal blue), Xerox (pink baby doll shirt), Daughter of the King (behind Xerox), MO (all white t-shirt), G.I.Joe (behind MO), Soaring Amongst The Clouds (Snoopy t-shirt) and The Warrior (up front). At first I said, "Ok, all the tall ones in the back." I quickly realized, they are all about the same height! LOL!



We are only missing one of the girl cousins and that would be Drama Queen. DQ is my niece. She's my sister's oldest daughter. They don't live here, which is why she's not in the picture.



Here we have all the boys cousins. Well, not really. All the boys cousins that were here. Boss Lady has one son, Papa and The Athlete has two sons, The Lawyer and Master Suave. They were being uncooperative. This is the best I could do. LOL!

Over all everyone had a great time. There was lots of laughter and smiling faces. We are looking forward to seeing them again next Friday. Once again, we'll be the pit stop on their way back home.

The "G" Family

I thought it's about time I share a little about my family. The "G" family is very close. Even though we are miles apart, we stay in close contact. We keep in touch daily, thanks to Cingular. :o)

I'm the oldest of three children. I'm eighteen months older than my sister and I was seven years older than my brother. We are blessed with awesome parents. They are very different, but together they brought balance to our family.

My dad, Bigote, which means mustache in Spanish was born in *Habana, Cuba (note about this later on). He has had a mustache for as long as I can remember. Hence his nickname. :o) He came to the United States in search of freedom and a better way of life. In my eyes, my dad has always been a hero. I've always looked up to him. Ever since I was little girls, I wanted to marry someone like him. My Knight is like my dad in many ways, but different at the same time. My dad is a gentle, loving, humorous, hard working, dedicated and a family man. Family is very important to him. While I was growing up, there were times that he held two jobs so that my mom would stay home and take care of us. He was old fashioned but not in an egotistical way. He loved my mom and it was evident. He was always happy and smiling. Which made us all happy too. He was the softy one.

My mom, Sabimbi, which is a name my brother made up, was born in Panama, Repiblica de Panama. Which is in Central America. My Abuela Caky, her mom, brought her to the United States when she was a teenager. Like my dad, she came here in search of freedom and a better way of life. She doesn't talk much about her past. What little I do know, I know it wasn't an easy life. I'll leave it at that. She is the most strongest, self assured, reliable, self reliant person I know. Well, next to my sister. :o) When it came to my sister and I, she was not big on praises, kisses or hugs, but she was big on showing us by her actions that she loved us. We knew without a shadow of a doubt that she loved us in her own way. There was nothing she wouldn't do for us. She was the one who dealt the discipline.

My sister, Boss Lady is an amazing woman. This nickname was given to her by my children. It's not meant as an insult. My sister likes the name too. :o) The real nickname she's always had is something else and since she still uses it, for privacy reasons, I'm not sharing it. There is so much I admire about her. She has a "can do" attitude. When she sets her mind on something, that's it, she goes for it until it's done or gotten. No one can talk her into doing something she doesn't want to do. She has so much in common with my Abuela Caky and my mom. They all have a servants heart. They give and give until they have nothing left. When I was younger, I the oldest, was jealous of her. She has always been friendly, a leader and smart. I was the opposite. I was the oldest, but I was her shadow. Growing up she suffered from asthma. Being that I was young, I didn't understand that. I thought it was her way of "getting out" of cleaning. Never mind that she would at times be hospitalized because of her asthma. It wasn't until I was older, that I realized how wrong I was. She is blessed with two children, Drama Queen and Papa.

Toots (my brother- the 82nd Airborne, Ranger in training) had won my mom's heart when he was born. There was never any jealousy between us. My brother was an answered prayer. My sister and I had always wanted a brother. In my eyes, he could do no wrong. He was the apple of every one's eyes. He grew up to be a handsome young man. He had charisma and charm. The girls loved him and the guys wanted to be his friend. He knew how to have fun and he enjoyed his short life. He died at 19.

Drama Queen is my niece and she'll be 13 in October. She is the oldest of Boss Lady's babies. I don't call her this, but for online journaling, this will be her name. I call her a shorter version of her name, but like my sister, for privacy reasons, she's Drama Queen. The reason I picked that name is because she loves to perform. Always has. I'm not just saying this, but she is a miniature of my sister WITH a lot of her dad mixed in there too. There is never a dull moment around her. She is a leader. I remember once when we were staying at a condo. She had all my children and my neighbors children acting like they were whales and dolphins in a pool. She was their trainer. She was not even 6 yrs old. Enough said! LOL!

Papa is my nephew and he just turned 11 in March. He is Boss Lady's second baby. He is a gentle giant. He's soft hearted with a little bit of a hot temper. Then again, he's Spanish blooded, what can one expect. LOL! He's tall for his age. Then again he has his mom and dad's genes. They are both tall. He's got a servant's heart, always willing to help out. He's the one that will get up and help bring in the packages from the car without even being asked.

I love it when our family gets together. There is never a dull moment. If you are wondering what my family reunions are like, watch, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. :o)

* note- In Cuba, Habana is spelled with a "b" not a "v". In the United States, they spell it with a "v" not a "b". As a child my parents taught me how to correctly spell Habana. Being that I was born and raised in the United States, hearing it spoken among fellow Americans, I had forgotten how to correctly spell it. I guess it's true when they say, "If you don't use it, you lose it." I need to get back to my Spanish roots.

Hasta luego...

Thankful Thursday!

Yesterday was Thursday. I've been meaning to get back into my "Thankful Thursday" mode. I know it's a day late, but it doesn't have to be Thursday in order for me to be thankful! I'm thankful every day. :o)

"in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
-1 Thessalonians 5:18

* God's grace, mercy and unconditional love.

* Love and forgiveness.

* My Knight.

* My children

* My family.

* Proverbs 17:17 friends.

* Time

* Rain and sunshine.

* Silence and laughter.

* Scholarships


In reality, my thankful list is endless...

What are you thankful for?

A Trip To The Beach

Last night Jewels and I decided to spend the day at the beach today. Never mind that we had thunderstorms all around us last night. We thought it would be worth the trip even if we only spent a couple of hours at the beach. A day at the beach would do us all good.

I guess this is a good time to share a little about Jewels. Her hubby is The Mechanic, he teaches the middle school boys Sunday School class at our church. Jewels plays the keyboard for our Youth on Wednesday nights. She also plays the keyboard or piano during Praise and Worship in church. They have five boys. The oldest is married. The next two are 25 & 22 (I think- I'm having brain fog). Then there is Steps who is 16 and One With Nature who is 11. Jewels and I get along wonderfully. We seem to be kindred spirits. I enjoy spending time with her.

We were on the road by 9:30a. Being that our Caboose only sits five (comfortably), my two boys went along with Jewels and her two boys. While my girls rode with me. We had a wonderful time. We couldn't have asked for better weather.


I have a hard time getting pictures of my children. I consider them to be a little uncooperative. But in their defense, I can be a little demanding. I'm constantly snapping pictures. So, I take what I can get. In the back row we have Still Waters, Daughter of the King and G.I. Joe. The Warrior is the one with his face turned to the side. That pose is called, The Logan Pose. It's named after a young man who was in Still Waters' World Changer work crew. Every time he pose for a picture, that's the way he would pose. So, our youngest has decided to do the same. Up front in the middle is, One With Nature and next to him is his brother, Steps.

I just can't get over Still Waters' new haircut. It really looks so cute on her. Now if I could only get her to "look" at me when I'm taking a picture.

Daughter of the King looks sooooooo happy. I wonder what she's thinking?

In this picture, G.I. Joe looks so much like my brother. Be still my heart...


The Warrior and his classic look. I think I need to get myself a HUGE zoom lens. That way, they don't know, I'm taking a picture. They'll be happy and most important... I'll be happy.

One With Nature giving The Warrior a ride. They all had a great time riding the waves.

Still Waters taking a picture of Lady G~.... me.

My friend Jewels with two of her boys. We were packing up to leave. The sky started getting dark. A storm was brewing.

Jewels and I had a great time. We just sat under the umbrella and talked. We watched our children play and just enjoyed the scenery. Every once in a while I got up and took pictures, but mostly, we just sat and enjoyed each other's company.

Mr. Knight, Can We Talk?

Sunday morning after Sunday School hour was over, Steps, a young man we know and love came up to my Knight and asked, "Mr. Knight, can we talk?" And so it begins.....

Steps asked permission to "get to know" our Daughter of the King (who is 17 yr. old). My Knight explained to him that we don't believe in dating, we believe in courtship. Now this can't be explained as you are walking out of Sunday School and into the Worship service. But being that my Knight is a man of few words, I'm sure he got the point across. The great thing is, that Steps parents (and Steps) also believe as we do. :o)

I have to say, that my heart went out to Steps. It's not an easy thing going up to a dad, much less my Knight and asking for permission to "get to know" his daughter. My Knight is not a scary man. He's a wonderful, fun, loving husband and father. He is stern. He believes that their is a time for fun and a time to buckle down and do. Right is right and wrong is wrong. The Youth see this and I believe they respect him for it. Which is why, I think that only a young man with character would have the courage to come up and talk to him about our daughter. If a young man is interested in our daughters, but doesn't want to make the effort or take the time to talk to "the dad", then what exactly is his purpose?

What exactly is the "getting to know" stage. We don't believe in "exclusiveness". In the sense of no going out as one on one. We encourage going out in a group supervised by an adult. The adult would have to be a trustworthy person we approve of. Our older Fair Maidens are trustworthy to chaperon the younger ones outings or gatherings. The young man would be welcomed to visit our home and spend time with our family. You really get to know a person this way. You get to see how they interact with family members (theirs and yours). We encourage ministry work as a group, this way you get to their heart. This is the "getting to know" stage. From there you move on to courtship. Courtship can start once they have graduated from high school.

Well, once we got home and had lunch, we gathered in the family room to sit and talk. We talked about my Knight's conversation with Steps. My Knight asked Daughter of the King if she would like to get to know Steps or would she prefer he "scare him off"? She smiled and said she was interested in him. We talked some more about what is acceptable. The boundaries are there for their own protection.

I know all this sounds very old fashioned. I feel there is something to be said about the old fashion ways. If it works, why not stick with it. I know this works. Why? Because that's how I was raised. It worked for my Knight and I.

New Hairdo!

Still Waters decided to get her hair trimmed. So I scheduled an appointment. She tends to keep her hair loooooong. When I say trim, I mean like 1-2 inches cut off.

I had scheduled her appointment for Thursday, which I had forgotten is quilting day. Still Waters and Daughter of the King, help out in the quilting ministry. All the quilts that are made are sent to orphans all over the world. It's a wonderful ministry. Well, after lunch they were going to set all the quilts that were made, to display them and pray over them this coming Sunday. So, Still Waters ended up rescheduling her appointment for today. Little did I know she had a surprise in store for me. :o)

I think long hair is ABSOLUTELY beautiful. It's so feminine and flowy (I know it's not a word, but I like how it sounds). All my Fair Maidens look beautiful with long or short hair. But I've been after my Still Waters to "try" a new cut for YEARS!

Well, she did it. She looks absolutely GORGEOUS!!!!!! She had 15" cut off! She donated her cut off hair to Locks of Love. Her new hairdo fits her to a "T"! She looks like an anime character. Which is pretty incredible considering that she's studying computer animation. She loves to draw. Anime characters are her favorites.








I had a hard time getting these pictures of her. She (like the rest of my beloved children) are uncooperative when it comes to picture taking time. They tell me that they don't like to "pose" for pictures. Well, if I had a $1000+ camera it would take the picture when I click it. URGH!!! But I'm pleased with the "few" shots I got. Thanks for your patience Baby Girl. I know that it took "A LOT" out of you.

My All Star Players

The All Star tournament is over for the 9 & 10 yr. olds and the Juniors (13-15 yr. olds). The 11 & 12 year olds have moved on to sectionals. YEAH!!! I can't even begin to recount what has happened in the last 6-7 weeks. BUT I can say, just how very proud I am of my Squires.

My G.I. Joe's team, the Juniors, had a difficult time. I have to honestly say that it wasn't so much the players fault as the coaching. Players were being played in positions that they shouldn't have been played in. The assistant coach put his son in while he was still recovering from a badly pulled hamstring. He kept telling his dad he couldn't run, but he paid no attention to his son. The head coach didn't want to "meddle" in "father/son" issues, so he didn't get involved. The coach's attitudes were... ah... how can I say it... very poor. The flesh part of me wanted to say something else. If you degrade players you are NOT going to get the best performance out of them. The coaches did absolutely nothing to encourage and bring out the best in the players. The players all had potential. They were all "smack the ball" hitters and great fielders. They just didn't have good leaders and they fell apart. It broke my heart to see their brokenness. I hope and pray, that the coaches at not allowed to coach again. But then again, it's all on a volunteer basis. Needless to say, all this sent me into quite a flare up. I have to honestly say that my G.I. Joe's positive attitude and strong character is what kept me out of the loony bin. It sure helped to strengthen spirit.

My Warrior's team had over 6 players that were 9 years old. All the teams they played had mostly 10 yr. olds. Even so, they held their own. I have never in over 10 years seen a team come together like our little team. Well, except for the year my Knight coached. He has a way of bringing out the best in each player. I'm not just saying that because he's my Knight. This has been said by many other parents. :o) Any way, Coach Danny and Coach Todd were wonderful. They really balanced each other perfectly. They all played their little hearts out. There was this one team we had to play twice. During our first time against them, we played in their town. So a reporter from their newspaper was present. He wrote a big article regarding the game. The next time we played them, their coach had brought the newspaper and had given it to us. Some of our players names (including my Warrior's name) were mentioned in the sports section of the newspaper. A play with one of our players sliding into home plate was on the front cover of their sports section. We all thought, "This is what Little League is all about!". They other team had lost that game and still they shared the newspaper clipping with us. We were all touched. I should mention, that later on, I called the newspaper and ordered enough copies of that sports section for all the players and enough for them to share with other family members.

Like everything else in life, this was a growing and stretching experience. I hope and pray that each of us learned the lesson God intended us to learn. It's not fun having to go through the same lesson over and over again.

I'll update this post with some pictures as soon as I find them. :o)