My Nephew - Just call him cheeks!

Look at those cheeks! Just like my brother's cheeks when he was a baby! God bless you Evan!

The Gift of Vacation

The Lord gives good things and one of those things is called a vacation. We cruised the Western Carribbean with friends and family. It was a blessing. Enjoy the pics!

Spur of the Moment

Sometimes we get so caught up in the have to, can't, not enough time, it's too far, what if, I'm not sure excuses of our existence. We get caught up in a routine that literally sucks the "life" out of our lives. It's the stuff that makes us "old" in our minds and hearts. What happened to the just because, so what, go for it, who cares, let's go moments? They seem so far and few between the everyday stuff we need to do.

Last week, I got to experience a spur of the moment time with my daughter. No planning, getting there on time, what if we're late, what if we get lost or I'm tired entered this picture on Thursday last. In the car, around 7pm, on one of the most beautiful days of July, I looked at my daughter and said, I wish we could just drive down the shore for the no good reason. She looked at me, as if trying to find a reason why I wouldn't and said, "Why not? We could go to Long Branch. It's only an hour away." I couldn't think of any reason why I couldn't go. As if I need a reason to not go!

So we drove home, changed our clothes, and at 8pm hopped back in my car! E-Z Pass newly glued to my windshield, nothing could stop me now. The music blared as we sang along, traffic was nowhere to be found and in the background was the sound of the GPS lady directing me, "In point 8 miles, stay left." You got it Dolores!

In one hour we arrived at Long Branch and I had the energy of a 15 year old. We parked for free, which is always great and walked to the boardwalk. A refreshing breeze accompanied us and as we turned to take a picture together, my shawl blew right in our faces as we smiled for the camera! God certainly has a sense of humor.

We finally got the picture right and proceeded to a restaurant, where we sat outside watching the waves and sharing french fries and a salad on the side. :-) My daughter then treated me to great coffee and dessert across the street. With coffee in hand we went down onto the beach and found the perfect spot to sit on in the sand and we admired the amazing array of stars God had on display that night for our viewing pleasure. The sounds of the waves breaking, the breeze blowing and my daughter by my side produce for me one of the most wonderful, unplanned nights of my life. As I looked over at her, I saw she had tears coming down and realized, it was the same for her. For a brief, amazing time, nothing was wrong in the world.

We finished the night by strolling along the beach back toward our car, laughing and talking about this and that. Now around midnight, we were happy to find the bathroom still open at the end of boardwalk, before heading back home. The drive was filled with "old school" music, even less traffic and questions in my mind.

Why don't I do these kinds of things more often? What holds us back? I'm not sure but I can tell you this. We miss out on special times and mini adventures that make us excited about life and most importantly the people we love. My daughter and I bonded that night and something else happened inside me. I realized that although planning is good and being on time is better, the spur of the moment is all we really have.

Mr. Perez Has No Comment

Grumpy at times, he doesn't say much and when he doesn't want to talk, he says, "No Comment, please!" He is the hardest working man I know and expresses his love with acts of service. Nothing brings him more joy than to beautify your surroundings with things you need and sometimes things you don't. Family and home is the most important thing in his life and there isn't anything he wouldn't do for you, if he thought it would help. Sometimes it has to be done his way but it's usually never a bad thing in the end. He can make you a bed with a secret shoe compartment, a backyard haven with built in cabinets, a garden like one in magazines, and even build a sturdy stand so you can hang the heavy bag you've been dying to punch on, in a place you thought had no more space. He's a mechanical and carpentry genius.

He loves his music dearly, appreciating each nuance of a drum or flute chiming in to timed perfection. He taps his toes and waves his hand as if he himself composed the piece and was conducting the band. Jazz, Salsa, Big Band, makes no difference. It's where he finds his peace.

No one can make you laugh harder than he can. With a sharp wit and play on words, you become an aching belly of roaring laughter when you hear the way he tells a story. He's developed his own vocabulary as he ends our time of grace at the table with "Barraroo. Barraroo." You might say he has the gift of speaking in tongues!

Always looking to restore old and dirty items into new and useful things that can be admired, he reminds me of Jesus. Taking our old and used up lives and making them a whole new creation that can be used for great things or small and sometimes just to be admired by the One who cleaned it up. If I asked Mr. Perez if he saw the similarities in who he is to the One who created him, he'd just reply with, "No comment, please."

I love you dad. Thank you. Happy Father's Day.

God, I Need a Quarter...

Today, I parked at a metered space and gathered my change, only to discover it took only quarters. All my dimes and nickels wouldn't work. So I opened the car, and rummaged through a bag and prayed, "God please let me find just one quarter for a few minutes. That's all I need. One quarter." As I frantically searched I heard a voice near me. "Hey mami! Over hear!" Not sure he was speaking to me I looked and then continued my search. Once again he called and then headed to a van parked right in front of me, letting me know I could have his space with two hours left on the meter! God not only provided what I needed but gave me more than I expected! He never ceases to amaze me!

On my way home I remember what I had prayed the night before. I asked God to remind me of who He was and is in my life, this week. Well today he answered. He reminded that in my life He has been and continues to be Jehovah Jireh. The God who provides!!

Meet Me In The Meadow: What It’s All About?

Meet Me In The Meadow: What It’s All About?


A great reminder by Roy Lessin, of what living life is really about.